Wuqu' Kawoq | Maya Health Alliance

I know the work of Wuqu’ Kawoq, and as a Guatemalan nutritionist, I love seeing an organization that is working to fight malnutrition in the country. Thank you for your work!

I've followed their work and grown to love them. Their team of local Guatemalans are exceptionally bright and hard working, and it's great to see their efforts going to a good cause in the communities around them

I had an incredible experience volunteering with Wuqu’ Kawoq last month. They are so committed to caring for the people of Guatemala, and they integrate local community-led efforts and teams with international volunteers like myself so seamlessly. This ensures very longitudinal support for the communities they serve which is an incredible feat, and I am proud to be able to say I’ve worked with them!

I recently volunteered with Wuqu’ Kawoq and it is one of the best, if the not the best, service organizations that I have worked with. Their focus on interacting with community members and working together to achieve their community's health goals has yielded great results. Every staff member is kind, caring, and dedicated to empowering the patients to achieve as close to a state of wellbeing as each circumstance allows. Can’t say enough great things about this organization!

I have had the amazing opportunity to volunteer with Wuqu Kawoq for over 9 months now. I am constantly blown away by this organization and their dedication to providing high quality, continual care to patients in their own language. Additionally, they continually monitor and evaluate their programs to ensure that every service they provide is truly benefiting the communities they serve. I am so impressed by the work Wuqu Kawoq does and the way that they go about doing it!

just volunteered as one of the clinicans and am impressed by this org providing great sustainable, longitudinal, dignified care to many marginalized subpopulations in guatemala!

Working with this organization in the Boca Costa and in the Highlands was inspiring to say the least. They are intentional with their practices, provide sustainable, and ethical care, to communities in their preferred language. Importantly, most of their staff is women, and most are indigenous Guatemalan. They are not only empowering their patients and clients, but they are empowering their staff too. I am so impressed and inspired by how this NGO operates and achieves their goals, I hope to be back with the University of Cincinnati to work with them again soon.

I have volunteered with this organization annually for 5 years and don’t plan to stop! They are dedicated and specific about their mission and hire individuals from the communities they are dedicated to serving. Among the nonprofits I have worked with throughout the world, they are exemplary.

I have been working with this organization for about 5 years via annual trips. They are simply the best, and an exceptional model for how other nonprofits should operate. They do such important work providing primary care, prenatal care, pediatric care, and complex care to patients and families with low access. Patients and staff are treated with dignity and respect, the teamwork is excellent, and the outcomes are great. I’m proud of the work they do, and lucky to be able to share in their work.

I can say, People in Wuqu' Kawoq love and look after for Guatemalan patients: they follow UP the cases, they are providing treatments, they covered many Labs. I love the special organization!

I’m a family physician and have been on several volunteer trips with Wuqu and the residency they team with. I am also on several non profit boards and have volunteered extensively in Guatemala. Of the many non profits I deal with, I think Wuqu is one of the best and built the way other non profits should be… mostly staffed and run by local communities and continuous care models that focus on the Mayan communities building independent and self sustaining healthcare. Bravo to them!

Wuqu' Kawoq is a wonderful organization led by Mayan community members that works with the existing resources in Guatemala to avoid duplicating services. They are a fantastic resource for their communities, and they do amazing work in improving childhood nutrition and development, reducing maternal mortality during pregnancy, and providing free longitudinal primary care to underserved communities. I believe it is the gold-standard for non-profit health organizations.

I was an interpreter for 2 weeks with this incredible organization and I am speechless. As a medical interpreter and also as Guatemalan, I value a lot the opportunity and privilege of having medical assistance. Wuku kawok is an amazing organization, both volunteers and staff members are so caring and loving for the communities and every single patient is a new connection, a new story. Everyone deserves health and that is something everyone has very clear. It was a great opportunity and I hope they can continue to help as much as possible.

I was privileged to have gone on an In-sight trip to Guatemala to observe what the Maya Health Alliance is doing in providing health care to the Mayan communities. Recipients of the program are helped with nutritional needs, language translation and medical care that is not otherwise available to the indigenous people. It’s clear that over the years, many children would have died without the help of Wuqu’ Kawoq. The families we visited have an extremely difficult life, but they push through it with dedication and optimism. They appreciate the care they are receiving and are extremely grateful for the services they have been given by the dedicated Wuqu’ Kawoq team.
Fran Bartosek

I was privileged to participate in one of the Maya Health Alliance Insight Trips. The many acts of kindness I experienced were a reflection of the generous spirit, compassion and passion that guides them in everything they do. Their work is truly impressive. I feel blessed that I was able to witness the health care work provided by the amazing Maya Health Alliance team for the impoverished, indigenous women and their children in Guatemala.

At Imago, we had the opportunity to work alongside a small team from Wuku Kawoq for 3 months, helping them think through their scaling up journey. As part of the process, we interviewed several team members, including the midwives, navigators, and the leadership team. We also had the opportunity to engage with mothers that have been part of Wuku Kawoq’ programs. Words such as “dignity” and “human-centered” are among those always highlighted as core to the organization. Through all our engagement we were able to see the team’s commitment to their cause, their rigorous approach, and their data-driven decision making. From the beginning, they have followed a co-creative process with the midwives and mothers. To make sure that they bring a solution that works for them, everything they do is field-tested. The Wuku Kawoq’ team welcomes constant feedback from the people that they serve. We have seen the transformation that Wuku Kawoq has brought for Mayan women and trust that they will continue to bring positive change everywhere they go.

I was appreciative of my visit to the Maya Health Alliance where I learned about the Mayan history, culture, and experiences within the Guatemalan mental health care system that these wonderful mujeres so kindly shared. I learned that Mayan individuals are more likely than Guatemalan individuals to experience social and economic issues within the mental health care system due to language barrier and discrimination. The Maya Health Alliance is doing impactful work to serve the majority of its clients who are Mayan women. The alliance has nurses and care navigators that have the cultural sensitivity and advocacy skills to help these women access equal and quality health care. I felt grateful to have a discussion and engaged with them to develop a new training program with them and their care navigators as additional ways to serve the Mayan community. I am looking forward to our growing partnership with them.

I have worked with Wuqu' Kawoq regularly over the last 3 years as a primary care physician, and they are by far the best organized and most effective nonprofit that I have ever worked with. By providing evidence-based medical care, researching the needs of their communities, and breaking down barriers in the local healthcare system, Wuqu is transforming the healthcare of their communities. Wuqu is making an immediate impact by providing essential medications, nutrition, and education while simultaneously laying a foundation to reduce mortality and increase average quality of life in a 15-20 year timeframe. I am continually impressed by Wuqu' Kawoq, and I have complete confidence that they will continue to be an example for nonprofits around the world.

I've worked with Wuqu' Kawoq for several years now. I've always been amazed at the excellent coordination within the community. Providing health care in your one language is taken for granted in the US, being able to provide high quality care and follow up in indigenous languages is an amazing feat. Continuity of care in the clinics and throughout the year is provided to patients served by Wuqu' Kawoq. Continued care is provided additionally through their Nutrition, Diabetes, and Complex care programs. The Nutrition program provides additional nutritional support from birth through age 3, once graduated additional comprehensive advice and guidance is provided in continued clinical visits. The Diabetes program provides frequent touch points, most often every few weeks, with nurses and community health workers to help patients manage their diabetes on their own. Providing nutritional education and making sure patients understand their medications. The Complex care program provides care to patients with complex medical issues, providing frequent consultation and oversight with a physician.
I love working with Wuku' Kawoq and will continue to support their mission for years to come.

I am an FNP who has been volunteering with two different health promoter programs on the other side of the lake from Tecpan for 23 years. The Maya health alliance has provided valuable help and collaboration to these programs. As someone familiar with the challenges of health care in Guatemala, I am very impressed with their ability to provide excellent medical services, while maintaining a focus on training and empowering local health care providers. I hope to visit and see their work first hand. Meanwhile, I donate what I can.

I currently serve as a volunteer with Wuqu' Kawoq, assisting with field work in a range of programs. After less than a month of working with this organization, I have been privileged to witness firsthand the profound and transformative impact of their work.

Every member of the team I have interacted with is deeply committed to their patients and work. It is evident that they themselves understand the barriers to accessing healthcare in rural areas on a more personal level. By prioritizing personalized care and community empowerment, Wuqu' Kawoq is making a lasting and positive impact on the lives of those they serve. By assisting with transport, care navigation, and providing care in the comfort of patient's homes, they are working towards eliminating the barriers posed by language and location.

Having had the privilege of gaining experiences in medical settings both in the United States and Guatemala City, I can truly say that Wuqu' Kawoq embodies a level of care that transcends the conventional boundaries of diagnosis and treatment. Their commitment to healing goes far beyond mere medical interventions, and is inspiring to everyone lucky enough to be a part of this organization.

