ODIM Guatemala Annual Report 2022

Health Care and Education in Guatemala ODIM ANNUAL REPORT 2022 IMPACT

CONTENTS HOW WE WORK .............................................................................................. 3 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR .......................................................... 4 OUR IMPACT, 2022 YEAR IN REVIEW................................................................ 6 GETTING TO KNOW OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR................................................. 8 TAKING CARE OF THE CARETAKER with Melyna Cholotío Pérez ....................... 10 OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMS ............................................................................12 WHY DO WE BECOME VOLUNTEERS? With Dirty Girl Adventures (DGA) ..........16 DR. JEFFREY (CHIP) LUERDING — A Tribute to a Friend of ODIM ........................17 WHY SHOULD YOU COME TO GUATEMALA? ................................................. 18 ULTIMATE GUATEMALA CHALLENGE — The Adventure of a Lifetime ..................19 ODIM AMBASSADORS ................................................................................... 20 WHERE YOUR DONATIONS GO ......................................................................21 SPECIAL THANKS ........................................................................................... 22

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HOW WE WORK At Organization for the Development of the Indigenous Maya (ODIM) we provide community-driven, high quality and culturally competent health and education services to the indigenous communities of San Pablo and San Juan La Laguna in Guatemala.

Our services include two medical clinics staffed by bilingual Spanish/Tz’utujil speaking nurses and a Guatemalan physi‐ cian, as well as a dental clinic. Additionally, ODIM offers five community health and education programs to prevent ill health and promote an elevated quality of life. Our pro‐ grams endeavor to be multi-faceted, evidence-based and cul‐ turally aligned.

At ODIM, foreign and local staff work side by side, com‐ mitted to improving the lives of the people we serve. We employ 36 staff in the two communities of San Pablo and San Juan La Laguna — 26 full-time employees and 10 part-time.

81% of our staff are Tz’utujil Maya, 14% are Guatemalan nationals (but not Tz’utujil) and 5% are foreign. 83% of our staff are women.

Vision: To be a nationally and internationally recognized leader in healthcare and preventative health education.

Mission: To enable access to healthcare and preventative health education for the population, with equality, honesty, and confidentiality, that is focused on programs that promote development and empowerment of the communi‐ ties of San Pablo and San Juan La Laguna.

TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE: www.odimguatemala.org/donate CHECK PAYABLE TO ODIM, MAILED TO: Martha Stowe 1527 Waterside Ct. Dallas, Texas 75218 Contact: executive.director@odimguatemala.org or communications.manager@odimguatemala.org

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor: Vanessa Hernández, Arely Juarez Graphic Design: April Hull Photos: Damian Saravia A special thank you to our printer Ralph Myers at Mpress © ODIM GUATEMALA 2022 3

A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR As the world learns to live with the new normal, Guatemala continues to show signs of delays in higher vaccination rates and continues to face a great challenge to stem the advance of the pandemic. The ODIM staff have achieved a 100% completion rate of the vaccination series and boosters, while the communities we serve continue to experience a much lower completion rate.

We continue to grow. In Guatemala, the incidence of cervical cancer occupies second place in gynecological cancers and first place in women’s cancer deaths with an average of 793 deaths yearly, which encouraged us to make advances to offer access to quality professional services in women’s health. In 2022, we initiated Salud de la Mujer (Women’s Health), a project to provide women access to gynecological services to detect and prevent vaginal diseases, especially cervical and uterine cancers.

With support from great medical allies from the U.S., our medical staff received training to develop their detection skills and they now offer tests to detect various vaginal infections. In 2023, we hope we will be able to offer Pap (Papanicolaou) tests to detect and help prevent cancer.

In terms of chronic childhood malnutrition, the data demonstrate that during the pandemic, the rate of malnutrition doubled, even among the participants in our Healthy Mommy and Me program, as families faced a tremendous challenge to feed themselves due to a lack of income. We received support from the South Korean organization Worldshare, which provided funds for fresh vegetables, vitamins, and nutrition supplements to participants in the Healthy Mommy and Me program. We are also very thankful to the participants in the Ultimate Guatemala Challenge (see page 19) for their great efforts and for all the donors who helped raise $21,000. This was a great accomplishment indeed!

Another milestone we reached was having our Volunteers back in Guatemala after three years of the pandemic. Thanks to them and the donors of the High Impact Home Improvement program, we installed efficient wood-burning stoves and water filters to benefit 336 people in San Pablo and San Juan La Laguna.

Although the pandemic has strongly impacted every context of our work, we must face the new statistics and challenges in education, access to healthcare, malnu‐ trition, and the economy. Our resolve to provide access to quality education and healthcare is stronger than ever. Our staff has demonstrated throughout these critical years that we have not deterred from serving the communities. And now that we are coming out of the crisis and confronting new realities, we will continue our strong commitment to work for the communities.

