This June, Impact Global Health Alliance Global worked closely with ten rising seniors and two professors from Fayetteville Academy in North Carolina to complete a successful Service Learning and Cultural Exchange with our partners in Guatemala. Students and faculty traveled to Guatemala for ten days to support the health activities in the rural highlands of Guatemala and to share their culture and learn from the Mayan people of Calhuitz.
Students worked hard in construction as part of the redesign of the Casa Materna and participated in community health activities in seven communities while providing health services to over 135 women and children. Students gave vaccinations, participated in prenatal checkups, and supported well-baby checkups by weighing children ages 0-5 years old.
The team also brought important medical supplies for the clinic, which was perfect timing as the clinic had not received any supplies as promised by the government and were out of most basic medical supplies. As the students visited communities, they also distributed soccer balls to the local school teacher and played with the students, providing ample entertainment for the patients of the health outreach.
A special event occurred while abroad, a little baby girl was welcomed into the world while the volunteers were at the maternity house. Students were able to better understand what the birth process is like and how it is different in rural Guatemala. Despite the fact that the baby was in the breech position (feet first) and it was the first child for the 19 year-old mother, the Casa Materna Nurses, Alma and Juany, made sure both mother and baby survived a difficult but beautiful labor. The students were left in awe and admiration from their participation in this experience.
Additional cultural experiences included friendly games of soccer and basketball, nightly discussions with local elders regarding Guatemalan culture, a tour of Lake Atitlan, visiting a woman’s weaving cooperative, and constant interaction with local health staff and Mayan community members.
Read a special article about the trip by Participating Professor Bruce Sanborn, Head of Upper School at Fayetteville Academy.
Andrew Herrera, International Volunteer Coordinator
