Requiring all volunteers to be vaccinated to serve in Guatemala and implementing extensive COVID-19 prevention measures throughout the mission, we are continuing to meet the growing healthcare needs in Guatemala. Serving in a variety of ways throughout the pandemic, we began sending volunteer teams back to Guatemala on May 1, a sweet homecoming.

The pandemic, however, continues to rage in Guatemala. Although all of our Guatemalan staff and volunteer leaders are vaccinated, vaccination rates across Guatemala remain low with most of those vaccinated falling in the middle and upper middle-class populations. The people are continuing to suffer. In addition, their other healthcare needs continue to worsen as their overall health deteriorates.

Therefore, our presence in Guatemala has become more important than ever before. Thank you so much for your support as we redouble our efforts to serve, doing so as safely for the patients and volunteers as possible.

Please note that while the U.S. State Department recently issued a warning on travel to Guatemala, it is a republication of its April 2021 statement. We continue to monitor the situation and maintain strict protocols to ensure the safety of our patients, staff, and volunteers. For more information see our COVID FAQ’s.