I feel very thankful to have the opportunity to lead a marvelous organization, to contribute to and to impact with passion and commitment the people in the communities of San Pablo and San Juan La Laguna. This work we accomplish with you, dear allies, for we could not accomplish it without your incredible support. I end this letter with a heart filled with gratitude for all our ODIM allies. Thank you for accompanying us throughout this great year!

América Castro, Executive Director 4

“Another milestone we reached was having our Volunteers back in Guatemala after three years of the pandemic. Thanks to them and the donors of the High Impact Home Improvement program, we installed efficient wood-burning stoves and water filters to benefit 336 people in San Pablo and San Juan La Laguna.”

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OUR IMPACT! 2,314

2022 YEAR IN REVIEW

MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES

HEALTHY MOMMY & ME 175 mothers and babies enrolled in the program 832 food vouchers delivered to mothers 122 workshops conducted by our health promoters 32 support group sessions for mothers carried out by our health promoters 22 mothers and their babies graduated after 1,000 days in the program 73% of the babies graduated from our program with a healthy height and weight at age 2 73 follow-up appointments to check the height and weight of babies

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254 new patients registered in our clinics 1,017 treatments for diabetes (Metformin/Insulin) 2,936 laboratory tests 1,841 family planning methods delivered 318 antibiotic treatments 101 prenatal consultations 85 Bach Flower treatments

COVID-19 RESPONSE 12 workshops on vaccination offered in programs 100% of ODIM staff are vaccinated 149 ODIM participants who are vaccinated 100% of Let’s Walk Together program high-risk participants vaccinated, compared to 24.3% of the general population in San Pablo (and 38.9% in San Juan La Laguna) 9 employees received free food delivery while in quarantine

LETʼS WALK TOGETHER (Diabetes)

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patients with diabetes benefited from our program

ACHIEVING DREAMS (Scholarships)

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students in 2022

40% of the patients from San Pablo and 45% from San Juan have controlled sugar levels

69% passed on to the next school year

480 food vouchers delivered to diabetes patients

155 trees planted in the community by our students

102 house visits carried out to vulnerable patients 87 workshops carried out by our health promoters

54 handcrafts made by our students were sold

33 support group sessions carried out by our health promoters

ADOLESCENT HEALTH HIGH IMPACT HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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FAMILIES ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM

30 adolescents, aged 11–13, graduated in 2022 from our five-month course 5 educational videos broadcast on local TV 91% comprehension of health topics at the end of the program (compared to 59% at the start) 111 individuals attended seven educational work shops carried out by our health promoters

78 water filters and 66 stoves installed

336 individuals obtained access to safe drinking water and clean air 146 monitoring and evaluation interviews carried out

ADMINISTRATION

3,627

people benefitted from our work on a budget of $435,100 Only 11% went to administration Eight new employees were hired

FUNDRAISING

310

INDIVIDUAL DONORS GAVE $82,000 9 ODIM Ambassadors gave $92,800 6 churches donated $72,100 $36,500 was received in grants $26,500 was raised by six teams of volunteers $5,500 was received in total patient donations

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GETTING TO KNOW OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR

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Healthcare has always been our milestone. We’re constantly looking for new ways to reach more people in the communities, and at the same time enhance medical attention for our patients. The pandemic made us realize how important it was to unify our Medical Clinics and Educational Programs to have better follow-ups, customize treat‐ ments, and collect exact data.

This represented a huge step for us! So, we needed an incredible professional who could match our challenge, and that’s where Dr. Andrea García joined our team! knew from a very young age that I wanted to study medicine. My role model was my mother,

Iwho had a small general physician clinic in our home when I was very young. She passed away when I was 13, and this made my decision to become a future doctor even stronger.

I attended medical school at the only public University in Guatemala, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. From there, I went straight into a residency program for pediatrics, only to find out that the hospital was not my favorite place to practice medicine. While I could help many people in the hospital, I believed that the lack of education and preventa‐ tive healthcare was the cause of most cases I treated. So, I finally decided to do a master’s program in Food Security and Nutrition at INCAP with the University of San Carlos.

Understanding the multiple factors for disease, I sought work in community health.

Having worked in Sololá’s communities since 2016, I fell in love with the lake and the beautiful communities and women I worked with. Jumping on board as Medical Director for ODIM was a true honor and an easy shift for me. Uniting my love for preventative health and the Sololá community, working at ODIM has been a true blessing.

My work at ODIM as Medical Director focuses on quality improvement, data collection, and at the same time I use my medical knowledge to support ODIM´s leaders in the revi‐ sion and execution of medical attention, programs, and community education curricula.

