Partners

In line with our goals to support local initiatives, HANDS forms alliances with local organizations and corporations in Central America to tackle underdevelopment in these areas. Through our alliances, we provide volunteers with the opportunity to participate in volunteer programs that match up with their skill set, thus maximizing the impact of the organizations in their respective communities. Our approach is fundamental to bringing efficiency into the non-profit industry by unifying the efforts of all parties with whom we share a common goal: to reduce poverty in Guatemala.
 
Our partners range from local businesses interested in making a valuable impact in their communities, to organizations that have gained credibility through their contributions in Guatemala. We also look to partner with and support organizations formed by youth initiatives that exemplify leadership and social responsibility and are interested in constructing a better future for Guatemala. Currently HANDS forms partnerships with organizations in Guatemala that have projects focused on development, particularly in the areas of housing, health, education, community development, nutrition and micro-financing. Through these alliances, HANDS facilitates volunteer placements to help organizations meet their development goals and increase their reach in the communities of Guatemala.

	Clinica Santa Barbara was founded by the Chusita Llerandi de Herrera Foundation in 2004 to provide medical assistance and contribute to the physical, mental and social well-being of the communities of San Lucas Sacatepequez. The Santa Barbara Health Center has an alliance with the School of Medicine of the University Francisco Marroquin and has implemented a Community Program in which students must complete an internship in the Clinic prior to graduation. There is always a rotation of medical students and the Clinic welcomes international volunteers to increase its reach in the communities.To learn more, visit http://medicina.ufm.edu/cms/es/clinica-barbara
	Constru Casa is a non-profit organization that aims to improve the housing and living conditions of poor families in Guatemala by building them new houses, help them get on the path to a better future and a better way of living. Students participating in the service trips will build houses in groups of four to six, together they build a house of concrete blocks and a resistive roof with kitchen, two bedrooms and for some families it is the first time they have a bathroom. No special qualifications are needed and the labor will be divided according to the physical strength of each volunteer, under the supervision of a skilled local mason and his helper. Work mainly consists of digging foundations, carrying materials, mixing concrete, laying blocks, etc. To learn more, visit http://www.construcasa.org/nuevo/index.php
	Ecofiltro is an initiative that aims to provide low-income families with clean drinking water. This organization is centered in one product: the Ecofiltro. The Ecofiltro, made from locally found clay and sawdust, offers clean drinking water in a cost-effective manner, while providing an ecological alternative to boiling and chlorinating water. It has been defined that Ecofiltro reduces by 50% the incidence of diseases, reducing health costs and work and school absenteesim. Ecofiltro is present in the rural areas of Guatemala. To read more, visit www.ecofiltro.org
	Esperana Juvenil is an organization that provides housing and education for children from low-income families. Esperanza Juvenil´s school goes as far as 10th grade. After that, Esperanza Juvenil finds different schools with different types of scholarship programs so that they can get a High School Diploma. Esperanza Juvenil receives volunteers to engage with children in a wide variety of programs. In this program, volunteers are asked to be creative and submit a proposal of a seminar, training and/or program that could be implemented in Esperanza Juvenil during their Spring Break. These programs must be appropriate for children and teach them something that they can use in their lives. In other occasions, volunteers have developed art workshops, gave cooking lessons, taught English, created fitness routines, etc. If you are looking for a week of creativity and fun, this program is perfect for you! If you want to know more about this program, To learn more, visit http://www.boyshopegirlshope.org/
	Fundacion Chusita Llerandi de Herrera is a non-profit organization created in 1973 to provide better health care to the people in Guatemala. The Foundation encourages private activities of medical education and disease prevention. The Foundation also sponsors professional studies , science and research with the purpose of improving the quality of medical professionals and helping people with lack of financial means to have access to medical attention. With these objectives, the Foundation builds, organizes and manages hospitals, nursing homes and tuberculosis sanatoriums to raise the standard of health, medicine and medical care in Guatemala. To learn more, visit http://medicina.ufm.edu/cms/es/fundacion
	Margarita Tejada is an organization that works specifically with down-syndrome students. FMT believes that down-syndrome people should be taught to be as independent as possible in order for them to have a normal life. For this reason, they are in the constant search for volunteers how study psychology or special education, and have recently developed a one-week volunteer program for college students. Volunteers will be part time working as teacher assistants and helping students practicing their English. In addition, they are free to come up with ideas of workshops to be executed during their time in Guatemala. If you want to know more about this program, To learn more, visit http://fundacionmargaritatejada.org/web/
	SIFE UVG is an organization with projects of rural development in Guatemala. SIFE UVG is part of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) which is a world wide non-profit organization present in 47 countries dedicated to educating people on concepts like market economics, entrepreneurship and business ethics through educational outreach projects. Currently, they have over 7 projects, each with a different focus in the following areas: children, environment, agriculture, empowered women, micro-financing and entrepreneurship. To learn more, visit www.sifeuvg.org.gt
	Vista Volcanes is an initiative that introduces a new technology for field work to become more productive and efficient. Vista Volcanes creates agricultural projects with macrotunnels, a new technology where vegetables are cultivated without the use of insecticide, providing communities with impoved nutritional vegetables, at a lower cost and which higher yield. This allows communities to move from subsistence farming to market production, giving them additional income generation and the opportunity to leave the circle of poverty. To learn more, visit www.vistavolcanesgt.org

HANDS´ efforts to promote the development of Guatemala will not be possible without these partnerships. Their focus on sustainable success, values and hard work to help our country have become a model for our organization and the volunteers that participate in our programs.