Guatemalans Helping Guatemalans

8:00 p.m. Thursday: Social safety net is not a term that has meaning in Guatemala. Most children who are born with a cleft lip and/or palate would suffer their whole life if it weren’t for organizations like Rotaplast. I feel compelled, however, to highlight that this mission to Guatemala City would not be possible without the outpouring of generosity and support from the Club Rotario Guatemala de la Asunción and the local community.¨

Jeannette Umaña began preparing for our mission last September, securing dates with the Minister of Defense for use of the hospital and working with Guatemala’s School of Plastic Surgery and Medical School to receive accreditation for our medical team.

The 41 member club holds a jewelry bingo fundraiser to provide over $20,000 toward meals and lodging for more than 100 children and their families. One parent stays with their child the night before and after the surgery and the Rotary club provides a hotel room for the rest of the family who has traveled with them. For the Rotaplast team, breakfast and dinner are provided at the hotel and a caterer brings lunch to the hospital.

Non-cash donations are even more impressive. The owner of the Grand Tikal Futura Hotel donates rooms for the Rotaplast team. Television, radio and newspaper companies donate ads and run news stories to alert families around the country about the clinic. The value of services provided by the hospital exceeds $30,000. At least five local Rotary volunteers are at the hospital each day to assist with administrative duties, patient coordination, providing meals for the families and local arrangements.

Generous contributions from clubs in northern California Rotary District 5130 provide about $48,000 toward the mission. The nonmedical volunteers are also from the district. Rotaplast organizes the highly specialized doctors, nurses and dentist who all volunteer their services. Our team comes from all over the United States and several other countries.

This year is the seventh mission our Rotary district has been able to stage in Guatemala. They have been so successful because, in addition to all that our district provides, more than $100,000 of cash, goods and services are contributed by Guatemalans who truly care about their own children.