My favorite part of working at ODIM is working alongside such strong, intelligent, and empowered Tz’utujil women. I really believe that my coworkers bring so much to the table and play a vital role in the success of ODIM’s community healthcare programs and clinics.

I continuously learn from them.

It is widely known in Guatemala that access to quality healthcare and education is available to those who speak Spanish and live in urban areas. Anyone outside those criteria is at the mercy of the underfunded public healthcare system with Spanish-speaking doctors who rarely practice in the country's rural areas. Living in scarcity with often underpaid informal employment and agricultural day jobs, families have difficulty getting out of the villages to reach a public healthcare post. If they can pay for the transportation, they will most likely need to buy their treatment because of the lack of medicine funded by the government.

With this reality, when a community healthcare provider offers help, education, or medicine, it is not an easy task because of previous bad experiences of the community members. The fact that healthcare providers are from the same community and speak their language breaks barriers often faced in other public or private healthcare clinics. For example, the fact that patients can learn in Tz´utujil about what diabetes is and what that means to their bodies is a huge step toward overcoming language and trust barriers.

ODIM is constantly searching for opportunities to improve the quality of services in healthcare and education. During 2022, we identified the importance of a full-time physi‐ cian within the clinics for ODIM. We believe this will support our primary care nurses in day-to-day patient care and give ODIM a unique insight as to needs within the clinic and opportunities for quality healthcare for our community members.

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TAKING CARE OF THE CARETAKER with Melyna Cholotío Pérez

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As a team, we are used to taking care of others. Daily we take care of pregnant women, babies, mothers, teenagers, students, patients with diabetes, and all other kinds of diseases. Our educational programs and clinics are open to anyone seeking support or medical attention. Nevertheless, in 2021 things were reversed: Someone took care of us.

An incredible donor sponsored our 36 staff members by covering health insurance for a year. This was extremely useful for the staff because it allowed them to focus on their well-being along with their relatives.

TO GIVE YOU A BETTER PERSPECTIVE ON IT, WE SPOKE WITH MELYNA CHOLOTÍO PÉREZ, THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND CLINICAL PROGRAMS, TO DISCUSS HOW THE HEALTH INSURANCE HELPED HER WITH HER DISEASE. THIS IS HER STORY:

In 2012 I had my first visit to the Sanjuanerita Clinic as a patient. On the walls of the clinic I saw a flyer for a workshop on diabetes which caught my attention, so I decided to sign up. Later on, I heard about a job opening as a health pro‐ moter in the “Let’s Walk Together” program, so I applied and happily was hired!

In 2013 I shifted to health promoter for the “Reproductive Health” program, and in 2014 held the Coordinator position of the “Let’s Walk Together” and “Reaching Dreams” programs. In 2017, I was promoted to the position of Assistant Manager of Community Programs, which represented amazing growth for me! In 2020, I accepted the position of Manager of Community Programs, and finally in 2023, embraced a new challenge as Director of Community and Clinical Programs.

In addition, ODIM gave me a scholarship in 2015 that allowed me to continue and finished my Clinical Psychology studies. I have had several educational training processes and diplomas, as well as internships with different health pro‐ fessionals. I love to guide, accompany, and listen to people who interact with me or request my support. It makes me feel incredible because I can help others the same way they’ve helped me.

About the incredible news: When we received the donation for health insur‐ ance, the first thing I thought was that I would have the opportunity to perform my thyroid hormone tests to verify the dose of medication. It was a blessing to receive this benefit because it is the first time since my years working at ODIM that employees have had all those opportunities.

My colleagues are very grateful to the donor too. Many of us managed to do something for our health after waiting a long time. Several used it for themselves, others for the health of their children, or other family members with medical needs, which is also important. Everyone was really happy to have this gift!

It helped me with laboratory tests and to buy medicines that were prescribed to me. So I was able to have access to more check-ups with specialists and received more medical attention.

My heart is full of joy knowing that there are people around the world who think of us and our well-being. My gratitude is immense to the donor for all her kindness, empathy, and compassion to ODIM employees. May God give wisdom and blessings to her life!

Human beings need the support of someone else and our incredible donor had a big heart to give us that support that benefited more than 30 people and their families.

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OVERVIEWof PROGRAMS The Organization for the Development of the Indigenous Maya, or ODIM Guatemala provides community-driven healthcare and education in the indigenous towns of San Pablo and San Juan La Laguna.

ODIM also operates a dental clinic, providing patients with cleaning, fillings, and extractions. To date, it remains the only dental clinic of its kind in the region to provide afford‐ able care.