When going to the Wuqu' Kawoq - Maya Health Alliance I was able to enjoy the time and people who I met. The people here care and are so educated about their community, and population being served. I hope that every person who needs Wuqu' Kawoq - Maya Health Alliance can come to this space and get the care and help that they need.

For nearly two years, my organization has partnered with Wuqu' Kawoq - Maya Health Alliance to develop, disseminate, and evaluate health education materials for Indigenous Maya communities. Wuqu' Kawoq's commitment to the Maya communities they represent is amazing! They are an organization by and for Maya peoples! They are committed to making sure that the Indigenous Maya populations they work with, and are a part of, receive culturally relevant health care and education in Mayan languages.

Amazing team with a holistic care focus and dedication to their patients and communities.

I volunteered for Wuqu' Kawoq for one year. In this year, I learned so much about Guatemala--the good and the bad--and this amazing organization. I can say that each and every member of the team is passionate about this work.

Personally, I was involved in coordinating trips of doctors from the University of Cincinnati. It is hard to do global health trips in a sustainable way, and yet this partnership is based in the mutual understanding that consistent and quality healthcare must be available to everyone despite the barriers of language, geography, and poverty.

I collaborate with Wuqu´Kawoq as part of an international research project and have been impressed with the caliber of their work in both the scientific and administrative realms. They have continually gone above and beyond to support capacity building and quality work in Guatemala as well as other countries in Central America.

As a Guatemalan physician with healthcare experience in rural settings, I could say there is no other NGO in Guatemala that provides high quality health care in Mayan indigenous languages the way MHA does. I have been involved with them since I was a medical student, for over 10 years. I will continue supporting this organization.

I enjoyed working with and caring for the patients. Having the opportunity to work in Guatemala for two weeks enabled me to gain more experience working in underserved and resource-poor communities. I learned more about illnesses that are less prevalent in the United States and learned about a new culture. Thank you!

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Wuqu’ on multiple medical service trips through the University of Cincinnati. The staff is truly wonderful and cares deeply about the work they are doing. I deeply admire their commitment to equitable access to healthcare, and the tangible results of their work prove how necessary organizations like Wuqu’ are.

Wuqu Kawoq genuinely cares about the people of Guatemala and they are constantly striving to improve the lives of people here.

I started working with Wuqu back in 2016 during a University of Cincinnati trip. Something that strikes me as different to other organizations is that Wuqu is constantly evolving based on research and feedback in order to improve the care they give to the community. They truly want to offer the highest quality medical care for all people and it shows in everything they do.

Although my time with Wuqu Kawoq this summer was short, I was able to witness the commitment and determination with which every community health worker, coordinator, and physician strives to give the best healthcare possible to all rural indigenous Guatemalans. They are truly an organization that says YES where everybody else says NO. Their community health initiatives are innovative, inclusive, comprehensive, and evidence-based.
My time in Guatemala was invigorating, full of learning, and inspiring. I can't wait to go back.

I have collaborated with members of Wuqu'Kawoq in different projects (research, open data technology, communication campaigns) on food and nutrition security, mental health, and COVID-19. I have been consistently impressed by the commitment and passion each member of the team has for Guatemala and for their work. Wuqu'Kawoq is an example of what an NGO should strive to become. They are research-based and solution-driven, and their team members are diverse and representative of the Guatemalan population.

A very professional organization, managed with very experienced people that make a huge impact in Guatemala. Guatemala is very lucky having Wuqu' Kawoq.

Wuqu’ Kawoq - Maya Health Alliance is an outstanding NGO that provides excellent and culturally sensitive health care to indigenous Maya Guatemalans. Because the care is provided by indigenous Maya Guatemalans, the Guatemalan healthcare system is strengthened, and the patients have great trust in their providers. The Wuqu Kawoq team is compassionate and deeply committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based care. The money donated to Wuqu Kawoq is well-spent and goes to serving the most marginalized populations in Guatemala. I am grateful to have a group like Wuqu Kawoq that will use my donations wisely and carefully in the service of those who would otherwise not have adequate health care.

I started in Wuqu Kawoq as a volunteer doctor in 2016, from the beginning it seemed to me as an organization with a great mission and vision. The work of providing primary care and follow-up to patients with chronic diseases who would not receive treatment or follow-up elsewhere was an eye-opener for me and was one of the factors that made me decide to study public health.
In 2020 I returned to WK as a collaborator, now as a public health specialist, I realize every day the impact that this organization has on the beneficiary populations. Patients from 0 to 100 years of age benefit from nutrition, women's health, diabetes, and other programs every day. The mission remains the same, to provide high-quality care to Mayan populations in their language.

Wuqu' Kawoq - Maya Health Alliance is a great local health organization in Guatemala that is not only providing health care to communities but is also involved in collaborative activities with other NGOs

I became part of Wuqu Kawoq in 2020 as Research Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. As Guatemalan researcher, my expectatives were beyond what I had on mind. The commitment that this institution has to diminish the health-inequities in the most vulnerable groups is truly satisfying. Inmediatly I felt part of the WuquKaqoq family, as we share the same interests and made me believe in the incredible work that an NGO can make with little resources, if they are well managed. They have a high degree of Ethics in their work and also in their research activities. I like WK, because they do not limitate their actions to only do interventions but they also do high-quality research, and the findings are integrated to their programs to improve quality based on evidence.
I am very happy to know that this NGO is in Guatemala and that I can be part of it.

Maya Health Alliance has truly authenticated the rural medical process by catering to local Guatemalan communities without stripping them of their culture and language. With their amazing Community Health Worker program, they've made it possible for many Guatemalans to feel a sense of security when it comes to their health. Additionally, as a volunteer, I've been treated with the utmost respect from the team. They took the time to teach me about their work and their purpose so that I can gain a holistic understanding of the organization, even though I only work a small part of it. I'm grateful to work with such an amazing team that puts effort into every little step they take for a better future for Guatemalans.

The need that exists today in Guatemala for good medical care is Urgent. Guatemalans often have to decide between buying their medicine or buying bread to feed their families, since getting sick and being able to overcome different illness is a luxury that the majority of the population in the rural areas of Guatemala cannot afford. Wuqu' Kawoq | Maya Health Alliance offers the opportunity for a better quality of life through community health workers who are able to build that much-needed bond of trust.

I have been involved with the WK - Maya Health Alliance for many years as a board member. It is my primary charitable outlet, both timewise and financially, and I have been consistently impressed with the organizations' performance and impact ever since I became associated with it.

As I look around the charitable landscape, I see so few charities that are as deeply embedded and directly impactful in the communities they serve. WK prides itself on being ingrained in the community it serves in order to be able to provide the best, most tailored care to its patients and the surrounding community.

But WK does so much more than treat the healthcare needs of its patients. WK conducts research in order to scale public health measures and allow for the broadest impact possible. And WK does this through local employees and staff who understand and address the needs of patients and the community

In my experience, WK is a rare gem in the charitable world for all that it is able to accomplish in all these respects.

I have traveled in Guatemala and know of its many needs. I've also seen the work of other NGOs working in Guatemala, and I feel that Wuqu Kawoq is getting it right. Their commitment to operating in the native Mayan languages and giving significant healthcare roles to actual community members is the best model for creating a long-term support structure. They also do a fantastic job in delivering high quality services at low cost. An added benefit that few NGOs like this offer are the contributions back to more basic research in rural healthcare. Wuqu is publishing research on what works.

I have worked with many nonprofits over the years, and continue to be impressed by the great work that Wuqu Kawoq does. I have worked with WK twice a year over the past 5 years on the ground. Their staff is excellent and dedicated. I not only work with them, but I am a donor. I can't wait to get back to Guatemala to see them and work with them again!

Back in 2010 as part of another NGO, we teamed with Wuqu' Kawoq to implement simple water treatment into Socorro, one of their communities. What stuck with me the most was the trust and respect the community had for Wuqu' Kawoq, which was shared in return. Wuqu' Kawoq seemed so immersed in the community. Their close relationship ensured that our small contribution to water treatment could have the largest impact possible. Ever since seeing that, I've been a proud donor.

I spent several months with this team during my residency. Their focus on sustainability and long-lasting impact is second to none!

Maya Health Alliance|Wuqu' Kawoq is an extraordinary, sustainable organization with a team of impressively talented, resilient staff (predominantly Maya women) who have provided outstanding, high quality healthcare for 14 years despite enormous challenges throughout Guatemala. I want to commend Maya Health Alliance particularly at this time for its flexible healthcare delivery model and great success in continuing to serve its patients despite the unique COVID-19 constraints. As a major donor and Board Member for Maya Health for the past 8 years, I continue to believe in Maya Health Alliance's mission, its staff & leadership, and its results!

