Chocruz Project

In collaboration with two small German-based NGOs, Aldea Laura and Mirador, this pilot program is designed to teach indigenous Mayan women health promotion and education skills necessary for running a health post in Chocruz, Momostenango, a medically-underserved community in the highlands of Guatemala. We are starting the program with two women from the area, Patricia and Olga, who recently graduated with teaching degrees. They will train with AMA for 10 months and learn how to provide basic health services to people in their community. In June 2011, a needs-assessment was carried out by a Master’s in public health student from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. She was supervised in researching the health needs of the community and her findings have shaped how Patricia and Olga translate their training into practice.