ODIM operates two medical clinics and offers an array of services to patients including primary care, prenatal care, diabetes treatments, medication, family planning, and labo‐ ratory testing.

In addition to operating medical and dental clinics, ODIM runs five community programs addressing a range of com‐ munity needs including childhood malnutrition, adoles‐ cent health, tutoring and enrichment classes to students, diabetes education, and safe stoves and drinking water.

Patients pay a nominal fee (about $3), but no patients are turned away for lack of funds. Our clinic provides an average of 5,500 treatments a year to patients, many of whom would otherwise not be able to afford treatment.

These programs are both evidence-based and culturally aligned and are led by members of the community in both Spanish and the Maya language of Tz’utujil.

Reaching Dreams/Alcanzando Sueños BUDGET: $27,050 COORDINATOR: PAULINA QUIACAÍN ODIM’s first community education program, “Reaching Dreams/Alcanzando Sueños”, was founded in 2008 with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty for children in San Pablo La Laguna through educational scholarships.

Four out of 10 children in San Pablo are not in school, and 80% of those who are, drop out before 6th grade. The majority of families list “lack of funds” as the principal reason for not being able to continue their child’s education.

Each year, this program helps promising junior high and high school students reach their academic goals by offering scholarships, funded by generous sponsors, to cover their school tuition, books, supplies, and uniforms.

ODIM scholarship students also receive supplemental tutoring by ODIM promoters in English, Mathematics, Sexual Education, and Computing as well as complimentary access to primary medical and dental care in our clinics. To give back to their community, students organize monthly community service projects that support local environmental and conservation efforts in their hometown.

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Achievements in 2022: We enrolled seven new students and accomplished more than 120 reinforcement classes. In addition, we worked within the community to become greener, collecting 95 sacks of inorganic waste and planting 155 trees. Our staff received multiple training sessions to be able to implement new learning strategies with the students.

We salute the hard work of these students and the support from their families and sponsors.

For just $95 a month you can sponsor one of our students in the scholarship program.

Let’s Walk Together/Caminemos Juntos BUDGET: $30,275 COORDINATOR: KELLY MENDOZA CHOLOTÍO

who, because of their severe disease, have fewer chances to work in regular-income jobs in towns around the Lake.

Diabetes is a widespread health issue in Guatemala that affects 30% of men and 27% of women nationally.

Each year we help patients with diabetes manage their symptoms and live healthy lives.

ODIM’s “Let’s Walk Together” diabetes program provides education about living healthy with the disease, exercise, cooking classes, and bi-weekly support groups. The pro‐ gram’s goal is to empower participants to take control of their health and live the healthiest life possible. Participants also receive health consultations, house visits, regular glucose and A1C checks, and extremely low-cost monthly medicines (at approximately $1.50 per month).

You can sponsor a participant in Caminemos Juntos for $35 a month.

Achievements in 2022: Seventeen of our most vulnerable patients learned how to check their own sugar levels and administer their own insulin. Plus, we were able to provide several clinical workshops and medical appointments led by excellent foreign doctors. Thanks to the vital support of our donors, we increased the food basket value for all participants, which represented a huge help to our most vulnerable patients

Healthy Mommy & Me/Mamá y Yo Saludable BUDGET: $43,279 COORDINATOR: ROSARIO LEJA ODIM’s “Healthy Mommy & Me” program was founded in 2015 as part of the global movement: “1,000 days to change the life of a child”. Each year we work with at least 120 mothers and their babies. Guatemala has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world, with 47% of

children under age five suffering from chronic malnutrition.

The long-term consequences for their physical health and intellectual development are devastating. The program includes four methods of intervention: prenatal and post‐ natal healthcare for mothers and infants up to two years of age, education focused on child development and healthy nutrition using local food sources, monthly distribution of nutritional supplements, and monthly support groups.

Achievements in 2022: Keeping in mind the vulnerability of the group, we adapted our work to maintain Covid pro‐ tocols by dividing the moms and babies into smaller groups to reduce crowding in the clinic spaces. We are happy to say we delivered prenatal vitamins, food baskets, hygiene kits for babies, and supplements for children with growth retarda‐ tion to all 175 participants over the year. As for the staff, they were in constant training to learn how to take better care of mothers and babies in rural contexts.

For just $55 a month you can sponsor a mother and child in this program.

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Adolescent Health/Salud del Adolescente BUDGET: $21,158 COORDINATOR: BETTY PÉREZ Guatemala has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in all Central America. 84% of women in Guatemala have their first child before they reach age 20, often earlier. Meanwhile, the public-school curriculum often truncates or omits topics on sexual education, and discussion regarding topics of sex is a taboo subject in households of the communities where we work.