If I could give 10 stars I would. I have been a repeat donor for over 10 years. I have traveled to many of the places that MHA serves and widely in Guatemala. I know first hand the dearth of accessible medical services in Guatemala and have heard first hand from people in the country and those that speak native languages that they feel often afraid to access medical services because of the discrimination and fear they feel of the medical system when it is even available locally. Mayan Health Alliance is doing everything right: going into community, speaking local languages, providing cultural competent providers, providing education that impacts entire localities on maternal health, heart disease and diabetes, responding to emergent crises such a Covid. Truely a shining example for a highly impactful, highly responsive, visionary NGO.

I have been involved with Maya Health Alliance for more than a decade as a donor, volunteer and board member. This organization is redefining how non-profits do healthcare in Guatemala, offering care to rural Maya populations in ways that are culturally and linguistically appropriate. Not only does this make their work more effective, but it also promotes dignity and cultural value for people on the margins of Guatemalan society. They have also developed an organization full of amazing professional indigenous Guatemalans that are now some of the most adept health professionals in the country. They have also brought together some of the best researchers focused on global health in Central America to participate in their research projects. An amazing organization well worth your investment.

Spending a week with Maya Health Alliance in Guatemala was one of the best weeks of my life as a nurse and a human. The amount of value, safety and quality they get out of their dollars is astounding. And when they meet a barrier, they figure out a cure not just a band aid. Language is the perfect example. Because there were no words in the Mayan language for diseases and treatments that we now need words for, they went to the Mayan Language Society and helped get the words created for diseases such as Diabetes i Mayan.
"A mile deep and an inch wide" is their philosophy. So what I saw were long-lasting life-changing relationships, treatments, and programs that impact individuals and families to the very core. MHA's vision and and mission is extremely well-defined, specific, narrow, realistic and they stay well within this vision. They know they cannot fix everything for Mayans but know what they can do best and are committed to the long road. Where others say “no,” we say “yes.” That is a beautiful thing to do for a people so disrespected for so long.
Agile Health Care (the process of creating high-quality health solutions rapidly,
by allowing healthcare providers and patients to work in a collaborative, communal environment) was a new term for me as a nurse and nurse educator for many years. I feel deeply in love with the concept and think the Mayan Health Alliance has to be an international leader in this type of care. If a donor is wanting a big bang for their buck, this is a place to put your money as they do NOT spend it on buildings or salaries or fancy dinners. They spend it where it counts.

Guatemala is saturated with NGOs. At times it is hard to know what impact and benefit these organizations have in the communities they serve. However, Wuqu' Kawoq is unique in the sense that it offers personalized care to patients in their preferred language. They ensure that patients are comfortable and understand. They also measure their impact, they have numbers to show how each of their programs are progressing. They work to break down the problems often associated with NGO work in order to be sustainable and beneficial to the communities of rural Guatemalans.

I worked as a volunteer with Maya Health for almost a year. The staff were welcoming and compassionate. They formed trusting relationships with patients.

It's such an honor to work for this organization. The teamwork is incredible and the impact that Maya Health is making in the lives of so many is outstanding.

Wuqu' Kawoq goes above and beyond to ensure that patients receive the care they need and deserve. Specifically, Wuqu' staff members provide care that is culturally-relevant and in the language most preferred by patients. They make sure that they are constantly evaluating their impact through research and close communication with the communities that they work with.

I came to Wuqu Kawoq after studying International Development in college. During that time, I learned about the significant problems associated with foreign aid and international non-profit work, in particular poorly thought out projects and a lack of cultural competency. For these reasons, I have come to learn that the majority of international development organizations have very little positive impact on the communities they hope to serve. The Maya Health Alliance administrative team is well aware of the common problems associated with non-profits and have worked diligently to create a model that circumvents these shortcomings and creates a measurable impact with cultural sensitivity.

I work for Wuqu Kawoq on a research team and have had a phenomenal experience in my three months in Guatemala. My coworkers are extremely supportive and I have learned a lot about health and research outside of the United States.

Wuqu Kawoq is a culturally aware NGO, with healthcare provided to indigenous Maya Guatemalans by indigenous Maya Guatemalans. Working for Wuqu Kawoq is a great experience because every member of the team is passionate, enthusiastic, and committed to providing quality, evidence-based care to the most marginalized populations in Guatemala. I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity to live and work amongst the doctors, nurses, scientists, anthropologists, nutritionists, and administers who dedicate their days to providing equitable, high quality healthcare in rural Guatemala.

I was fortunate to have been on the Vision Trip for the Mayan Health Alliance. We had time to spend with Anne and Peter, the inspiration and directors for this organization. We spent 4 days doing home site visits, meeting the patients and their families, the care providers and hearing the stories, seeing health assessments being given and education provided.

What is unique about this organization is that they have looked at each barrier and created specific ways to overcome them from creating medical words in the indigenous Mayan language to educating local illiterate women to provide advanced health assessments and communicate with advanced technical devices. The international research and quality improvement projects done in this organization are being shared both with other local health organizations and NGOs but also other international organizations spreading the knowledge gained.

The Mayan Health Alliance Vision Trip has replaced my skepticism and anxieties for the health of our world with hope and a belief that answers can and are being found.

Judy, Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator, Carbondale, Colorado

I had the good fortune of volunteering with this organization for seven months from the fall of 2016 through the spring of 2017. As other reviewers have noted, Wuqu' Kawoq is unique among NGOs in its focus on providing healthcare services in patients’ native languages, commitment to strengthening Guatemalan public institutions and other non-profits engaged in similar work, ability to conduct research, and general transparency. What is less readily apparent and what I came to most appreciate about WK are the organization’s continual effort to improve itself as it grows and its investment in local staff. For example in my time at WK, weekly meetings to discuss new cases and research were instituted, and improvements to the electronic medical record were made. Staff members received training on topics ranging from blood pressure control to contraception, and three traveled internationally to present work. Wuqu’ Kawoq is remarkable in that it seeks to be an ever adapting model of excellence in its relationships with patients, communities, staff, and peer institutions alike.

Doing some amazing work with healthcare for indigenous people. Their work is much needed and well-organized.

The most enriching experience so far!. I have around 6 years of work experience for profit organizations and I have never seen employees that passionate as I saw in MYH. They simply enjoy what they do, no matter what sort of adversities of challenge they might face. They know that their work is changing the life of many indigenous people.

I personally know employees at Wuqu' Kowaq and have seen first hand seen their commitment to improving healthcare access to Maya communities in Guatemala. I had the pleasure of serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama with an employee of Wuqu' Kowaq and saw his drive and desire to help impoverished individuals not only in his community but throughout the country. Having an employee like my colleague from Panama speaks volumes of Wuqu' Kowaq. I know for a fact that he brings this same commitment to his work in Guatemala and will continue in the future. Role: Professional with expertise in this field

Wow. Where to start. I can say from my experience working at Wuqu' Kawoq and then speaking with other volunteers at NGOs around Guatemala that WK sets itself apart. Through the populations they are focusing on, their high standard of care, their collaboration and integration with communities, their commitment to their staff... todos! Their staff is 95% Guatemalan and well-trained, they commit to their patients for life, and they do not shy away from complex cases (diabetes, cancers, malnutrition, etc.). The work environment is organized and supportive. They focus on research as well and publish their findings so that others can benefit from their knowledge and expertise. Can't say enough good things about this organization.

I am a volunteer with Wuqu' Kawoq | Maya Health Alliance and I could not speak more highly of this organization. I have been able to see first hand, through working in the office and going out in the field with their doctors and community health workers, the amazing work they are doing to reach the most marginalized populations in Guatemala. Wuqu' Kawoq health workers always speak to patients in their native language, whether that is Spanish or one of the Mayan languages, and treat their patients with a great deal of compassion and respect. They travel hours into rural areas to provide patients with life saving medical care. I have seen children lifted out of malnutrition through Wuqu' Kawoq's intensive nutrition program, and diabetes patients spared a life with disability through the organization's provision of expensive medications at no cost to the patient. Additionally, Wuqu' Kawoq is continuously conducting research in women's health, nutrition, diabetes, and many other areas to improve their programs and further contribute to global health knowledge and program development.

I have had the opportunity to see first-hand the incredible care that is provided by the professionals at Wuqu Kawoq to rural Mayan communities in Guatemala. From the experience first hand, I have now become a regular donor and enjoy following the phenomenal work that this organization is doing for the poorest of the poor in Guatemala.

A lot of great work by this group on the ground in Guatemala. They are dedicated to providing healthcare in the native language of many indigenous peoples in the mountains and rural areas of the country. I went with a group of physicians and students from Cincinnati, and we had great support from the administrative staff and wonderful interpreters. Great people working to fight the lack of adequate healthcare for indigenous peoples in Guatemala.

