About our Work in Guatemala
Since 2016, have made it our mission to support the underserved people of La Pila, Guatemala. We now serve two villages, La Pila and Pachut.
About La Pila, Guatemala
La Pila, Guatemala is a small Mayan village about 40 miles southwest of Guatemala City. The village of 1,200 is nestled in a verdant, mountainous region that overlooks multiple volcanoes.
Economy
Guatemala suffers from widespread inequality and poverty. The poorest 40% of Guatemala's 15 million citizens live on $1.50/day. Over 50% of the Guatemalan population (over 9 million people) live below the poverty line and 20% of those (over 3 million people) live in extreme poverty.
Indigenous communities such as La Pila are often trapped in a cycle of poverty driven by lack of education and an agricultural economy that encourages boys to work in the fields and girls to become homemakers at age 12-13.
Culture
The culture is a fusion of Maya and Spanish influences. The main religion of the area is Catholicism. The people of La Pila are of Mayan descent, so there are also some ancient Mayan religious beliefs.
Education
Most children in La Pila do not continue past 6th grade because they do not have access to higher education in the immediate area. Many families struggle to provide the basic needs for their families and cannot afford the expenses associated with school. Very few families in the area have vehicles and depend on public transportation that rarely reaches the area.
Health Care
Access to basic health care and housing is scarce. Infant mortality rates are high due to preventable diseases resulting in premature death. Malnutrition is common among children since many homes are made of scavenged materials with dirt floors, no toilets, and no drinkable water. In 2016, we began building a health clinic in La Pila and are working to install working toilets and a safe well.
About Pachut, Guatemala
Pachut is a village located 60 miles away from Guatemala city. it is the farest indigenous community in the Patzun area. It has a population of 800 people approximately and most of them work in the fields for a living. Its school, pre-school and elementaty, open its classrooms to provide education for more than 140 kids.
Sadly, this village suffers big needs like lack of safe drinking water, lack of sanitary services, rates above 90% of badnourished kids, lack of medical care, lack of permanent jobs, among many many others. People who work in the fields, usually men, earn $3 dollars per day; taking in account that an average family has 4 kids, that means a 6-members family lives with $66 per month. Even when the village is located relatively close to Guatemala City a kid can easily die due to completely preventable health problems.
We welcome health care professionals and anyone else who is passionate about serving to join us as a volunteer on our trips to serve La Pila. Trips are typically 5 days. We have committed to visiting four times a year in March, June, September, and December.
These trips usually include:
Medical clinic
Kids camp
Vacation bible school
Special projects (construction, agricultural, etc.)
Visiting and assisting neighboring villages
How you Can Help
Make a Donation
Your donation to GCO's La Pila fund support our ongoing efforts to support La Pila by providing food, infrastructure, healthcare, and education support.
Join a Service Trip
Each quarter we bring a group of volunteers to La Pila for a week of service, reflection, and fun. Those who join us return with a deeper sense of purpose.
About our Child Sponsorship Program
Our mission is to model Christ and share His love through service to each other and to the underserved people La Pila. We believe that by improving the health and education of the children in the community we will change a generation. To accomplish this, we have developed a monthly child sponsorship of $35 per month which gives every school age child the basic necessities needed to achieve their God given potential:
Monthly financial support for every child who attends school beyond 6th Grade.
A daily healthy breakfast for every child enrolled in school.
A monthly food basket for every family that has a child enrolled in school that consists of:
5 lbs rice
5 lbs beans
Cooking oil
Sugar
Coffee
Sponsors are asked to make a commitment to send letters, cards, and photos to be delivered to sponsored children during each mission trip throughout the year. Photos and videos of sponsored children are posted to Great Commission Outreach’s Facebook page during mission trips and letters from sponsored children are delivered to sponsors in the United States.
About our Service Trips
Each quarter we bring a group of volunteers to Guatemala for a week of service, reflection, and fun. Those who join us return recharged, refreshed, and with a deeper sense of purpose.
Who can participate?
Anyone with a heart to serve can participate. No prior experience is necessary.
Do I need special skills?
No, all are welcome. But persons with a medical or health care background and knowledge such as physicians, dentists, paramedics, nurses, medical and/or dental techs and assistants, phlebotomists, students, nurses' aides, and administrators can be very helpful to help us operate our medical clinic.
What experiences can I expect to gain?
The itinerary for each trip is different. We provide detailed information and hold several preparatory meetings to ensure you are prepared. On every trip, you can expect to learn about the culture of the people you will serve and develop lifetime friendships.
Volunteers are assigned to the medical team, construction team, vacation bible school team, or prayer team. We end each day with an optional devotional to reflect on the day.
How long is the trip?
Trips are typically 5 days. We typically spend several days in the villages serving. In addition to serving, you will also have some free time to explore the area, try local fare, and enjoy beautiful Guatemala.