ODIM’s Adolescent Health empowers youth in San Pablo and San Juan la Laguna through comprehensive sexual health education. Participants learn about gender equality, consent in relationships, human rights, sexual orientation, birth control methods, physical development, and mental health. Plus, they become peer educators in their communities. We also provide education for parents, family members and teachers Achievements in 2022: Thirty adolescents from the two communities graduated from the five-month course. In San Pablo La Laguna, the participants increased their knowledge, as measured by pre- and post-tests, from 50% to 83%; In San Juan La Laguna the increase was from 68% to 98%. ODIM promoters led twelve support groups with the topics of Selfesteem, Alcoholism, and Depression. Plus, 60 workshops and five educational videos that aimed to teach the community about Family planning methods, Consent, and sexual harassment.

For just $36 a month, you can sponsor one of our students for one month of the five-month course.

High Impact Home Improvements (HIHI)/ Vivienda Saludable BUDGET: $29,350 COORDINATOR: JUANA UJPAN Founded in 2018, ODIM’s High Impact Home Improve‐ ment program aims to improve the health of low-income families in San Pablo and San Juan through impactful home interventions. Families in our program receive efficient, wood-burning stoves that reduce or eliminate smoke in the homes and Ecofiltro water filters, which reduce and elimi‐ nate the number of bacteria in drinking water. These two home interventions combat the prevalence of respiratory and intestinal illnesses caused by toxic smoke inhalation and consumption of contaminated water. Each family also receives six educational sessions to learn how to use and maintain these interventions as well as strategies to maintain the overall health and hygiene of the home.

Achievements in 2022: A total of 66 households in San Pablo and San Juan received stoves and Ecofiltros, which benefitted 336 individuals. Additionally, ODIM promoters conducted 146 follow-up monitoring visits in households 14

that were past recipients of stoves and filters. Plus, nine filter units were changed. ODIM promoters also received con‐ stant training from our allies and produced one instruc‐ tional video focused on how to build stoves to help volun‐ teer groups.

For $470 you can provide an Onil stove, Ecofilter, and classes for one family!

Medical Clinics

Dental Clinics

BUDGET: $114,489 ADMINISTRATOR (Medical and Dental): MELYNA CHOLOTÍO PÉREZ DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND CLINICAL PROGRAMS

BUDGET: $22,954

Our two medical clinics provide high quality, culturally com‐ petent, affordable primary health care to the populations of San Pablo and San Juan La Laguna. The providers include bilingual Spanish/Tz’utujil speaking nurses and a physician local to the community. Patients usually pay a donation of $3, though no one is turned away for lack of funds.

Achievements in 2022: We reached 254 new patients in the two communities, which reflects the strong trust people have in our work. The clinic health promoters also con‐ tinued home visits to mothers who had recently given birth, monitored the mothers’ and babies’ health, and helped fam‐ ilies develop a plan for the care of both the mother and child.

At the same time, we expanded our education and distribu‐ tion of contraceptive methods and reinforced our valuable alliance with ALAS (Wings) Guatemala to give local women free access to long-term contraceptive methods.

Dentistry in Guatemala is characterized by being expensive, and difficult to access. Our dental clinic remains as the only one of its kind within San Pablo and San Juan La Laguna communities, providing cleaning, fillings, restoration, pulp therapy, and extraction services to all people.

Our main goal is to teach people that it is better to take care of their teeth than to try to fix them. Many patients come to have their teeth extracted and are very surprised when we show them that our job is the opposite: Strive to save them!

Achievements in 2022: We are back! After the lockdown caused by COVID-19, all health services were affected, espe‐ cially the dental service. ODIM’s dental clinic was on break for several months and in August of this year, we were able to form a new team to reactivate dental care. This new stage comes with new proposals as we managed to reduce the number of dental extractions and increase the number of restorations in patients, all thanks to another achievement: the acquisition of new dental materials for pulp therapies.

People in San Juan and San Pablo la Laguna now know that tooth extraction is not their only option.

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Why Do We Become Volunteers?

With Dirty Girl Adventures (DGA)

1. For a start, we would like to know a little bit about you.

I’m Jennifer- An occupational therapist, who worked in healthcare for over 20 years. I have two kids, love my family, dogs, and being outdoors.

2. How did you end up volunteering with ODIM? What inspired you to come the first time?

Three trips to Guatemala. I chose to come on the first trip because I was really inspired by the work ODIM was doing with the HEALTHY MOMMY AND ME PROGRAM, and I wanted to see firsthand how ODIM worked.

3. What keeps bringing you back to ODIM? It is definitely the mission of the organization and the effort that is put into promoting the health of mommies and babies.

