Happy birthday, Ix-canaan (and me)!

The early clinic building: me with co-Founders Dr. Enrique Chapeton and Eduardo Cofiño.

It’s quite a day today: the Ix-canaan clinic’s 24th birthday… and my own 70th!

It’s times like this that I can’t help but think back a little over the years. Time really does fly. The photo above is from when we first opened the first incarnation of the clinic here in El Remate – so much has changed since then and we’re fortunate to be able to provide many different services now, but one thing that hasn’t (and won’t ever) change is my gratitude to you <<First Name>>!

I would like to take this opportunity thank all the many, many volunteers and supporters of Project Ix-canaan who have enabled us to bring the services of health, education and opportunity to the people of the rainforests of Guatemala.

Not only is this my 70th birthday, but it was 24 years ago today that we first opened the doors to the Ix-canaan Medical Clinic, to provide free health services to people who didn’t even have the bus fare to go to Santa Elena to find a doctor. In the intervening years, the clinic has seen thousands of patients, taught health care through scores of volunteer-led classes, given thousands of diabetic tests, relieved breathing problems for untold numbers of babies and children, and sewn up who knows how many wounds, as well as a myriad of other health issues.

In the early 2000’s, the services of the clinic were augmented with the opening of the Youth Development Centre with the mandate of supporting the educational facilities of the village. The after-school program has worked with hundreds of children and youth, developing reading skills and providing computer services, as well as providing a place for the kids to learn and play with volunteers from all over the world. There is also a Scholarship Program for girls and women who often are the backbone of the family.

For the last 20 years, Ix-canaan has also supported local women’s groups who are developing skills and knowledge both individually and as a group. And the project has also grown to include a dental clinic through Dentistry for All out of Calgary, Alberta.

It is only through the generous financial support of our donors, as well as the ongoing presence off volunteers who actually give of their time and resources to work with kids or adults in one off the programs, that Project Ix-canaan has been able to be such a huge support to the community… so THANK YOU ALL for your generosity throughout the years!!

If you’d like to help us celebrate today, please consider making a donation. A little goes a long way here – you can see what various donation amounts can do for Ix-canaan and the people of El Remate over on our updated donations page.

If you’d like to find out more about how you, too, could help to improve the quality of life for the people of El Remate, find out more about volunteering with us, making a donation or sponsorship – or just drop us an email to say hi (we always want to hear from you!).