Seeds Of Hope

Description

Seeds of Hope was set up in June 2002 to decrease the spread of tuberculosis in western Guatemala and improve the health, longevity, and quality of life of the population. It aims to increase access to TB treatment and help people infected with the disease stay in hospital until they are cured.

The project provides psychological, social and financial support to all patients at Rodolfo Robles hospital, Quetzaltenango, many of whom have AIDS and TB. We also educate the wider community about Tuberculosis prevention and treatment.

Activities

Social work is essential to evaluating and addressing the economic, social, and psychological problems patients face. These problems can often prevent patients staying in the hospital and completing their TB treatment.

The community awareness project informs isolated communities how they can access free treatment at Rodolfo Robles, recognize the symptoms of TB and AIDS, and prevent spreading these diseases. Out-patients and their families are educated on health issues while waiting for consultations in the external clinic. We hope to reach over 5,000 families per year in this way.

Recreational activities are designed to revitalize patients. Depression, alcoholism and addiction, along with economic strain, are the main reasons patients leave the hospital before finishing their treatment, and can decrease the body's ability to fight disease. Activities range from co-operative games to concerts, football matches and movies.

Hands in Action was set up to help patients with some of their financial needs. Patients can earn a little money and proceeds from Hands in Action crafts go towards a patient emergency fund.

The patient emergency fund comes from a combination of Hands in Action profits and private donations. Patients can apply for funds through the Seeds of Hope social worker. They may need money for examinations or medication that are not available at the hospital, their journey home, a telephone card to call their family, or to help support their family at home. In the process patients receive emotional support from the Seeds of Hope social worker.

The alcoholic support group offers hope to those suffering from alcoholism. Addiction lowers the body's ability to fight disease, makes the medication work less effectively, and is one of the main problems that lead patients to abandon their treatment.

The alcoholic support group is run by local facilitators from a nearby rehabilitation centre with the initial support of Seeds of Hope

Volunteer Opportunities

Hands in Action Coordinator

Hands in Action (HIA) began in 2003 as a way for the TB patients, who may live in the hospital for as long as a year, earn a little money. Profits also support a patient medical emergency fund. The HIA Coordinator will run this program with supervision from the Seeds of Hope staff. They will coordinate the making and selling of products as well as local fundraising. New ideas and programs are always welcome.

Social Worker

Needed - Counselor, social worker, or psychologist (student or graduate) to work full time in a small public hospital in Guatemala with the support of Seeds of Hope. Several social services programs are in place that the volunteer will be responsible for, but there is room for more program development. Min req. 6 months, advanced Spanish.

We also offer short term volunteer opportunities in the following areas. Please contact us for more information.

v      Public health education
v      Program development
v      Recreational activities with patients
v      Counseling by licensed professionals
v      Hands in Action activities
v      Fundraising and grant writing
v      Publicity and donor relations