It is also the effort put forth by ODIM staff to support our fundraising and to create a special experience for us when we are in Guatemala.

4. What type of volunteer or activities do you do while you are in Guatemala?

Our favorite volunteer activity is always stove building. This puts us face-to-face with Mayan families, and we get to see their homes and often work alongside the families. That experience is so rewarding because we see an immediate and concrete impact when we are done building the stove.

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5. In your opinion, what have been the benefits of being a volunteer with us? What has been challenging for you?

One of the biggest benefits is the exposure to a different culture and a different country. Also, learning about soli‐ darity through service; how important it is to not put our expectations on the experience, but just be open to hearing from ODIM and the Mayan people about how we can help.

I always feel a bit anxious if our group is going to meet our fundraising goal each year, but the mission of ODIM is so compelling, and people are so generous and responsive to our requests.

6. Can you tell me an experience you had while being a volunteer that you appreciate or had any impact on you or someone you know?

Several years ago, we put stoves in homes in San Pablo. It was really impactful to be in a home in that village and see first‐ hand the differences in the communities. It was a really small home, a room in a larger complex, on an uneven surface. I will never forget seeing the cooking utensils the woman had been using. They were covered in tar from cooking over an open fire for so long. Seeing that really made me understand how much ODIM's services are needed in San Pablo.

7. What would you consider something you miss when you go back home from Guatemala and ODIM? We definitely miss the people. We miss Petrona’s cooking, and the slower pace of life we are exposed to while in Guatemala.

8. Do you have any words for volunteer teams or people that are thinking of coming to Guatemala?

Any recommendations?

Our group has always felt safe and taken care of when we are in Guatemala, thanks to advance preparation by ODIM staff. We have always been supported in our fundraising efforts here in the United States.

Don't be afraid to make a fundraising commitment to ODIM. This opportunity to work side by side and develop connections with the organization and relationships with the people is invaluable. We recommend having an open heart and mind during the experience and leaving precon‐ ceived notions about Guatemala at home. Be open to the experience and save time for adventure and natural interac‐ tions with the Guatemalan people.

DR. JEFFREY (CHIP) LUERDING A Tribute to a Friend of ODIM Jeffrey (Chip) Luerding, M.D., and his wife, Cindy, first visited Guatemala in February 2014 and immedi‐ ately fell in love with the country and its people. Chip visited Guatemala at the urging of his partner, Martin Kanne, M.D. with whom he had practiced for over thirty years and who had worked in Guatemala for even longer. He accompanied Dr. Kanne on all four of his trips and returned once with Cindy, before his un‐ timely and unexpected death in January 2022, just two weeks after returning from his last trip to Guatemala.

Chip found the goals and mission of ODIM to fit in with his aspirations for helping people in Guatemala.

Because his beloved mother-in-law and oldest daughter had type I diabetes, he was particularly impressed with ODIM’s attention to diabetes education and continu‐ ing care. He also visited the clinics each time he was in

Guatemala, where ODIM’s personnel impressed him with their kindness, professionalism, and commitment to their patients.

The High Impact Home Improvement (HIHI) program caught his attention, leading to a financial contribution to ODIM. In January 2022, he visited multiple homes that had received stoves and water systems and was pleased with the improvements made in the lives of the families. Following Chip’s memorial service, funds were raised in his honor and generously donated by Cindy and their children to charities in Guatemala. Not only did the Luerding family lose a great husband and father, but the people of Guatemala also lost a dedicated ambassador.

Chip will be greatly missed and fondly remembered as the impact of his donation lives on.

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WHY SHOULD YOU COME TO GUATEMALA? Plan your trip and give us a visit!

Whether it is your first time or second time in Guatemala. If you are looking for an intrepid beautiful destination that’s rich in culture, ancient Mayan history, breathtaking lakes, colorful colonial cities, active volcanoes, and endless outdoor adventures, then we are the country you are looking for.

What’s next? This year we are happy to share our volunteer opportunities, creating innovative experiences that will be life-changing for our visitors and our family benefi‐ ciaries. We designed a specific COVID-19 health protocol for teams, which has helped us minimize risks and keep volunteers, staff, and community members safe.

At ODIM we seek to provide a unique experience of hospitality, focusing our activities on the sustainability of our programs in the communities where we work. Do you love adventure and exploring the outdoors? This is a great opportunity to experience Guatemala by kayaking, hiking, birding, and exploring the volcanoes and mountains that surround ODIM. With its dark blue waters, vibrant orange sunrises and sunsets and three active volcanoes, Lake Atitlan is a true beauty.

This is a rewarding way to give as it allows you to experience incredible moments while making a tangible social impact by supporting our community programs. You will also learn more about the challenges faced in local communities and how ODIM is working to help people overcome those challenges. If you are passionate about learning about different cultures and want to have an authentic experience in the heart of the Mayan world, this opportunity is for you!

