January 2023
Putting together the annual report is a special time of reflection and joy as it involves looking back over the entire year, recognizing the key ebbs and flows, and cherishing the important milestones. Our partners in Guatemala describe this past year as one of getting back on their feet, taking stock of what is salvable following some of the most difficult times in recent history, and focusing on rebuilding life with the COVID-19 virus and its attendant risks as part of it.
Key COVID related highlights included the children from the Cooperative of Nuevo Horizonte receiving their COVID vaccinations throughout the summer months. And while there was significant illness in the community including dengue, monkeypox, and various respiratory infections during the rainy season, there were negligible cases of COVID. Overall, our partners are starting to feel stronger and more optimistic once again.
Bienestar’s work in Guatemala this year revolved around two key initiatives: student scholarships and the Health and Wellness program with a focus on diabetes prevention in the Cooperative of Nuevo Horizonte We’re also delighted that volunteers have started to return. Our Guatemalan partners were able to collaborate with two Canadian volunteers who shared their expertise, enthusiasm, and interest in learning about the community while working at the Junior High School and with the clubs. How exciting to have volunteers back in the community-more about how you can volunteer later!
We can only do all this amazing work because of you. Your commitment to care about others outside of daily view whose challenges, strengths, fears, and hopes are closely linked to our own is greatly appreciated and we can’t thank you enough.
Kid’s club Kid's club
Student Scholarships
Bienestar has supported the student scholarship program since its inception in 2014. Identified by the community as a priority and administered by Dejando Huella (Leaving Footprints), a women’s group in the community, the program has consistently been positively evaluated by the scholarship recipients, their families, and the community as a whole.
Its importance is revealed in Guatemala’s sobering education statistics where more than 25% of the population age 15 and over is illiterate, the highest illiteracy rate in Central America, and where most children still leave school by grade 4. Families cite the lack of funds as the primary reason for their children not being able to continue their education. Through the program, Bienestar provides financial support to offset the costs of education that include uniforms, books, school supplies, and in the case of high school, tuition, and bus transportation.
Eight students received a total of $5,000 in scholarships in 2022. As mentioned earlier, it was a year of both rejoicing and reckoning as they returned to in person classes. All of them reported experiencing
in person and they struggled to adjust to the expectations. They are now learning and interacting with each other with greater confidence and overcoming the limitations of distance learning during the last two years
As part of the scholarship program, the recipients also developed leadership skills and served as youth leaders through civic engagement in the cooperative. For example, they facilitated a traditional games festival for the local children, were mentors during the Kid’s club and actively participated in the exercise program.
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Scholarship recipients and their parents
Achievements in 2022: All of the scholarship recipients graduated to the next level of their respective programs. Two recipients completed the 1st year of their senior High School trade program while Mirian Griselda Vasquez graduated from High School with a diploma in Accounting.
A heartfelt congratulations to each of these students for their hard work and dedication, and to the families and donors such as yourself that encouraged their efforts.
As part of the scholarship program, recipients provided Bienestar with a final reflection of their experience. Here we share a translated reflection from Ana: (named changed for confidentiality)
In the first quarter, I did work such as reading comprehension and essays which for me were really challenging, given that I had never done an essay before in my life until I had this chance since education for me has always been difficult. Small things took me days of work at first, but I really tried and put a lot of desire and effort to achieve all my goals.
During this entire learning process this year, there have been many ups and downs for me, both stress and emotional crises, severe headaches caused by frustration and the fear of failing again. What I didn’t realize at the time though is that we are all human and it’s natural that sometimes we make mistakes. No one is perfect and others have to accept that not all of us have had the same kind of life as others.
I feel I achieved many things, not just academically. I got over myself a lot. All my life it had been hard for me to make friends, so the difference this year was something really incredible. I became much more sociable and friendly. Overall, I am finally very satisfied with all that happened to me in this year, 2022.
I feel very happy and grateful to Bienestar that you supported me, even if I had ups and downs when it came to academics.
