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description
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START-UP COORDINATOR FOR RURAL HEALTH INITIATIVE |
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categories
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location
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uses volunteers
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Yes |
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spanish level
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minimum volunteer time
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volunteer terms
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at least 1 year of college or related skill.
Volunteers pay US$150.00 as an initial placement fee (US$50.00 when you apply and US$100.00 right after the Spanish oral proficency interview approval). In Guatemala there is US$50.00 a week fee to cover homestay and a donation to the organization in which you will be working.** **The homestay and donations fees are charged separately in Guatemala on a weekly bases. PLACEMENT FEES CAN NOT BE USED TOWARDS HOMESTAY AND DONATION FEES IN GUATEMALA Costs cover family homestay with 3 meals a day, application processing, supervision and an informal evaluation, a resource-building monetary donation to various community development projects, and participation in the school's daily social and cultural activities when possible according to the volunteer's schedule. Such activities include field trips, excursions and seminars. Activity transportation and guide fees are paid for by the school. To Apply: Send resume, detailed project proposal (consult other animal shelter organizations in the US to find information on minimal needs to develop a shelter) and two letters of recommendation via email to our Guatemalan office. Who Should Apply: *strong organizational abilities *ability to work independently in a low-structure environment *past experience in rural travel in Latin America a bonus *ability to work with people of different backgrounds and cultures *a background in health preferred, but not necessary *excellent communication skills in Spanish and English *computer literate (Microsoft Word and Internet) *people with strong interest in rural health and sustainable development Position Description: The Project Start-up Coordinator will be responsible for developing and implementing, with the local rural community health commitee, a program to find potential surgery candidates and spreading awareness of this program in the Quetzaltenango region. There are three main aspects to this position. First, the Coordinator would be responsible for traveling to local pueblos and meeting with community groups, local government, individuals, schools, etc., and when there are none of these groups available, organize a local community health commitee to find groups to send to the hospital in Antigua. This includes developing basic profiles on each candidate, arranging transport, accompanying each group to and from Antigua, making arrangements with the hospital for appointments and surgery dates, and working independently and with the social services division of the hospital to arrange for transport, housing, and food costs for each patient. The Coordinator will have the opportunity to spend a large amount of their time in the rural indigenous communities of Quetzaltenango, as well as work almost completely in Spanish. Second, the Coordinator will be responsible for carrying out fundraisers and searching for funds to help support the costs for transport, room, and board of each person who travels to Antigua for surgery. While the social service division offers a number of rooms in Antigua for free, as well as support for transportation and food, we feel it is important to do what we can to help cover the costs, and therefore give opportunities to more in need. Fundraising would be done locally as well as internationally to reach a broader donation base. This will include expanding the Coordinator's program to the internet, through discussion groups (see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pedrera for example), an internet page, and other means for reaching funding sources and sharing the benefits this program offers. Third, the Coordinator will be responsible for developing a sustainable program that continues to inform the populace of this remarkable opportunity in the future. This could be attained in many ways. Some key aspects of this element include an extensive advertising program, local health seminars in schools and communities, coordinating activities and sharing knowledge with local social organizations and other groups, and going out and talking to community members. In addition, the Coordinator will be responsible for creating a comprehensive plan for future volunteers to follow and add to, including contacts, long-term goals, past accomplishments, number and names of patients who participated, and other useful information. The main goal is to create a program that not only helps those in need now, but also allows future candidates access to the knowledge and resources they need to obtain surgery at Hermano Pedro. The position of Program Start-up Coordinator will be very challenging, but also incredibly rewarding! The Coordinator will have the chance to work mainly with the indigenous Maya in the Xela region, and forge lasting relationships with members of these communities. The chance to see automatic results is rare in development projects, where results often take months or years. The Coordinator will be seeing the results of their work daily. Seeing the smile of a child after they have had their cleft lip corrected will make this position a lasting and incredible experience for the person who fills this position! |
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needed
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available resources
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regular events
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email
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email 2
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phone
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phone 2
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address
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website
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http://www.c.net.gt/hpedro |
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director
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contacts
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Claudia |
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general information
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Hermano Pedro (Antigua, Guatemala) is a comprehensive, Catholic-based center providing low-cost and free medical care, education, nursing homes for the elderly, residence for orphaned and abandoned children, daycare for poor working mothers with children, physical and occupational therapy for the physically and mentally handicapped, and many other programs aimed towards benefiting the impoverished populations of Guatemala. Started in 1980 by Friar Guillermo Bonilla, the organization has helped thousands of Guatemalans to gain access to services unattainable to their economic group, and create better lives for themselves and their communities. The programs are all non-profit and are maintained mainly by donations.
One of Hermano Pedro's many projects brings international doctors to the clinic to perform all types of surgery (excluding life threatening, such as open heart surgery). Doctors have come from Italy, Spain, Canada, the US, and many other countries from around the world. Depending on the policies of the groups of doctors, the surgeries are either free or offered for a small charge (to help with the costs of materials) and many times, if a group of 10 individuals who need surgery can be gathered, all their costs will be covered by the organization. Hermano Pedro's goal is for this program to be used by all Guatemalans, but in the past, they have had trouble spreading the word of this incredible opportunity outside of the Antigua region. |
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Library
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| bookmark record | id=358 |