The San Benito Health Project
Petén, Guatemala
 San Benito is located in the Petén, which is the largest state in Guatemala. It has had a disorganized settlement over the last 50 years, with many people looking for a way to escape the violence of the civil war and looking for land that they could own. San Benito itself is an urban area with 22 neighborhoods, very close to Tikal. San Benito also has a large rural area with about 80 communities scattered in the jungle and the corn fields.
The San Benito Parish began an outreach program to the rural areas in the early 80’s and has always been sensitive and responsive to the needs of the people they serve. Many of the families were uprooted from other areas in Guatemala, with low literacy, and many were victims of the civil war. Because of their history, many distrust the formal structures of society and are hesitant to seek help outside of their communities.
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The outreach program first began with women's groups, focusing on education and helping with agriculture, and in 1999 began a health program. With the support of Concern America, an NGO in the United States, they began a network of health promoters and midwives. |
Many of the Spoonmakers are involved with the health program, working at the local community clinic, and visiting rural areas to provide basic health services, health education, and environmental health understanding. As a group, the Spoonmakers also support them financially with annual donations out of their spoon earnings.
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