Thank you with all my heart for having been tolerant of all my shortcomings. I know that maintaining good grades was my responsibility, but there were many moments in which I felt that I just couldn’t give any more of myself. Today I say with pride, that I accept myself even with my failures, and that I have been able to pass the year and go on to the second level of Basico. I hope I can continue to be part of this Bienestar project.
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Scholarship recipient volunteering at the Kid's club
Health and Wellness programs
ellness program continues to be comprehensive, supportive of people community oriented which reflects internationally recognized program standards for diabetes prevention and management from the United Nations and the International Diabetes
We recognize that people’s lifestyle choices are substantially shaped by the environment in which they live, work, and play; the resources at their disposal, and the sense of control they have. Our Health and Wellness clubs provide health education, peer support, opportunities to form healthy habits alongside family and friends, and support for efforts to create a healthier community environment, all of which are integral elements to being able to choose a healthy lifestyle.
Children’s club: The weekly children’s club was well attended
Art projects involved health themes served as a valued source of information for the wider family working together to problem during a field trip to the local women’s store learn and practice some of the
Kid’s club participants choosing a healthy snack
Skipping rope @ Kid’s club - a new outdoor activity
Kid's club participants - each with their own H2O bottle
Over time we’ve noted that shopkeepers have begun to showcase healthy food options such as packages of nuts and fresh fruits and offer them at a competitive price. The local school also held a festival this year with the parents and children to celebrate healthy foods grown in the community.
These are examples of positive changes at the community level that support individuals to adopt a healthier lifestyle. It is an approach that has been found to be more effective in the long run than conventional programs aimed at individual self-control.
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Sharing & Caring relationships - coloring image - Kid's club
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Drawing foods that I like & don't like activity - Kid's club
Individual free time @ Kid's club
Youth club
The Youth club met monthly where they created a safe and welcoming space to talk about their dreams, concerns, fears, and hopes. Together alongside the Bienestar health promoters and volunteers, they awareness, confidence, and an appreciation for
Themes of self-worth, gender equality, human rights, healthy relationships, physical development, substance use, physical activity, nutrition, and mental health were woven throughout the sessions.
At one workshop on physical development and menstruation, the youth received reusable menstrual kits that have been generously donated by a volunteer from Canada over the years.
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Sexual health workshop - Youth club
As with other themes, the youth and workshop facilitators had valuable discussions about the links between individual and community actions and environmental stewardship.
Achievements 2022: On average 16 youth regularly attended the Youth club meetings. They demonstrated substantial interest and knowledge development based on their enthusiastic attendance, group presentations and level of discussion.
Adult Health and Wellness program
The adult Health and Wellness programs are aimed at women and People living with Diabetes (PLWD) and other chronic diseases such as hypertension They include health education, cooking classes, a healthy snack, setting individual goals opportunities for sharing and problem solving, and celebrating successes.
The goal is empowerment health knowledge and uptake of healthy behaviours, capacity to effectively support each other and work together to solve health barriers beyond individual control.
The participants also have access to low-cost quality medications, annual medical consultation including laboratory testing for
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Receipt of reusable menstrual kits @ the Physical development & menstruation workshop - Youth club
Exercise group
diabetes related A1C, kidney and heart function, monthly fasting blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, and foot health checks, as well as home visits with the primary diabetes health promoter.
The women’s club is an important contribution to family health given the critical role that they play in Guatemala (and globally) in household management including child development, hygiene, food and nutrition, and food production.
The People living with Diabetes club is all about peer support, health education, ongoing encouragement, and timely intervention. It is key given that people live with diabetes 24/day yet only see a physician a few times a year.
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Monthly clinic for weight, fasting blood sugar, blood pressure, and foot assessment checks with diabetes health promoters and youth volunteers
Women's club - theme of healthy self-esteem
The exercise program took place Monday – Thursday and included walking, Zumba, cardio, and stretching sessions. On occasion it was led by the scholarship recipients as part of their leadership development. There was decreased attendance by the adults this year which they attributed to a lack of free time, periodic bouts of illness, and the increased need to work extended hours given greater household poverty.