Family Medicine Physician from Cincinnati

In a developing world inundated with well-meaning development efforts, it's wonderful to come across a model that is well-informed, adaptive, responsive to feedback and outcomes measurements, culturally humble, and committed to excellence in building capacity, improving health, and promoting last change. I have extensive experience in global health around the world, including long-term work, and am thankful for the model and work of Wuqu' Kawoq.

This past winter I observed at Wuqu' Kawoq for college credit. I was blown away by the organization's commitment to their mission. They serve an unbelievable amount of patients with a wide range of effective, quality care. They treat patients as unique individuals, and so their treatments, too, are uniquely individualized. The large majority of the staff at Wuqu' Kawoq is Guatemalan and they continue to hire more locals to help in their mission. Everyone either speaks Kaqchikel or is taking classes, which is one way they promote the revitalization of indigenous culture. Their dedication to transparency is unmatched by any NGO I have experienced. If there were any one NGO that could create true, long-lasting social change, this is it!

It has been a pleasure to work with Wuku' Kawoq through my university. The organization is incredibly well-run, and it is obvious that the staff are deeply invested in and committed to the success of the mission. I saw firsthand some of the work they are doing in rural communities, and patients and families were so grateful, sometimes to the point of tears, for the care they were receiving.

As someone that has acquired experience with nonprofits in the US and abroad, I have been impressed with Wuku' Kawoq. They have been able to successfully negotiate many barriers to health care and operations in Guatemala and provide exceptional service to their clients. The staff knows and reflects those they serve and they are organizationally sound, avoiding the chaotic operations that plague many similar nonprofits. From top to bottom, their staff is dedicated and the families they serve really do benefit and appreciate their service. I hope to continue to work with WK in the future and do what I can to further their efforts.

Wuqu' Kawoq is an organization truly focused on improving the lives of the patients it serves and the communities it operates within. As a board member, I can say from personal experience, that members of the organization consistently think long and hard about how to utilize time and resources to make the most important impacts.

Wuqu' Kawoq is an authentic, dedicated and ethical organization. They are a passionate and driven group people whose roles range from physicians, nurses, and nutritionists to anthropologists, teachers and community health workers who are all working together towards a common goal. I had the privilege of spending nearly two weeks in Tecpan, Guatemala, working closely with Wuqu' Kawoq as a member of their first large group of medical professionals. Immediately upon arrival, I knew that this was the organization we had been looking for in a partner. It was clear that this organization was different from others I had worked with in the past, in so many ways.

The leadership was clear from the start about their values and intentions: first, to provide high quality health care to those who need it most. Second, to provide care that is culturally relevant and provided in each patient's own native language. Finally, to create sustainable change that meets the needs of the whole person and whole community. These values were upheld throughout our entire trip. Throughout our stay we went out to each day to different communities in which Wuqu' Kawoq is already trusted and well respected. The fact that patients we had never met were willing to open to us and share very personal information spoke to the trust that is already established in these communities. We went with community health workers who live and thrive in the very communities in which they serve- which reinforced the importance of autonomy and independence that are so often lacking in the field of global health. We were not pressured to focus on the numbers and see as many patients as possible, but rather to provide the highest quality of care possible. Each patient was provided care in their preferred language, as we worked alongside some very passionate and dedicated interpreters. Not only did we feel that we were providing care for the short term, we truly felt these patients would be well-cared for in the long-term. Wuqu' Kawoq has a system in place for follow-up care, specialty referrals, and well-rounded health education and nutrition programs- and I cannot stress enough how significant this is.

I was truly blown away by the quality of our experience and by how well cared for we were during our stay. We were kept safe, and our hosts worked extremely hard to work alongside us for long hours each day to provide our patients with excellent care. They taught me so much about Guatemalan culture, and about the provision of ethical, culturally relative health care in an under-resourced setting. I hope that we can maintain a strong relationship and partnership with Wuqu' Kawoq for years to come!

My students and I recently were involved on a trip with this organization. They could not have been more open and sincere about their mission to help indigenous people gain access to quality healthcare. The community health workers affiliated with Wuqu Kawoq were amazing in their compassion and eagerness to learn. Everyone we encountered could not have been more helpful in the information, education and insight they provided.

I've been on similar trips for the past 13 years with different NGOs in various countries. This is one of my best experiences in terms of mission, organization and safety. It is the overall best in the desire to provide quality continuity of care to those who are often hesitant to seek healthcare due to difficult but understandable reasons. This was striking to me in contrast to some groups who focus on quantity of people seen over either quality or continuity.

Anne's expertise in evaluating NGOs in the past is a huge asset, as is her passion and dedication. It was a pleasure.

I had the opportunity to work with Wuqu' Kawoq through my university. I traveled to their different village clinic sites and worked with their Community Healthcare Workers to provide medical/pharmacy care. They are caring, informative, and genuinely invested in the well-being of the Indigenous Mayan people. They have a solid, sustainable plan that focuses on building trust and bringing quality healthcare to people who would not receive care otherwise. It was a privilege to work with them. I hope I have the opportunity to go back and work with them again.

I am a pharmacy student who recently worked with Wuqu'Kawoq in Guatemala for 12 days with a group of medical residents and pharmacy students. During our time there, we worked with the doctors, nurses, translators, and other members of the NGO on the ground to provide medical care to about 250 patients in different villages around the country. We also identified difficult or complex cases for the organization to follow up with after our visit was over. I was extremely impressed with how much trust and respect the native Guatemalans had for the members of Wuqu'Kawoq; this is a relationship they have built over almost 10 years of working with members of the community towards sustainable and comprehensive healthcare. I feel that, in combination with this organization's efforts, during our trip we were able to make a real difference in the lives of the Guatemalan people.

I volunteered with a medical brigade from the University of Cincinnati. Wuku Kawoq is a genuine organization that does what it says. Furthermore, they took great care of us while we there. Most of the meals were delicious, and we were always escorted to where we were going. Kate even had our laundry done while we there. This org definitely goes above and beyond for their community and those that help them serve it!

Wuqu' Kawoq has created a service like no other to the Mayan community within Guatemala. I experienced this first hand when I volunteered as a RN/Nurse Practitioner Student this past October (2015). I was part of their first medical brigade not by lack of coordination or ability of this 8 year old organization but because they have waited until it was a thoughtful gesture. It seemed as though they wanted to establish a repoire (of which they were very successful) before they plopped American healthcare into the mix of things.

Their work with the "prometoras", or community workers, is outstanding. They have truly committed time and effort into training people of the community to care and manage for their own. While I was there, I had the opportunity to work with many of these heart warming people and educate them on health promotion topics. It is apparent how well this shows the worth and value that Wuku' Kawoq instills into the people it wants to help.

The greatest work of this organization comes in the form of language. They have incredibly skilled translators that speak the indigenous Mayan languages as well as Spanish and English. This delivers the care in the most appropriate and compassionate way possible. Those who only speak the indigenous languages now have access to a form of healthcare that was before unattainable due to a language barrier.

Another impressive feature of Wuqu' Kawoq is there persistence with having an electronic medical record for their patients. This means that the patient has documented care, a history of visits that can be refereed to by providers, and creates efficiency for the patient. Again, their dedication to long term care for this community resounds within their actions.

I had the great opportunity to work with Wuqu' Kawoq for two weeks in Tecpan, Guatemala. I spent that time working in rural villages with Wuqu' Kawoq's "Saving Brains" program, which provides nutritional assistance to impoverished children in order to support their proper mental and physical development. I also worked to improve Wuqu' Kawoq's internal tech systems, to better support the organization's growing operational demands. Every day, I was newly impressed with the dedication and passion of the team there, who manage to bring much-needed medical support to so many people in a rural setting and that is quite operationally complex. I have worked with or observed a number of international NGOs in my life, but have not seen one as effective in bringing medical support to those most in need as Wuqu' Kawoq.

I committed to work as the Complex Care Coordinator for 1 year with Maya Health Alliance | Wuqu' Kawoq starting in April 2015 .

Before beginning with MHA | WK, I thought I understood the limits of what medical organizations are capable of achieving in a rural setting in Guatemala. I had worked with several NGOs within Guatemala previously, and believed that some barriers to accessing healthcare are too extensive to overcome.

How wrong I was. Nothing could have prepared me for how impressed I am and how proud I feel to be a part of the MHA | WK team. This organization goes above and beyond in terms of patient care. They GO to their patients - via (a combo of) car, bus, boat, on foot - sometimes taking hours just to arrive at one patient's house. Why? Because they understand that the hardest patients to get to, are those most in need of care. Why else? Because in these communities there is no way to understand the fundamental reasons behind a patient's condition and be able to effectively treat that condition, without seeing where and how the patient lives. MHA strives to deliver quality care that exceeds not just Guatemalan standards, but US standards. They work within and alongside the government healthcare system to fill the holes that usually block the indigenous population from receiving care. To this NGO, patient care is more than just a consult and follow-up at a clinic. It is about facilitating trust and partnership with the patients. Cultural sensitivity is an integrated peice of their model, and all employees - both local and extranjero - learn to speak the indigenous Mayan language of the patients. MHA strives to build capacity and empower the local communities to take control of their health and of their lives.