Home Improvement Team: Build a better life for families …literally! As a Home Improvement Team member, you will install stoves and Ecofilter water filters to provide clean air and safe drinking water to families in San Juan and San Pablo La Laguna. These high-impact installations are critical in reducing respiratory problems and digestive problems caused by contaminated air and water. We are counting on you to provide lifechanging effects for people in our communities. Our typical construction teams build between 10 and 16 stoves a week, giving you the opportunity to be of maximum service!

The best part: you don’t have to have any prior construction experience. Our trained staff will teach you everything you need to know and get you into homes to make lasting, long-term changes.

Medical Teams: Help us bring high-quality healthcare to the communities! Our medical teams are the epitome of the phrase “life changing”. ODIM operates two medical clinics and a dental clinic. All our clinical services are designed around the needs of the community members, many of whom struggle with many chronic health issues, such as diabetes and malnutrition. As a medical volunteer, you get to use your medical expertise in a way that gives back and heals those who need it most. You will work in our clinics, alongside our supportive local staff who will be eager to learn from you. You will almost certainly be touched by the genuine warmth of the people you encounter.

TO START ORGANIZING YOUR NEXT TRIP TO GUATEMALA, GET IN TOUCH WITH US VIA EMAIL at VOLUNTEER.COORDINATOR@ODIMGUATEMALA.ORG

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ULTIMATE GUATEMALA CHALLENGE

The Adventure of a Lifetime Can you imagine being a tourist while your adventure advocates to prevent malnutrition in rural areas in Guatemala? This is your opportunity!

Picture yourself on a trek through cloud forests, coffee groves, and rural vil‐ lages; or get to see the sunrise from the top of one of the highest volcanoes in Central America… Not your style? What if we add a dip into fresh water from the most beautiful lake you’ll ever see? Sounds like out of a magazine but it’s our ULTIMATE GUATEMALA CHALLENGE! The Challenge is our annual fundraising event which takes participants through three incredible challenges (city-to-lake cross trek, hike up a volcano, and paddle boarding across Lake Atitlan) during an intense week that stays with you forever.

Why should you take part in the Challenge?

By taking part in this event, you will be funding the participation of more than 170 mothers and their babies in our “Healthy Mommy and Me” program. This program could not be more relevant in Guatemala, where the rates of chronic malnutrition are some of the highest in the world and the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean.

How does it work?

The total cost of each participant is $700 (which covers hotels, tour guides, food, and shuttles). We ask each challenger to try to fundraise an additional $3,500. If you achieve your fundraising goal, ODIM will cover part of your registration, which means you only have to pay $500 to participate!

To take part, you need to be in good physical shape… but you do not need to be an athlete! This is a rewarding way to give as it allows you to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a tangible social impact.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? JOIN US! EMAIL US AT VOLUNTEER.COORDINATOR@ODIMGUATEMALA.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION! 19

ODIM

$7,500

Spon

AMBASSADORS

sor o one ur clinic mon s th

Our Ambassadors are our most precious donors. They make a significant financial commitment to support the work of ODIM by pledging to donate $7,500 a year to cover the complete cost of our medical clinics for one month. Our Ambassadors give us the ability to successfully plan for the future, safe in the knowledge that we will have funds for medical staff salaries, medicine, lab testing, and enough to pay the electricity bill!

ODIM CLINIC AMBASSADORS — 2022 JANUARY

KAY SOETAERT

FEBRUARY

PAULA SAUDER

MARCH

PAULA SAUDER

APRIL

PAUL COPPING

MAY

PAUL COPPING

JUNE

KAY SOETAERT

JULY

ANNIE ZANDER

AUGUST

ANONYMOUS

SEPTEMBER

CHRISTOPHER & MICHELLE FORTNER

OCTOBER

CHRISTOPHER & MICHELLE FORTNER

NOVEMBER

CHRISTOPHER & MICHELLE FORTNER

DECEMBER

CAROLINE WILSON

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WE STILL HAVE 3 MONTHS OPEN IN 2023!

Please get in touch if you or your company can sign up to support our work within the communities.

WHERE YOUR

DONATIONS GO REVENUES

For the fiscal year ending December 31st 2022 ($391,323) Donations from Patients 1.43% — $5,580

Donations from ODIM Ambassadors 23.74% — $92,895

Donations from Individuals 20.27% — $82,064

Donations from Fundraising Events 6.36% — $24,869 Donations from Grants 9.33% — $36,527 Donations from Volunteer Teams 6.76% — $26,500 Donations from Corporations 0.13% — $498

Donations from Campaigns 8.04% — $31,463 Donations from Sponsors 4.80% — $18,776 Donations from Churches/Groups 18.44% — $72,148

EXPENSES

For the fiscal year ending December 31st 2022 ($388,158) Administrative 11% — $43,623

Healthy Mommy & Me 12% — $47,232

Facility Care & Mgmt.

