Location: San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala
Program: Friends of San Lucas
Students: Austin Iglesias, MD '24, Jennifer Romeo, MD '25, and Ashley Ortiz, MS applied behavior analysis '23

Download the students' Discovery Day poster, Medical Ethnobotany in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala

 

On May 30, 2022, our group embarked on a weeklong volunteer mission trip to San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala. We went in thinking that we would just be helping with construction, and ended up learning so much more than just how to use a hammer. Our schedule went as follows: breakfast, construction, lunch, cultural immersion and repeat. Throughout our trip we were able to interact with locals, learn recipes, engage in local customs and even learn about the importance of ethnobotany in the area.

 

We got to hear about the selflessness of Father Greg Schaffer, who helped the Maya in San Lucas regain their cultural identity and land taken away from them during the times of Spanish rule. A project beginning in the 1970s, Friends of San Lucas is an organization with roots in Minnesota that has changed the landscape, both physically and culturally, to preserve Maya traditions and foster self-sufficiency in the people. Friends of San Lucas is also responsible for creating foundations for education, access to potable water, health care systems, construction and native Maya cultural preservation.

We met amazing people who were kind enough to share their history and love for what they do. Among the coffee roasters, storytellers, re-foresters, and our wonderful guides, we were able to bring back a piece of Guatemala with us. Although we were mainly part of the construction team, we did get a chance to explore other areas available in San Lucas Tolimán for mission trip volunteers: the local hospital, the women’s shelter and the charity events held for the people of the town. This experience was invaluable, and taught us about the necessity of perseverance, faith and a good attitude to create happiness where resources might be scarce.

 

 
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