Furthermore, they publish! MHA | WK has run many empirical investigations and has shared their results with the global health community. Even though their focus is in Guatemala, they understand that conditions and diseases present here are examples of larger global health issues.

There has never been a dull moment in my 6 months of working for this NGO. I recommend anyone and everyone to take a look at this organization, because they are truly the most cutting-edge NGO offering healthcare services in Guatemala.

Wuqu' Kawoq | Maya Health Alliance is truly unique in the NGO field. The focus on patient rights and patient dignity, especially with respect to culture, is second-to-none. I have never seen a team so dedicated to working within local indigenous languages and bringing healthcare to those that truly need it most.
In my time as a volunteer, I have gotten to see how hardworking all the staff at WK is. The on-the-ground team comes to work with passion and enthusiasm every day, traveling to remote communities--and often walking hours in the mountains--to bring health care directly to our patients. What is truly amazing is the accompaniment that WK emphasizes. We stay with our patients from beginning to end, helping them navigate confusing hospitals and long trips to receive care, always having an open phone line for communication, and taking those extra minutes to understand a patient's life.
Working with Wuqu' Kawoq | Maya Health Alliance is an incredible opportunity to see global health work at its best!

I am a pediatrician from San Francisco that spent 7 weeks with WK this summer--two weeks studying Kaqchikel and 5 weeks working with their malnutrition and complex pediatric patient care coordination. I have never been more impressed with an organization--especially the dedication, skill, and diversity of their staff. WK is carrying out some of the most innovative, culturally progressive, and comprehensive healthcare outreach that I believe exists in global health today.

As you can see with all the other glowing reviews, WK does terrific medical and public health work in some of the neediest areas of Guatemala by placing a high value on linguistic competence and respect for the patients they serve. These reviews also show one of their other great strengths-- building a coalition of smart people who care deeply about providing quality care to poor, indigenous, and marginalized Guatemalans. The staff, volunteers, and interns work tirelessly at tasks that can seem Sisyphean in this context, whether that be reversing the effects of chronic malnutrition, managing complex diabetes, or accompanying cancer patients through a sea of red tape. And they're able to achieve amazing results. I am constantly impressed and inspired by WK's work and plan to continue to support them forever.

I am continually humbled and inspired by the work of Wuqu' Kawoq, an organization that places high value on respect and compassion for everyone involved. They speak the language of their patients and they treat them as humans who deserve the best care.

I had the pleasure of interning with WK for close to a year, and during my experience, there was always something new that impressed me, whether it was the amazing dedication each staff member exhibited in their mission to providing the best health care to their communities, or the gratitude and sincerity each patient demonstrated for the concept of care - a concept that is so simple, yet is often more of a privilege than it is a priority.

I watched as a staff member would get up at 4 AM so that she could help her patients arrive at the public hospital in Guatemala City for complicated surgeries, waiting with them in the lobby, and accompanying them as she could, so that she could act as a mediator and translator between the patients and the doctors, whom often don't speak the same language.

I watched as another staff member would visit her patients in their homes to check up on them, to educate them, and overall to just care for them as human beings. I watched as she spent time understanding the needs of her patients, often spending hours at a time with each one. I walked with her for an hour to get from one house visit to the next, in a rural community where people have to walk two hours just to reach the nearest grocery store.

I listened as patients would tell me the difficulties they have navigating their own health care system, the ways in which they face discrimination, and their simple wishes to be able to live happy and healthy. Often, these patients are indigenous and come from rural communities, where they are not able to access health care resources easily. More than that, they are not able to access these resources in their own native language. They feel uncared for and unheard in their own country. The sad matter of fact is that the word "indigenous" could be the difference between receiving health care and not.

On behalf of the patients, I'd like to say thank you to WK. Thank you for caring for them, and thank you for making their voices heard. There aren't enough people in the world who understand how important that really is.

As an intern with Wuqu' Kawoq over the past few weeks, I am left most impressed by the level of dedication and compassion that the team members have for their patients. With high expectations for every role, whether someone was responsible for leading group classes, providing services for patients, or following up with patient home visits, I saw competence in both the services provided, as well as the approach that they were done. At the same time, this organization establishes relationships with other organizations and community leaders in every place they put their roots. As a medical student, I have learned so much on how to not allow yourself to compromise on the quality of services provided in a low-resource area. Neither heart nor skills were sacrificed.

I have served on the board for two years and am deeply impressed by how Wuqu Kawoq has clearly identified its mission, and delivers help that targets fundamental causes of health problems for the communities it serves. Donations are incredibly well used by this group, with its low overhead and smart approach to building healthier communities.

I interned with Wuqu' Kawoq over the summer and had a fantastic experience. From start to finish, Wuqu' Kawoq was extremely organized and every single staff member touched my heart. They are an extremely dedicated, compassionate group of people. I admire the work that they do in Guatemala and would recommend this organization to anyone.

I have been a Board member for Wuqu'Kawoq for several years and wish to say how incredibly and continually impressed I am with this organization, its leadership, and the work it does. There are literally thousands of NGOs in Guatemala, many of them focusing on health, but only a small handful address important health issues in ways that are sustainable and sensitive to the culture and language of the people they serve. Wuqu'Kawoq is one of these. It take anthropology and linguistics as serious as it does medicine. Let me give you just one example. One big problem in rural Guatemala is diabetes. A bigger problem than access to meds, however, is education: most people do not really understand the disease, what it is or how medication and diet can help them combat its effects. These things can be explained in Spanish, sure, but most rural Guatemalans do not speak Spanish, they speak a Mayan language. Wuqu'Kawoq staff speak these languages; moreover, to address the problem, they consulted with local Mayan linguists. In the end, they actually created a new word for 'diabetes' in the Kaqchikel language to replace the Spanish borrowing that was in use. The word they used translates directly to 'sweet blood.' This word has now allowed them to explain clearly to diabetics what is wrong with them (they have 'sweet blood') and how to make their blood 'less sweet!' People who have had the disease for years are finally understanding it! And that is allowing them to address their own illness! There are dozens of other examples of WK's amazing and unique effectiveness in addressing such issues (including many women's health issues, child malnutrition, complex surgical procedures, etc.). It is why I have given thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of my time over the years to this organization and will continue to do so as long as I am able.

I am a current research intern with Wuqu' Kawoq in Tecpan, Guatemala where I am completing my thesis research. The longer I work for WK, the more proud I become of this organization. In fact, I am always so glad when someone asks me about WK because it gives me the opportunity to share about their wonderful work, dedication to ethical practices, and heart to reach those who often slip through the cracks.

Reasons why I am impressed with WK:

1. Dedication to understanding the communities in which we work: Interns are asked to study history, literature, and a Mayan language. In my experience, this context has allowed me to understand the why the communities face the problems that they face and by learning Kaqchikel, I have shown the community that I am here to learn, not to bulldoze my way into the community. We also are able to communicate with patients who may speak "trade Spanish" but may not be able to communicate about a complex health issue. As I have talked with other NGOs in Guatemala, I have learned that this type of in-depth preparation is rare and I have seen that it limits the effectiveness of their intervention programs.

2. Exceptional staff: I am proud that the vast majority of WK staff are Guatemalans who speak indigenous languages and that all staff members are exceptional teachers and team-players. I have been warmly welcomed into the WK family where I continue to learn every day from my co-workers. My experience with WK has allowed me to be independent, but also well supported by the staff.

3. Collaboration with communities and other NGOs: WK actively engages community leaders and women's groups as well as seeks partnerships with other NGOs so that we can be the most effective as possible and not duplicate services. In a country with over 15,000 NGOs (and unfortunately many are poor managed), WK takes the most challenging cases that other NGOs are not equipped to provide services.

I am thrilled that I was referred to WK by a professor and I plan to continue to work with WK.

I am a family physician practicing in rural Vermont. After 30 plus years, I wanted to give my time to a third world country that needed help. My wife, who is a neonatal resuscitation instructor as part of her job as an Obstetrical nurse, accompanied me for a week with Peter Rohloff, MD, PhD and his fabulous team in Guatemala. We worked hard giving instruction to the midwives and seeing patients in Diabetic, Pediatric and general Medical care clinics. After the week was over and we had a chance to breath, we both could not believe how wonderful Wuqu Kawoq is with it's group of caring and dedicated professionals. What separated them from many NGO's is continuity. I was warned that some NGO's will just see patients and leave for 6 months. Wuqu Kawoq had the organization on the ground to be there on a daily basis for the folks that used them for their medical care. In addition, they were involved with nutrition and clean water. The Noble peace prizes were just announced and the two recipients deserved it. But, I would not be surprised if Wuqu Kawoq gets it some day.

