Thursday, May 08, 2008


Professionalizing Hospitalito Atitlán
Vicenta Fidelina Chavajay Cortez, (called “Chenta”) from San Pedro la Laguna, is 29 years old and has been working with NGOs for many years. She graduated as a home economics teacher in 1998; and in October of 2006 received her diploma in Social Work from the University Rafeal Landivar.
Chenta brings lots of experience in community work: in addition to teaching, she worked as a loan officer/educator for five years for Friendship Bridge, a micro-credit program.
Chenta left Mankatitlán Municipal Democracy Project to come to work at Hospitalito Atitlán because it offers the opportunity to directly practice her chosen profession, Social Work, and to continue to work to support the Tz’tujil communities. She and Chonita Mendoza will share an office, and work together in many areas.

Posted by Joel at 8:13 AM | | Comments

Saturday, May 03, 2008


Great Nurses… Great Cooks!
Four young student nurses completed their practicum at the Hospitalito this week, and celebrated their term by preparing a lunch for all the employees. The young Atitlanecos worked hard and learned a lot from our staff and the medical volunteers. Hopefully when they graduate, some of them will return as employees. Apart from their nursing abilities, we know that they can cook! They prepared pulik and suban with a delicious ik. In other words, they made a chicken vegetable and rice soup in a tomato mint sauce, tamales, and hot sauce. The delicious lunch was greatly appreciated by the staff and volunteers.

Posted by Joel at 2:01 PM | | Comments

Sunday, April 13, 2008


Atitlán Bass Club
April 11th was the start of the three-day Atitlán Bass Club Fishing Tournament. Proceeds from the second annual Torneo de Pesca will go to the construction fund for the new Hospitalito Atitlán. In the photo, tournament organizers Allen Stern and Martin Chif present a check for Q5,000 to K’aslimaal secretary Karina Gezelius. Thanks to all of the supporters that made the event possible, the Posada de Santiago, Guatemala Sport Fishing, CEFESA True Value, Martin’s Bait Shop, Pesqueros, El Horno, Naviera Perez, Crossroads Café, Sailfishing PanaMax, Pana Super, Restaurante El Patio, Pesca Deportiva, Suzuki Marine, Texaco Panajachel and Fotos Vinicio

Posted by Joel at 5:39 PM | | Comments

Thursday, April 10, 2008


Volunteer carpenters are always needed and appreciated!
Michael Dickey was called to service at the Hospitalito when the medical records shelving began to fall. Nyla the receptionist was afraid of being buried under a cascade of patient files. It takes all kinds of labor to make a hospital work, and Michael has also been the financial support for his wife Lyn, a long term volunteer on the Hospitalito’s board of directors.

Posted by Joel at 5:19 PM | | Comments


UNIVERSITY of PENNSYLVANIA PROVOSTS VISIT HOSPITALITO
It was an interesting and delicious lunch at the Resaturante Pescador with representatives of the University of Pennsylvania. The group visited Guatemala for a week to investigate the possibility of expanding their Global Health programs. In Santiago Atitlán they met with the mayor, the Health Department, rescue workers, and the Hospitalito. In this photo,. Dr. Kent Bream (left to right) who has been bringing U Penn students to Atitlán as part of Penn’s Guatemalan Health Initiative, Dr. Juan Manuel Chuc, medical volunteers from Boston; Pediatrician Rob Meyer, Bill Soares, Jenniger Jargi, HA board secretary Karina Gezelius, and from U Penn, Kara, Dr. Bryan Strom Dr. Charlie Branas. Not pictured is Dr. Steve Larson from the University of Pennsylvania.

Posted by Joel at 12:26 PM | | Comments

Wednesday, March 26, 2008


Thank you Dr. Jerry and family….

It was a fun and tearful party as we said goodbye to Dr. Jerry, Camy, Zach and Sam last night at Las Milpas. Dr. Jerry came to the Hospitalito last fall to begin his six-month commitment. He served as medical supervisor and Chief of Staff. Zach, age five (under the table) and Sam, three attended the local kindergarten, and made good friends there. In the photo are their physician friends visiting with their children from Ventura, California. The children (and adults) took turns with a piñata, and we all enjoyed delicious pulique (a traditional chicken with tomato mint sauce served on special occasions) for dinner. Thank you all for sharing with us!

Posted by Joel at 5:38 AM | | Comments

Monday, March 24, 2008


Good Friday

An example of the truly amazing alfombras (carpets) made of colored sawdust that cover the streets of Santiago Atitlán. These incredible works of art are created by youth groups of the Catholic Church, and last only a few hours because the procession will pass over them during the night. The huge coffin which bears the body of Christ is carried by more than 30 young men out of the church at 4 PM and passes thru the streets, over the alfombras all through the night entering the church again at 6 in the morning.

Posted by Joel at 4:50 AM | | Comments

Wednesday, March 19, 2008


Hospitalito Atitlán staff and volunteers

Following a meeting today, we felt it was time to update the photo for the web site. Many will recognize the faces of the employees, the local volunteer nurses, and others volunteering from Spain, Australia, Harvard, and obviously, Dr. Jerry Noah about to return to California.

Posted by Joel at 8:22 PM | | Comments