Hickey to Guatemala

On 25th September, I am going to Guatemala with two other physios to volunteer for 10 weeks. We will be working with an Non-Governmental Organisation providing physiotherapy for physically and intellectually disabled people from all over the country. We will initially be working in one of the branches in Chimaltenango, approximately 30km from Guatemala city. There thay have good facilities and we will be working with other phisiotherapists. Once we become more confident in the language and in our work, we will be moving to another organization in a nearby town who want us to help them to provide consultation with similarly disabled people. They currently have no equipment and there is no other phisios working with them.  We will spend the remainder of the 10 weeks at this site. For the duration of the trip, we will be staying with host families with the minimum of home comforts.

The project is being organised by EIL Ireland. EIL Intercultural Learning is an Irish not for profit organisation supporting local projects across the world. As part of the project, we are required to fundraise a sum of 1799euro. This sum is required to cover pre-departure and on-arrival workshops or briefings, language training, selection and screening of projects and accommodations, local transportation, ongoing program monitoring and 24 hours x 7 day emergency support. The host family will also be provided with money to provide our meals and accomodation. The trip itself, including flights, spending money etc. is coming entirely from our own pockets. 

We are hoping to provide as much help as we possibly can out there. We will be volunteering approx 40 hours a week, donating 1,200 man hours between us over the course of the projects.

I would be very grateful for any and every bit of support. Any and all donations are going to a great cause and will be massively appreciated.