I interned with Wuqu’ Kawoq over this past summer of 2014. I cannot speak more highly of this wonderful organisation. I was thoroughly impressed by the work Wuqu’ Kawoq is doing in the communities. As this was my first time volunteering in Guatemala, I was especially impressed by the hard working, knowledgeable and caring staff, who literally work around the clock, to ensure their communities are getting the health care services they need in a respectful and culturally-sensitive manner. I was also highly impressed by how hard Wuqu’ Kawoq is working at supporting and creating relationships between communities, other organisations, local and state government to ensure the needs of the communities they serve. As someone who wants to work on global health care issues in the future I have to say this was an amazing introduction to the field! I hope to work again with this wonderful organisation!

I volunteered with Wuqu' Kawoq as a dental hygienist in January of 2014. A local pediatrician asked me to get involved offering oral health education, applying fluoride varnish and cleanings for children. I was thoroughly impressed with WK and I am eager to be involved in the future. This organization has an amazing variety of health care and nutritional services they offer for free. They care about the people they are serving as evidenced by their relationships. Their record-keeping and continued re-care is very important. Six months after we were there the midwives were applying fluoride varnish for the second time. I was delighted to see the level of commitment to oral health and their determination to see improvements. It was an honor to be involved with such a great organization.

I work as advisor at Patzun Municipality, a local government in Guatemala.
We started working together with Wuqu' Kawoq' on 2011 when they decided to organize the event "Encuentro Futuros Colectivos: creando redes en Guatemala" in the Municipality.
The event was great because the number of presenters, the quality of then, the logistic and so on.
But another thing I was to enfasize is the profesionalism how they work and then compromise with the community.
After that event we organized also a Mayan Languajes Meeting two years ago and now we are preparing the next Encuentro Futuros Colectivos for this year.
So, thank you very much to all the people involve on Wuqu' Kawoq' projects!!!

Volunteering with Wuqu' Kawoq was my second international health-related experience, and it exceeded my expectations in every way. I witnessed their commitment to improving patient lives through community capacity building and services in the first language of their patients. The importance of their holistic cultural and linguistic approach to health cannot be understated. My summer spent in rural Guatemala inspired me to make global health a central pillar of my career and I aspire to do so while working with the committed and brilliant staff of Wuqu' Kawoq.

I am one of the doctors that works with Wuqu' Kawoq

Since medical school I have worked with many different health NGOs in developing countries including Ghana, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Chile and was been repeatedly disillusioned by global health work until I found Wuqu' Kawoq. The time I spend working with the organization has been so rewarding because there are the resources and infrastructure to provide high-quality care to my patients (not just "better than the medical care they would have received').

The term "community driven" is often used in global health but the work of Wuqu' Kawoq is truly determined by needs expressed by the communities with which we partner. I have also never encountered a group of people as dedicated and hard working as the staff of Wuqu' Kawoq.

Initially, I wanted to volunteer with Wuqu’ Kawoq – Maya Health Alliance because I desired more experience working in global health, and I had heard great things about the organization at my medical school. Before collaborating with Wuqu’ Kawoq, I’d been working on various health projects in Latin America for about 5 years. However, I hadn’t made a long-term commitment. My amazing volunteer experience -- especially the forging of bonds with staff, patients, and community members -- has compelled me to work with Wuqu’ Kawoq beyond my original year-long commitment, and I plan to continue collaborating with WK on nutrition and chronic disease projects over the coming years.

there is no other substantial healthcare program in Guatemala that addresses medical needs in Maya languages. we know that our gifts go directly to the individuals and have seen a major difference in the lives of the communities WK serves.

I am a repeat donor to Wuqu' Kawoq, and I could not be happier with the organization. Over the past few years I have seen first-hand how effective their programs are. Unlike some other Guatemalan NGOs, Wuqu' Kawoq is widely respected in the communities they serve, and for good reason: they offer high quality medical services in a linguistically and culturally responsible way.

As a donor I am happiest about their impact on early childhood and women's health. Their exucation campaign is inspiring. Their facebook updated help me understabd exactly whet their doing and personalize their efforts by providing pictures of classes, heath care checks and villagers.

I've had the privilege of volunteering for Wuku' Kawoq: Maya Health Alliance for the past four years, and I keep coming back for a reason...they know what they're doing.

WK's unique blend of in-depth, mixed-methods ethnographic research and their policy of providing excellent health care free of charge to those who need it most has made, and continues to make, huge differences in the lives of people who are still recovering from the structural effects of a decades-long genocide and centuries of structural racism.

Their approach is unique in the area, and uniquely effective. I've seen the data myself (I'm a PhD student in applied anthropology); their success in ameliorating childhood malnutrition alone is well worth a five-star rating, and they do so much more than that. In my time with them, I have seen them successfully treat diabetics, amputees, ophthalmology cases, cleft palates, congenital heart defects, various cancers...the list goes on and on. In addition to arranging and providing free health care to those who truly can't afford it, WK acts as patient advocates in a world where the non-Spanish speaking indigenous individual is all too often swept aside.

I can't say enough about the beauty of their politics, their ethnography, their nutritional interventions, their hands-on care, and their research. As far as I've seen in the past four years, they've excelled in everything they've attempted.

If you're truly interested in making a difference, if you want assurance that your money goes directly toward changing someone's life for the better, in the most efficient way possible, without being re-routed through administrative chains and lost somewhere in the process (which is the case with so many NGOs in the area) you could not choose a better NGO than WK.

I have volunteered and worked with Wuqu' Kawoq since 2009 and the work they do is truly amazing. The dedication of their staff to the communities they serve is unmatched, and their commitment to collaboration and cooperation with other NGOs and Guatemalan entities is the key to building a more efficient, comprehensive service network in Guatemala.

i first worked with Wuqu' Kawoq three years ago as a student in their language field school. The language training I received from Wuqu' Kawoq has allowed me to complete research in Kaqchikel communities. I was so impressed with the breadth of their work that I expanded my role to include volunteer in both their language and nutrition programs. WK genuinely serves the communities in which it work.

I have been affiliated with Wuqu' Kawoq for the past two years and have participated in two language schools, nutrition research in two small communities, and pilot health research on Lake Atitlán. Based on my observations and experiences, I believe the NGO to be exceptional for four main reasons. First, they take the time to learn about the places where they work by talking to community leaders and residents. Second, they collaborate with community members to develop sustainable projects that will not deteriorate once US staff leaves the country. Rather, Wuqu' Kawoq helps the communities to run these programs themselves. Third, they actively seek to collaborate with other NGOs and government entities in Guatemala. Rather than offer services already available, Wuqu' Kawoq finds its role and plays that role extremely well, for instance, in providing accompaniment to extremely ill patients that other NGOs meet in medical missions throughout the highlands. Finally, and most importantly, they provide all services in the languages spoken by these communities so that patients may communicate directly with their healthcare providers.

Many years ago, I had the pleasure of volunteering with Wuqu' Kawoq, helping out with several clinics. Even though I don't speak a second language, it was obvious the difference the doctors and staff were making. To see the time and care given to each patient was amazing. Although I haven't seen them in action since then, I've been a recurring donor since. I believe strongly that my donation is used thoughtfully and effectively. I love the patient updates and newsletters!

Wuqu' Kawoq partners with communities to make a difference in people's lives, and not only that, but they coordinate with many other organizations in order to improve the complex network of NGOs in Guatemala. Good work, WK! Thank you for what you do.

I've been tracking Wuqu' Kawoq's success over the years and it's one of the most impressive non-profit organizations I know. It is extremely focused and community-driven, and its diverse staff are knowledgable and helpful.

This is a unique organization that does it's work thoughtfully and respectfully. It is fully deserving of our support!

Over the past two years, I have worked with Wuqu’ Kawoq on clean water projects. They have always shown themselves as an organization with a firm understanding of the people they are helping. The Wuqu’ Kawoq staff in Guatemala I have met through volunteering have been a great pleasure to work with and were very focused on community involvement. It is clear that communities are being improved and community members have great trust for the organization. Personally, the time I spent working with Wuqu’ Kawoq had a huge impact on my perspective on development work.

I have been coming to Guatemala and taking note of Guatemalan affairs for 30 thirty years now since 1980. There are many excellent NGO (non-government organizations) in the country that are doing fine work for and with the most impoverished and disenfranchised of the population, which frequently are the Indigenous Maya who make up more than half the total population of the country. 500 years of colonization, has kept and continues to keep the people impoverished. The work of Wuqu Kawoq is truly unique in its mission and approach to meet the needs of the People on their own cultural and language level. How novel and caring to find such people. My granddaughter (indigenous from Okla/ Kans) had hoped to assist as a volunteer during our current time here (July~Oct.5, 2012), but it did not materialize.

