FAITH IN ACTION INC

EVERY YEAR WE PROVIDE MEDICAL AND DENTAL OUTREACHES TO ALL OF THE VILLAGES WE WORK IN. THESE VILLAGES INCLUDE; PUNTA DE COCOLI, AGUA FRIA DE VOCAN, MATASANO, CERRO PELON, GUALLAVIAS, EL PARAISO, SIMARON & CASTULO. WE HAVE PORTABLE DENTAL UNITS THAT ALLOW US TO DO FILLINGS, EXTRACTIONS AND EVEN TAKE IMPRESSIONS TO REPLACE THE EXTRACTED TEETH WE REMOVE. DUE TO THESE OUTREACHES WE ARE STOPPING TOOTH DECAY AS WELL AS ALL TYPES OF INFECTION SYSTEMICALLY THAT COME ALONG WITH POOR DENTAL CARE. THEIR ENTIRE BEING FEELS BETTER FROM DENTAL CARE. WE ALSO INCLUDE SCALING AND ULTRA- SOUND CLEANING AT THE SAME TIME. WE ARE BUILDING A FACILITY CALLED THE NUTRITION CENTER TO ACCOMMODATE THE SEVERE MAL-NOURISHED MOTHERS AND CHILDREN FROM THESE VILLAGES. THIS HOUSE PROVIDES ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO SPEND THE TIME NEEDED TO GET MEDICAL ATTENTION FROM THE LOCAL HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS AND BUILD UP THEIR HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL LEVEL TO A SATISFACTORY CONDITION. THE CENTERS MAIN GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THE CARE THEY NEED IN ORDER TO RID THEIR BODIES OF THESE ISSUES AND RE-BUILD THEIR DEFENSE MECHANISMS BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR VILLAGES. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS BY PROVIDING THEM A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, NUTRITIONAL MEALS, SUPPLEMENTS AS WELL AS THE MANY ADDITIONAL MEDICINES AND TREATMENTS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED BY THE DOCTORS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. WE CONSTANTLY MONITOR HEALTH AND NUTRITION LEVELS DUE TO THE FACT THAT A LARGE PORTION ARE BELOW THE AVERAGE WEIGHT AND SIZE CHARTS. CONSEQUENTLY, WE DO AGRICULTURE PROJECTS TO INCREASE THEIR INTAKE OF HEALTHY FOOD AS WELL AS HELP THEM TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES. SO MANY CASES ARE NOT TREATABLE UNTIL THEIR GENERAL HEALTH IS GREATLY IMPROVED, I.E. OPERATIONS, NEWBORN DELIVERY. THEY LIVE IN A CONSTANT BATTLE AGAINST INTESTINAL PARASITES, I.E. AMOEBA & WORMS THAT ROB THEM OF WHAT LITTLE NUTRITIONAL VALUE THEIR LIMITED FOOD SUPPLY PROVIDES. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THEY OFTEN HAVE TO COOK OVER OPEN FIRE WHICH CAUSES THEM TO SUFFER FROM SMOKE INHALATION ISSUES AND PNEUMONIA ON A REGULAR BASIS. ALL OF THESE ISSUES NEED TO BE DEALT WITH BEFORE EXTENSIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION CAN BE EFFECTIVE. GENERAL HEALTH ISSUES LIKE PARASITES AND AMOEBAS ARE. ADDRESSED THROUGH POTABLE WATER PROJECTS AND HOUSING PROJECTS. OUR FEEDING PROGRAMS HELP THE CHILDREN AND ELDERLY SURVIVE. WE RECEIVED 5 CHILDREN WITH SEVERE MAL-NUTRITION AND THEY WERE UNDER OUR CARE DUE TO THE FACT THEIR MOTHER DIED IN CHILD BIRTH. THE FATHER FINALLY AGREED TO ALLOW US TO KEEP THEM AT THE CENTER. HE WAS KILLED A FEW WEEKS LATER AND THE CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN THE CARE CENTER INDEFINITELY BECAUSE THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS.

24 STUDENTS STUDYING IN THE ZACAPA DORM ALL YEAR GRADUATED AND ARE CONTINUING THEIR STUDIES. A FEW OF THEM WILL NOT COME BACK BECAUSE THEY HAVE REACHED THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION NEEDED FOR A GOOD JOB AND HAVE OPTED TO BEGIN THEIR WORKING CAREER. WE ALSO HAVE 5 NEW STUDENTS FROM THE MOUNTAIN VILLAGES THAT HAVE INITIATED THEIR STUDIES. THIS IS LIFE CHANGING BECAUSE NONE OF THESE YOUNG ADULTS HAVE ANY PARENTS OR SIBLINGS WHO HAVE CONTINUED PAST 6 GRADE. MANY OF THOSE WHO HAVE GRADUATED AS TEACHERS ARE NOW IN THE MOUNTAIN VILLAGES PLACED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS TEACHERS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. OUR DESIRE IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY THROUGH EDUCATION. WE PROVIDE SHELTER, FOOD, CLOTHING, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, TRANSPORTATION AND MONTHLY DUES REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE SCHOOLS IN ZACAPA.