Guatemala: Dental Missions Trip

San Juan Cotzal (Western Highlands)

ACTION partners with a like-minded organization called WIND (When It Needs Doing) that supports the needs of families in the Western Highlands of Guatemala which is populated by indigenous Mayan people. 

The Executive Director of WIND shares: "During the trip, our teams see between 120-200 patients, mostly children. In addition to the critical dental care provided to children and families without access to such care, each team spends time teaching in the classroom. We have also had oral health training running simultaneously to our clinics. Through these teams, we are witnessing improved oral hygiene because of a long-term approach to hygiene training in our schools!"

If interested in more information, please inquire about this trip through this web page. You can also visit wind-guatemala.org/as-we-go/ to learn more about the organization and philosophy of care, and you can learn more about the region below.

Additional information about this location and region:

This region was the focal point of a bloody civil war (1960-1996) which left more than 200,000 people dead.

Vibrant in culture and tradition, the beauty of the region is a stark contrast to the needs of the people who live there:

* 90% of families live below the poverty line

* 70% of indigenous people suffer from chronic malnutrition

* Only 3 out of 10 children graduate from 6th grade, resulting in the highest rates of illiteracy in all of Latin America

*Families have difficulty accessing medical attention, dental care and clean drinking water. Infant mortality rates are high

WIND exists to meet these needs through the strengthening of Christian schools (to provide quality education based on biblical principles), feeding programs, medical and dental services, and training for church pastors and leaders.