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History and Concept of Amigos de Guatemala |
| Guatemala is a beautiful country with over 30 volcanoes looming all around, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world – Lake Atitlan, primary rain forests, lush pine-clad hills, and tropical areas replete with mangrove swamps, banana plantations and coconut palms. Hidden behind this beauty is a very poor country that has been racked by civil war lasting more than 37 years ending in December, 1996. Half of Guatemala is Maya Indian people who suffered greatly during the war and now have needs beyond what their government is able or willing to provide. The primary needs of clean water, basic medical care, and quality education are missing in many of the Maya communities. Amigos de Guatemala is a partnership of Rotary Clubs to provide quality international humanitarian service projects in Guatemala. The program began with the Groveland, CA Rotary Club building a school kitchen for a small Maya community (Jaibalito). What Groveland Rotary began required the support and partnership of other Rotary clubs to continue. Because many clubs - esp. smaller clubs - don't have ongoing international service projects, it was recommended by Rotary International, District Governors, and World Community Service Committees that Rotary clubs work together in partnership to develop quality international projects that make a significant impact on the needs of people in poor and underdeveloped areas. Amigos de Guatemala was created to develop a multiple club partnership for International Service in Guatemala. The partnership is designed to:
As of July, 2012 fifteen clubs are part of the Amigos de Guatemala partnership. Each club contributes in accordance with its size and budget ranging from $500 to $2,000 annually. The partnership clubs are as follows: Groveland Rotary Club In 2004 Amigos de Guatemala began to focus the majority of their services in the area surrounding Zacualpa, Guatemala. Although this area does not have a Rotary club, they do have excellent and welcoming municipal and nongovernmental service organizations. In January, 2005 13 volunteers helped build a two room classroom in the aldea (village) of Tunaja. We also furnished these classrooms and donated school supplies to this school and Jaibalito (where Groveland Rotary club built a school kitchen) with a Rotary Foundation Major matching grant. Also in 2005 we began a scholarship/sponsorship program for Jr. and Sr. High School students. We began with 9 students and now have 59 students sponsored to continue their secondary education. Please refer to the sponsorship section of this web site for more information about the sponsorship program. In 2005 two Rotary clubs (Marina and Groveland) sponsored District Simplified Grants in their respective districts (5220 & 5230). One grant replaced the damaged water pump and electrical system for the water well at Fe Y Alegria Jr. Hi. School in Zacualpa, Guatemala. The other grant supplied the Jr. Hi. School with a computer and printer system with email connection, to facilitate the Rotary Scholarship/Sponsorship program at the school. In January, 2006 ten Amigos de Guatemala volunteers helped build a classroom and kitchen for a small Mayan school, finished the building at Tunaja that we built in 2005 with the addition of a cement patio, and finished a stucco type school building in Las Joyas primary school that did not have a floor, doors, windows, or electricity. Both direct (hands-on) service projects were a fantastic experience for all who participated. It is our hands-on project policy to pay only for construction material where ever possible. We expect the local population to supply all labor (skilled and unskilled). We would consider helping with payment for skilled labor but, to date, that has not been necessary. In January, 2007 23 volunteers traveled to Guatemala to work on our hands-on projects. These volunteers traveled in two separate groups. The first group (primarily from Arizona) helped enclose a primary school (Potrero Viejo II) with a very nice brick and metal fence. They also started a second fence at another primary school (La Vega II). The second group (primarily from California) continued work on the fence at La Vega II. They also conducted a free dental clinic. Also, other projects funded by Amigos de Guatemala were completed and others were begun. In January, 2008 Amigos de Guatemala volunteers again returned to Zacualpa, Guatemala to work on a school building project. In the aldea (village) of Turbala we will build two classrooms to replace temporary classroom that were washed away during the hurricane. We also built a cement path to the school. We also conducted a free dental clinic with two dentists. In the future we will locate our dental program in the new classrooms in Turbala. In February, 2009 we returned to the aldea of La Vega I and II where we built a new classroom to relieve overcrowding and replaced worn out bathrooms with new bathrooms. We moved our dental clinic to the rural community of Turbala to better serve those who have the greatest need. The dental clinic volunteers included a dentist and three dental hygienists. In February, 2010 we returned to the aldea of Potrero Viejo II where we enclosed the school with a fence and built new bathrooms in 2007. With the improvements at the school attendance increased and they needed a new classroom. We helped build this new classroom with the money donated by the Amigos de Guatemala partnership. Additionally, two dental hygienists cleaned the teeth of the children. In 2011 the Amigos de Guatemala project was a new water well for the community of Estanzuela. The partnership provided a new well servicing the primary school, community house and the health clinic. This project was supported in part by a partnership of District 5220 Simplified Grants. Salida Rotary Club partnered with Stockton Sunrise, Twain Harte, and Sonora Rotary Clubs to support these grants. The Estanzuela community celebrated with the Amigos de Guatemala volunteers the opening of the new water system on February 1, 2011. It is our policy that all money donated to Amigos de Guatemala by Rotary Clubs and individual members go directly to the people in Guatemala. All administrative and travel costs have been paid for by the individual Amigos volunteers. It is our intention to continue this record with future projects. We welcome the addition of any Rotary Club partners to this exciting and meaningful work done by Amigos de Guatemala. We also welcome any partner club members to join us in our hands-on work in January. |