Achievements in 2022: The programs were well attended with an average of 20-30 people in attendance at the monthly clinics, and 90% of the people living with diabetes taking advantage of the annual medical consultation. The exercise program was also well attended by the children and youth with an average of 12 -16 participants.
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People living with diabetes club goals
Diabetes health promoter carrying out a homevisit with a client who is insulindependent
Zumba classes offered as part of Bienestar exercise program
Of the 29 people who are living with diabetes, 12 are receiving and managing their own insulin. This is a major achievement in Guatemala where there are widespread taboos about the use of insulin, costs are exorbitant, availability is unpredictable in the pharmacies, and there is a widespread lack of access to
International volunteers contributed greatly to all of the clubs this year. While sharing their skills and knowledge, they closely with the Bienestar staff and community members, learned Spanish, and gained a better understanding of the culture and history of the people, particularly as it related to the recent civil war and rebuilding of a more just and equitable society.
Evaluation comments by program participants centred on the following outcomes: better able to cope with daily challenges, having better control of their health, learning new information, and enjoying recreation opportunities. There were also recommendations to expand the recreation program to reach a larger audience and to increase subsidies for medical care including medications.
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Cooking classes with Canadian volunteer – vegetarian lasagna on the menuJ
Foot care workshop - People living with Diabetes club
Entrepreneur program
No report would be complete without showcasing some of the wonderful examples of entrepreneurship that characterize the efforts of the people of Nuevo Horizonte to be self sustaining. While Bienestar does not directly finance these initiatives, those invo because of improved health, and greater confidence and leadership skills, all of which supported by the Bienestar scholarship and health and wellness programs.
Last year we highlighted the new greenhouse which is flourishing with a recent harvest of organic tomatoes. However, the majority of trees that were planted didn’t do so well for a myriad of , prime among them being reduced rainfall. However, an integral part of innovation is adaptation and so in consultation with Guatemalan forestry experts, they have replanted with different species including cedar and caoba which are thriving thus far.
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Mango marmalade workshop for local foods market
In closing, a huge shout-out to all of the diabetes health promotors, teachers, and community members young and old, whose dedication, inexhaustible enthusiasm, and belief in the value of working together and supporting each other make all of this possible.
We would also like to salute the Bienestar Board members, Nelson United Church, the volunteers, and the donors for their contribution to keeping the vision of Bienestar alive during this tumultuous time. A major accomplishment is being able to support people over the long-term which is when real change starts to happen. Experiencing hope in this social climate is about taking action to make our collective dream of a more compassionate, inclusive, and just world come to life.
Your support makes all the difference. Organize a fundraising event, invite us to share a presentation with a group, friends, and family, pledge a donation, buy e-card from the Bienestar website for a loved one, or volunteer with us. What about taking Spanish lessons and volunteering in Nuevo Horizonte next year? The possibilities are endless. If you want to become involved, contact us or learn more about the projects, check out our website @ https://www.bienestarcanada.ca/
We welcome your comments, look forward to continuing to work with you, and commit to supporting sustainable, culturally respectful community-based programs that reflect peoples’ capacity to meet their dreams for a healthier future for all.
Lastly, please consider becoming a monthly donor. This gives us greater ability to plan for the future, safe in the knowledge that we will have funds for the diabetes health promoter salaries, medical consultations and lab testing, valued student scholarships, resources for the Clubs.
Remember that all contributions receive tax receipts, and that 100% of your donations go to the projects.
How you can make a difference
Give someone a chance for a healthy life!
Your generous financial support makes all of this possible. To make a one-time or monthly donation, go to https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/38293?v1=true
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Thank you for being part of these worthy endeavours. We welcome your impressions and accompaniment on the journey of solidarity with our Guatemalan partners.
In gratitude, Bienestar
Board
Cooking healthy meals and eating together - one of life's greatest pleasures
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Joe Woodward
Cheralynne Kennedy
Mary Ann Morris Michael Chapman Teeka Ferguson Alyssa Franklin
