In the fall of 2024, the Rotary Club of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala (Rotary District 4250) requested that the Rotary Club of Truckee enter into a partnership by becoming the international sponsor of an application for a global grant from The Rotary Foundation. The project was to be titled “Saving Mothers and Babies in the Rural Guatemalan Highlands” and would involve the purchase of medical equipment and training for Hospitalito Atitlán, located on the shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.
The project seeks to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes for the Tz’utujil Maya women in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala by enhancing local healthcare infrastructure and expanding community-based prenatal support. The project will directly benefit over 500 pregnant women annually, offering them essential prenatal care, early risk assessments, and resources to manage potential pregnancy complications. Key to achieving this is a significant upgrade to Hospitalito Atitlán’s medical equipment, including new ultrasound machines, neonatal warming and resuscitation tables, and advanced laboratory tools.
A critical part of the project involves training and equipping 16 Community Health Promoters, or “Promotoras,” who speak the local Tx’utujil language and are well respected within their communities. These women are trusted neighbors who actively encourage pregnant women to seek care at the four rural prenatal clinics.
The Rotary Club of Truckee accepted the invitation and began working in tandem with Rotary Club Lake Atitlán and Hospitalito Atitlán. A grant application for the project with a budget of $130,925 was completed at the end of 2024 and received approval from the Rotary Foundation on February 21, 2025.
The Rotary Club of Truckee, its members and supporters contributed a total of more than $30,000. An additional $13,000+ was raised from seven other Rotary Clubs in five districts including three other clubs in our own Rotary District 5190. All contributions from clubs, members and supporters, totaled $43,755. Additionally, the project received financial contributions from five districts, totaling $48,508. The Rotary Foundation contributed matching funds from the World Fund totaling $38,662. Such is The Magic of Rotary.
In the weeks since the project was approved, the hospital has begun to order and receive new equipment and is making plans to begin all related training. The Rotary Club of Truckee looks forward to the continued implementation and success of this important project