My Nonprofit Reviews

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!