13% — $50,875

Adolescent Health 6% — $21,864

Communications & Dev. 9% — $36,165

Letʼs Walk Together 7% — $26,547

Volunteer Coordination 3% — $11,755

Reaching Dreams 5% — $20,257

Medical Clinic 21% — $82,741

High Impact House Improvement 8% — $32,849

Dental Clinic 4% — $14,244

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SPECIAL

THANKS! OUR FINANCIAL PARTNERS Colorado College Medtronic Foundation R.I.M Enterprises LLC Dirty Girl Adventures Soroptimist International Leiden Aurora Northaven United Methodist Church Human Development Fund The Advance | United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries City View Foundation Cole Family Foundation A&A Steel Enterprises MPress ODIM ALLIES (MAJOR DONORS) Annie Zander Barbara & Nick Payne Brieanne Kohrt Caroline Wilson & Charles Koetting Cat & Kyle Rutledge Chris & Michelle Fortner Dr. Martin Kanne Father Dyer UMC Greg Bachman Harvey & Terry Baxter Henry & Mary Ellen Irving Rev. Jack & Rev. Marti Soper Jeannie & Rich Jensen Jean & Robert Evans Chip & Cindy Luerding JoAna Dwyer Kay Soetaert Linda Foxworthy Mary & Bob Harris Manichanh Ratts, PA-C Paul & Julie Copping Paula Sauder

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Phil & Barbara Gibbs Ron Wilhelm & Kim Batchelor Robert & Cecelia Resnik Sandra Davis Sharon Gale Suzanne Brevard Thomas Vickie & Kent Eaton West End UMC ODIMʼS TEAMS & CHURCHES Father Dyer UMC West End UMC Northaven UMC St. Andrew UMC First United Methodist Church of Denton, Texas Trinity UMC Cafe Quetzal Platte Woods United Methodist Church Topeka First UMC ODIMʼS LOCAL PARTNERS AMI San Lucas Amigos de Santa Cruz NGO Casa Materna Days for Girls Guatemala Universidad Rafael Landivar Natün Hospitalito Atitlan MAIA Konojel La Iguana Perdida Mayanza Multicolores Guatemala Proyecto Salud y Paz Saving Mothers (Salvando Madres) Tropicana Hostel Vision Guatemala WINGS Guatemala (Asociación Alas de Guatemala)

Wuqu' Kawoq Centro Maya Alma de Colores National Hospital of Sololá and the government health centers of San Pablo, San Juan, San Pedro and San Marcos La Laguna EntreMundos El Directorio Guatemala OUR EXPERTS Dr. Brieanne Kohrt, California State University LA Teah Caine, MD Trey Harrell, MD Manichanh Ratts, PA-C Alma Pioquinto Carolyn Boley, NP Linda Foxworthy, FNP Kim Batchelor, MPH Nicolas Cumez Kiana Harish María Alejandra Guizler Bonilla Licda. Dunia Lucia Roncal Duque

BOARD Organization for the Development of the Indigenous Maya is a US registered 501(c)(3) Our Board of Directors is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the organization, and is accountable for our actions — legally, financially and morally.

The Board of Directors Ron Wilhelm, Ph.D. Rev. Jeannie Jensen Jackie Benjamin Jeanne Mathiesen Jeremy Johnson, D.O. Harvey Baxter, J.D. Paul Copping

TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE:

President Secretary Treasurer Director Director Director Director

www.odimguatemala.org/donate CHECK PAYABLE TO ODIM, MAILED TO: Martha Stowe 1527 Waterside Ct. Dallas, Texas 75218

KEY LEADERS Our Key Leader Team is responsible for providing effective senior leadership to the organization, by developing our overarching strategy and ensuring its successful implementation.

The Key Leader Team América Castro Andrea García Pedro Mendez Ana Silvia Sosa Melyna Cholotío Pérez Julieta Tzaj Arely Juarez Vanessa Hernández

Executive Director Medical Director Finance Manager Human Talent Manager Director of Community and Clinical Programs Manager of Community Programs Manager of Volunteer Programs Manager of Communications and Fundraising

For individual contact details go to www.odimguatemala.org/contact-us

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ODIM GUATEMALA Clínica Chuitinamit, San Pablo La Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala Clínica Sanjuanerita, San Juan La Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala odimguatemala.org OdimGuate guatemalaodim

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