Guatemala
In 2019, we furthered our work in Central America with expansion to the country of Guatemala. Through collaboration with community partners and local leaders, we have begun the initial steps in implementing the Holistic Model in rural Mayan Guatemalan communities. Consistent with our programmatic methodology, we have started implementing Medical Brigades. These brigades will provide healthcare clinics to better understand the needs of the Tecpan region of the country. As we work to empower communities, efforts towards economic development, sustainable healthcare and water sanitation projects will advance.
- 86 community partners
- Working with more than 97,000 Community Members
- 9.08% of rural population without access to basic or safely managed drinking water sources
- 44.50% of rural population without access to basic or safely managed sanitation facilities
- Less than 3 Physicians per 10,000 people
- Common sources of income include agriculture, fishing, day labouring, and weaving
Safety
Volunteer safety will always be our absolute top priority. Global Brigades recently engaged Askari International Security, an industry leader in international risk assessment, to complete a comprehensive risk/safety assessment of all brigade operations. A full explanation of safety precautions and procedures can be found on our “Safety & Insurance” page.
Volunteer Safety Highlights in Guatemala
- Global Brigades is in contact with OSAC (the Overseas Security Advisory Committee) to receive up-to-date security and safety briefings from the U.S. State Department;
- Established relationships with local community authorities to gain trust and access into communities;
- Established relationships with local authorities to provide monitoring of volunteer activity in country;
- Full-time local Global Brigades medical personnel on-call at all times;
- Adherence to the IVPA standards of international volunteering.