A local trio representing the Bellefontaine Rotary Club embarked on an international mission earlier this month to Guatemala to build relationships for potential future efforts that aim to create brighter and healthier futures for children and adults living in this impoverished nation.
Rotary Club members Gwyn Stetler, Mike Mullins and Brad Hudson joined together on the Central American venture to partner with an existing program in the country spearheaded by the Upper Arlington Rotary Club.
The trip expanded on the organization’s long history of local service, along with welcoming and sending exchange students and a 2017 trip to India by two Bellefontaine Rotary Club members to offer polio vaccinations.
About six months ago, the Bellefontaine club’s board asked Stetler, Bellefontaine First United Methodist community minister, to serve in a new role as international chairperson. She started by researching best practices in sustainable development.
“Many Rotaries send checks to international causes, but few deepen the relationship to become an effective and genuine mutual partnership,” she said.
“I found out that one of the most respected Rotary models of partnerships was actually started in Central Ohio. From a church I served in Columbus, I knew one of the people who initiated it. Out of that relationship, we got an invite to have a ‘pilot learning experience’ in Guatemala.”
Stetler said the partnership was forged with Steve Sandbo, former UA Rotary Club President and past district governor. He related to the local group some of the impetus for selecting Guatemala — the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and fourth poorest country in the world as measured by the 88 percent of children entering school with severe malnutrition. One in five Guatemalan children die prior to age 5, he said.
“Since 2011, Upper Arlington Rotary has constructed two preschools, one middle school, a trade school, and completed five water projects. Our members have made 12 humanitarian trips to Guatemala and partnered with seven other Rotary Clubs.
“It’s great that Gwyn Stetler, Mike Mullins and Brad Hudson from Bellefontaine Rotary joined our latest effort and we look forward to the possibility of partnering with them in the future making a difference globally.”
Organizers said working toward this international cause would not have been possible without a credible, in-country partner. The non-governmental organization Mayan Families provided the link for this developmental strategy.
Mayan Families’ priorities are economic development through artisan activities and trades, education and nutrition. Executive Director Erin Mooney expressed her appreciation for the Rotary Club groups’ involvement and diligent efforts.
“The support Rotary provides Mayan Families in Guatemala is absolutely life-changing,” she said.
“With devastatingly high rates of poverty and malnutrition, partners like Bellefontaine and make positive change and increase access to deeply-needed services and educational opportunities. Amidst such challenging conditions, we have literally hundreds of deserving preschool students in need of sponsors. Access to school resources can mean a difference between life and death here.”
While in Guatemala, the Bellefontaine contingent and Upper Arlington representatives were accompanied by several Ironton Rotary Club members for a variety of activities while working through Mayan Families.
“ Instead of building structures, we were present to build relationship, credibility and complete site visits for mutual accountability,” Stetler said.
“In keeping with best practices, local citizens are hired by the Mayan Families non-profit to get the important income through access to labor. We didn’t go to displace anyone from work. We went seek mutual understanding be the best ambassadors for an important cause.”
The travelers’ journeys around the areas of Guatemala City, Sumpango and Panajachel included a stop at a preschool constructed through Rotary Club efforts, and also a visit to an adult classroom to learn more about Mayan Families’ micro enterprise program.
Through the initiative, women in the community received $1,000 micro loans to start artisan trade businesses. The women offer each other mutual support while paying back a minimum of 40 percent of the loan from business proceeds.
The Bellefontaine Rotarians also had the honor of participating in special festivities in the village of Sumpango, which two weeks prior had received a special delivery via a U.S. Air Force airplane of its first fire truck and a large amount of fire gear.
The fire equipment for the village was made possible through a combined generosity of Central Ohio Rotarians. Festivities included a parade with village mayor, fireworks, blessing by Franciscan Priest and celebrative lunch.
The local ambassadors noted that their time spent in their home base city of Panajachel was marked by contrasts — the beautiful scenery that included mountains and volcanoes, amidst Lake Atitlan, was also subject to such impoverished conditions.
“I was humbled by the abject poverty that I witnessed in this very poor, but proud country,” Mullins said. “I believe that the Guatemalan remote mountain villages are desperate for education, training, and infrastructure; not handouts. I know there is much that I can do to help and I hope others in our community will feel the same.”
“Guatemala’s living conditions impact our conditions. When one suffers, we all suffer. We are linked to each other and together we can make a difference” the international chairperson said.
Moving forward, the next steps will involve the Rotary Club board and club as a whole consulting with its emerging world service partners.
The traveler trio will present their trip details at an upcoming Rotary Club meeting in December or January, with the public invited to attend. E-mail [email protected] for further information.