Such a great organization doing incredible work. I have not helped in Guatemala, but I have assisted in some administrative, resource development and fundraisng work (I have spent nearly 2 years living and working in Guatemala since 2002/18 months consecutive in 05-06). I'm mostly interested in working with people with disabilities, general health and clean water projects. All are things that WUQU KAWOQ is involved in. I am planning a trip to Guatemala next year and won't leave the country without visiting WK projects in-country. This organization is vital to the people it serves! I've recommened this group to several people who are traveling to Guate.

These volunteers are doing a great job and are making a difference.

One of the few organizations who are fully committed to knowing and reaching the people in a meaningful, long-term, life changing way for generations. Teaching the population in their native language, working to preserve their culture as well as their health. Not just missionaries who drop in for a week and never return. Amazing leadership and long-term vision. Training the trainers - educating native midwives. Addressing childhood malnutrition. A first class responsible organization that will make the most of every penny for the Guatemalan population in need.

These volunteers are doing such a great job for a truly needy people I didn't hesitate to try to help. they recently started (or just found out about it recently) a campaign for folks to "Brown Bag" periodically and send in the money you saved. Very clever concept and I am jumping right in.Keep up the good work and don't get fatigued, remember the opportunity to receive blessings by helping the people allows us little couch potatoes get blessed too! THANKS!

I observed first hand, women and children in Guatemala patiently waiting in line for their turn to see the doctor. He had great patience himself; he saw each woman, each child. Most complaints were stomach aches due intestinal parasites. Vitamins were given to the children. The women were so stoic - all wanted their children to be seen with little thought for themselves. Lists were kept; complete documentation of who was seen and when and what complaints. Referrals were made which the non profit would see to it that appointments were kept. The women and children had trust in the medical team - it was a hot day, a long line and all were seen. The clinic was held in a small cinder block home; the non profit is raising money to build a clinic with weekly supportive care,

I had the good fortune to listen to a talk given by the founders of this organization at our university - I was very impressed with the level of involvement, care, and attention to local values and languages and integration with evidence-based medical care. As a donor, I appreciate learning exactly how our funds have helped serve individuals as well as the advancement of knowledge that will sustain change in this area of the world. I appreciate the humanitarian approach and the long-term change that I see.

This is a rare and much-needed health service in one of the most remote areas of the Western Hemisphere.

I had the experience of visiting Guatemala & touring this beautiful, but ravaged country, whose history of military unrest has devastated its people. WUKU KAWOQ is a non-profit organization which seeks to bring medical aid, nutrition, improved sanitation, and humanitarian aid to an indigenous group of Guatemalans. The updates on programs ( like the provision of Plumpy-Doz nutritional supplement to children) & pictures of the results in improved growth & health of children are inspiring. Being able to provide this in their native language has the advantage of increasing compliance with programs & improving their quality of life from infancy. WUKU KAWOQ is deserving of financial assistance for the benefits it brings to the people it serves.

I am a donor and would just like to say that helping this outstanding organization is very fulfilling to me. I know my money goes directly to where it can be used, with no middleman. I am kept always kept in the loop with reports and newsletters. I enjoy the correspondence, the pictures of the children, and the outstanding efforts of Wuqu Kawoq to provide quality medical care to these precious children.

Wuqu Kawoq has been the fulcrum for achieving greater health in their community, spreading that knowledge base into communities outside of their scope, and allowing college students to learn how to make a real impact in a respectful and viable manner. My name is Peter Maraccini, and I worked as a project director for a group of young students from the University of Illinois who brought biosand filters, a water treatment technology, to a few of the communities in which Wuqu Kawoq worked. Wuqu Kawoq's main priority was and has always been to serve the needs of their partner communities without compromising their current situation to invest in potential solutions. Instead, Wuqu Kawoq was very open and communicative in what we could and couldn't do, was with us from the beginning when we first discussed then implemented the biosand filters in the communities, and has continued to be present during assessments of their improved water quality and health. As a result, there are a couple hundred biosand filters in the Wuqu Kawoq's partner communities that are reducing gastro-intestinal and diarrhea-related diseases and improving the communities' overall quality of life. Additionally, the positive experiences of working with Wuqu Kawoq is shaping our group's future direction and has lead to a very positive impact in the education of numerous students. Thank you Wuqu Kawoq. Working with you has given me (and many more) and better understanding and capacity for making a real impact in the world.

I have been involved in this work since its inception in 2007. As the treasurer since we started I can vouch that currently around 95% of every dollar collected in fundraising goes directly to patient care and community development projects. Our programs in water development have been amazing as we have used technology that has been around a long time and through the efforts of our volunteers improved its efficiency. Health care needs continue to outstrip resources, but each day holds opportunity to do real good in the lives of our patients. This is a work I personally support as a Sustaining Donor and am proud to have my name associated with this organization. 2012 and 2013 are years of consolidation as we continue to try to become better and more efficient at what we do and continue to forge Guatemalan network connections both with other organizations and with the government. I cannot speak more highly of this work.

WK does a GREAT job, pioneering native language health care delivery in Guatemala

As a donor, I had the chance to visit Wuqu' Kawoq this summer (2011) to see the child nutrition programs - community-based screening of child growth, micronutrient and nutrition supplementation, and deworming treatments.

What I saw was an organization that knows the in-depth issues facing each community and is mastering the techniques of working in child health. I was impressed with the commitment and thoroughness of the local staff, community health workers, and Dr. Rohloff.

One of my favorite parts was talking to the moms about changes in their children since starting the nutrition program. Consistently mothers said, "They play more, they eat more, they have more energy."

During the visit, I was particularly interested in seeing the results of the program. Which I did. The results of Wuqu' Kawoq's work are not only shown in the documented increase of height, weight, and health of children but also in the eyes of their mothers.

First learning about Wuku'Kawoq in its infancy, I have watched it grow from a tiny grassroots organization with minimal infrastructure, into a thriving force for the delivery of healthcare to the rural poor of Guatemala. One of the main reasons for its continuing growth, I believe, was the realization that, although Guaemala is considered a Hispanic country, many of their patients spoke very little Spanish. Its physicians and field workers therefore undertook the astounding feat of learning several Maya languages, in order to more effectively deliver their services. The positive impact it has had in just a few short years, is underscored by Wuqu' Kawoq's efforts to treat severe malnutrition there being featured as part of a special broadcast of "20/20" that kicked off ABC's year-long global health care campaign called "Be the Change: Save a Life.”

I visited a rural town in Guatemala a few years ago and got to know many of the people there. This organization is great because it works with members of local communities to establish solutions to problems such as health and nutrition, and clean water. Some of their projects include diabetes care and education, child nutrition, water filters and midwife training. I really like the fact that the local community is strongly involved because that will help to create long term solutions for these problems, rather than just a band-aid.

I had the opportunity to visit a remote Mayan village in Guatemala, several years ago, and observed first hand, the care provided, on a specific occassion, to 48 poor children, 1-5 years old, by medical examination and measurements of their growth against norms, and by interviewing their mother, on their medical history and diet. On that day, 12 children were determined to be mal-noursished, and I could see their orange hair and unhealthy faces. I was deeply moved and have been a supporter of Wuqu' Kawoq ever since!!!

I encountered the work of Wuqu' Kawoq last year and was deeply impressed by the vision behind the organisation. As a professional linguist working in developing countries, I was greatly relieved to find an organisation taking a well-argued, positive stance towards indigenous languages. Wuqu' Kawoq embraces local linguistic and cultural heritage by bringing primary health care to the people in their own language.

It is one thing to make primary health care physically available; it is another thing to make it culturally intelligible. Many ambitious projects fail to take into account this second, crucial step. As a result, they often contribute to language loss; but not only that, their results are also less than optimal because of linguistic and cultural barriers.

In a time when so many non-profits operate with Western monoglot ideologies and simply use the major Western languages (which in developing countries often happen to be languages of former colonial oppressors), it is refreshing to see a non-profit realising the importance of local cultural heritage and language diversity. This choice is one of the keys to WKs remarkably successful work.

WK offers crucial medical services to under-served indigenous mayan communities with a focus on preserving and promoting indigenous mayan languages. They were featured on 20/20 and inspired so many people to join the fight against chronic child malnutrition.

Wuqu' Kawoq is a top-flight organization, serving an overlooked need for first-language health services in Guatemala. Their work is always done is the most dignified, culturally appropriate way.

Wuqu' Kawoq is doing what we hope all NGO's do. They change lives and they do it quickly. Improvements are made daily in the lives of malnourished children and ailing adults with uncontrolled chronic diseases. Patients are cared for through their native language in a very competent and compassionate manner. I highly recommend this organization for its capacity to elevate quality of life for a large number of people without wasting resources or time.

