Blog / News

New Health Center in Guaimaca , Honduras
End of Year Charitable Opportunity for Giving

In the spirit of the holidays, and for those of you that are looking for end – of – year opportunities to donate to worthy charitable causes, the new Health Center in Guimaca, Honduras may be of interest to you. We also encourage you to share this fund-raising appeal with others.

Spearheaded by the efforts of two remarkable women (Sister Maria Cabellos and Sister Marta Ines Toro), things are changing in the village of Guaimaca, Honduras (population 10,000). The two nuns are members of Dominican Sisters of The Presentation, an order that has been active on four continents helping those in need. See http://www.presentation-op-usa.org/ for more information on the Order, and go to the blog on their Parish in Guaimaca, its school, farm and other initiatives.

The Sister’s latest initiative is to build a new, larger and much needed clinic to serve the poor. The 10,000 SF facility will house exam rooms, a dental clinic, a pharmacy, a nurse’s station, offices, reception / waiting areas and classrooms. In addition, appartments for medical staff and volunteers will be provided on the second floor of the complex .

The clinic’s spaces are organized around two larger courtyards, and three smaller courts, creating a lush and relaxing oasis . These courtyards are a welcome reprieve to the heat, and help cool adjacent spaces. The design picks up on the local vernacular, in particular the use of stucco walls, tile roofs and native gardens. It also recalls the work of Louis Barragan, a master at working with luscious colors and landscape elements.

The Parish’s Health Center has a full-time staff. In addition, doctors and nurses from around the world volunteer for a week or two at at a time. When specialists come to the clinic, patients come from a wide geographic region, often leading to long lines -so great is the demand for health services.

PLA has been privileged to work with the Guaimaca Parish over the last four years on a number of projects, incuding a memorial, community spaces, a barn, other projects. We were first introduced to the wonderful community and the important work being done by Frank and Cindy Bellini of Sacred Heart Parish of Lexington, MA. Over the past ten years plus, Frank and Cindy have been coordinating volunteer trips for groups of volunteers (adults and teenagers). For more information about participating in a February / 2014 trip, please contact Frank Bellini at fxbellini@gmail.com.

All work done for the Guaimaca Parish by PLA is pro bono, and 100% of your donation will go directly to the Sisters of the Presentation and the Guaimaca Parish.


Donations of any size can be made to the information listed at the end of the post. Thanks.

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The Project

Guaimaca Health Center

Main Entrance

Central Garden

Planters and Nurses Station Tower

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