I have both donated to and volunteered with Wuqu Kawoq. I have close ties to some of the communities that they work in, and I can honestly say their work is some of the best I have ever seen. They have great community contacts that help get dollars (in the form of aid) right to the people that need them the most. Because they focus on providing services in native languages, they are able to access and work with people on a level never even imaginable to most NGOs. The feedback I get from town members is often disbelief that there is an organization and people like those in Wuqu Kawoq out there working to help indigenous peoples. Wuqu Kawoq's work truly is invaluable.

I have had the privilege of working for Wuqu Kawoq in Guatemala providing medical care to indiginous patients via our wonderful interpreters as well as providing education to an organized midwifery group creating a foundation to improve healthcare in many of the rural areas. Most of these midwives are the epitome of the 'carry it forward' attitude that hopefully will advance education and share this information to improve healthcare for others in their communities. Education for these women then should improve the standard of living and basic healthcare for many in their communities. It is gratifying for us to help in any way!

Wuqu Kawoq is a wonderful NGO! Their mission is unique and serves a community in a holistic manner - working to preserve language, culture and to provide medical care to an underserved community. I love working with the group and its members are all excellent individuals. I recommend donating/getting involved with the group in any way possible!

I am a first-year medical student, and I volunteered for Wuqu’Kawoq during the summer of 2010. In my opinion, Wuqu’Kawoq is an amazing organization that really tries to help Guatemalan communities through forging personal relationships with community members; finding innovative, practical, and sustainable solutions for public health problems; training local Guatemalans in social work and healthcare to build an internal infrastructure for community sustainability and viability; financial support for children’s tuition in the communities; and addressing medical needs of the community on a continual basis among many others. One aspect of Wuqu’Kawoq that impressed me the most was the level of passion and love that the staff members had for the Guatemalan people. There are board members in Wuqu’Kawoq who catch over-night flights during their days off from work in the United States to personally connect and address the growing needs of Guatemalan communities. Moreover, most staff members in Wuqu’Kawoq have full-time jobs or are full-time students and yet still make a commitment to work on Wuqu’Kawoq projects out of their zeal to serve Guatemalan people. Thus, it may not be surprising that much of the financial support dedicated to children’s tuition actually come directly out of the pockets of some Wuqu’Kawoq staff members—again, not out of obligation but because they want to. I truly believe that the communities Wuqu’Kawoq works with could not be in better hands. During my time with Wuqu’Kawoq, I was primarily assigned along with another student to conduct surveys for three communities near Chocola, Guatemala. The surveys were in regards to biofilm water filters that Wuqu’Kawoq, a group of US engineers, and local Guatemalan day laborers had collaborated to build for nearly a hundred Guatemalan families. My job was to help collect information about whether the water filters were working properly for the family, and whether they had other concerns. From this experience, I sensed that Wuqu’Kawoq really tries to do their very best out of their interests for the communities. I would imagine that many other organizations working on a project like this would have considered the project to be completed after building the water filters—not so with Wuqu’Kawoq. Wuqu’Kawoq is extremely thorough and always makes sure to ask for feedback from community members by conducting survey after survey. One mother I surveyed during my time with Wuqu’Kawoq told me: “No one would help us if it wasn’t for Wuqu’Kawoq. I am grateful for having them in our community.” And I, likewise, am grateful for having been able to work with Wuqu’Kawoq, and plan to continue to work with them in the near future.

My relationship with WUQU KAWOQ has been very enriching. From my very first meeting with Peter I knew good things would start to happen. Our first assignment was connecting WUQU KAWOC with the Pharmaceutical companies in Guatemala to get medicine in bulk, at a reasonable price. This gave me a chance to hear about his projects and I became very interested and impressed by his work and have become an advocate of his work to other organizations whom | I consider might partner with him and multiply his efforts. Interesting things are coming together but are yet in the initial stages. What I personally find so helpfull is the clarity and focus he has in the programs he is developing and how open he is to share his experience with others; the capacity to hear others in their projects and give them very punctual criticism and advise (so needed so people learn from others experience); the prompt response and help when he is contacted with a need ; the committment to sharing the strengths of WUQU KAWOQ of measurement and analisis and helping others in the development of their programs so that their proyects are meaningfull and usefull . I look forward to strengthening our networking in the future. All the people I have met At WUKU Kawok are involved in the communities with respect for the culture and the individual, ( to the point of learning their langauge Kachiquel ) and this is an example for all of us that are working in the rural communites of Guatemala.

Throughout my time with Wuqu Kawoq they have shown undeniable character, direction, and effectiveness. The field staff in Guatemala supported by Wuqu Kawoq are locals trained by the organization and employed to provide the essential care required by their communities. Wuqu Kawoq's field staff are among the most intelligent and reliable in the community ensuring that their mission is carried out daily while the large portion of staff and volunteers are in the U.S. Their volunteers and North American staff are some of the best in the nation at their specific vocations and they also implement themselves perfectly into these communities using indigenous language proficiency and cultural understand to provide competent compassionate care to our communities. While small in size and resources their efficiency in distribution and organization of care ensures that a much larger community is cared for in a quality fashion than one would think for an organization of its size. I believe that they are not only essential to Guatemala for continued care of these communities but essential as a model for other medical NGOs working in impoverished environments.

For years I have wanted to volunteer my services as a pediatrician to an organization that provided medical care for children in areas of need. There are many organizations to choose from but I found only one that has long term goals for improving the lives as well as the health of children and their families. Wuqu'Kawoq is an NGO that provides medical care to Mayan Children and their families. What makes this group unique is that many of the members speak one or more of the Mayan dialects in addition to Spanish. This organization makes every effort to complement as well as improve the health care provided by the community midwives. One of the greatest needs of these communities is access to fresh water. Wuqu'Kawoq is working to fill this need by creating the means for community members to manufacture and then distribute water filters to each home. No long term progress in health care can be made without access to fresh water. I have donated time and money to this organization and will continue to do so because although I have seen the positive results already achieved by Wuqu'Kawoq, there is more work to be done.

Wuqu' Kawoq is an excellent example of just how quickly culturally relevant and culturally competent medicine can make a real difference. The volunteers, staff, and supervising physician (Dr. Peter Rohloff) are all dedicated, determined, and moving towards fluency- if not already fluent- in both Spanish and Kaqchikel, one of the principle Mayan dialects, which makes for both a quality and accessibility of medical care that is entirely unavailable to many Guatemalans.

I have had the good fortune of working as a volunteer for Wuqu Kawaq over the past 4 years. This organization is dedicated to improving the lives of the indigenous Maya population in Guatemala. Wuqu has been able to gain the confidence and respect of the communities that they serve and has accomplished this by bringing together Maya culture and language with resources , healthcare and education. The ability to speak the language and to understand the culture is paramount if an organization is truely going to be successful. The work has been difficult but I have seen significant progress in many areas including providing water purification for villages, nutritional supplements for children and meeting basic healthcare needs . The diabetes program has been very successful. Wuqu has proven to the Maya community that they are there for the long haul and has formed a very tight bond with the communities that are served.

Pienso que es Una ONG, que esta apoyando a las familias necesitadas y con escasos recursos en mi comunidad,estamos felices con apoyo y servicio que nos brindan, ejemplo; mi familia recibe apoyo con medicamento para diabetico, salud infantil y diagnosticos medicos. sin embargo tambien hemos visto de wuqu kawoq que estan realizando otros proyectos de purificacion de agua para consumo familiar y esperamos que en el futuro la misma ONG Wuqu kawoq pueda apoyarnos con estos mismos programas. tambien puedo agregar que apoyan con empleo a personas locales y así atribuir a la economia comunal.

I first traveled to Guatemala three years ago where I was able to witness firsthand the beauty and poverty that are both in abundance there. During my time I had the privilege of accompanying members of the organization as they made some house visits. This experience has stuck with me. I now work in business and while I don't have the ability to travel and volunteer with Wuqu Kawoq I still want to help expand the reach this group has within the communities it serves, because I've seen the improvements they are bringing to the lives they touch.

I was first introduced to Wuqu' Kawoq through my language studies in Kaqchikel Maya. After volunteering with the organization at a clinic in San Juan Comalapa, I valued greatly the approaches of the NGO. Medicine should be distributed to patients based upon their understandings and cultural background. Any socially-engaging health care worker must recognize the inseparability of culture and medical practice. After volunteering, I decided to commit as a long-term intern of Wuqu' Kawoq. I have now further observed the vital approaches to the missions of Wuqu' Kawoq. Many non-governmental organizations will work in under-served communities (whether that be in health or education)and not necessarily be a sustainable force in that community. Wuqu' Kawoq not only maintains a sustainable presence in the working communities, but we are expanding and creating various other programs assisting the communities--from child nutrition, purified water resources, women's health care, diabetes, and language revitalization. Wuqu' Kawoq is a unique NGO and many organizations could benefit in their collaboration.