Prof. Lisa Hebl and 13 Students Will Aid "Poorest of the Poor" in Guatemala During July
June 14th, 2006
 --by Kristin Phillips, Kirkwood News Service
Some Kirkwood Community College health science students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Guatemalan culture and use their education and resources to better the lives of the native children and their families. The opportunity occurs through a department sponsored trip to the Central American country. While there, students will live with a family, work in a clinic and take part in a weekend excursion.
Dental hygiene student, Stephanie Smith is anxiously looking forward to July when she and a dozen other health science students are going to Antigua, Guatemala for the Students in Health Science Service Oriented Field Experience (S.O.F.E.) trip.
When talking about the upcoming trip Smith says, "I'm anxious to see a third world country. I know it will be sad and eye-opening, but both myself and the children will benefit from the experience."
Helping children who are part of the Central American Charity, Asociación Ahijados, or the God's Child Project, is the main focus of the ten day mission trip that lasts from July 6-16.
The mission of the project is to help children that they describe as the "poorest of the poor." The charity is currently assisting over 2600 children by providing them with food, medicine and dental care, clothing, education and educational supplies, bus fare, health workshops and conducting family development training.
The project views education as being the key to breaking the cycle of poverty for the native children. The God's Child Project is based on the Bismarck Education System that pays students a scholarship if they get good grades and study. As part of the Guatemalan culture many children sell trinkets on the street to help support their family. The grade-based income the mission gives children is an incentive to get them off the street and into the classroom.
Lisa Hebl is the clinical coordinator for the dental hygiene program at Kirkwood and organized the trip. She has previously been on two other dental missions through the God's Child Project to Guatemala. Hebl says she has wanted to start an international service program for students since she started teaching at Kirkwood.
"This particular project is near and dear to my heart. I want to give students an opportunity to get out of their comfort zone, experience other cultures and realize life goes on without TV, video games, those types of things," says Hebl.
For the health science students, the work begins before they even leave the country. In preparation for the trip the students are meeting once a month on Friday evenings to learn basic Spanish and about the history, geography, culture, religion, foods, and health care of the country.
Dental Hygiene student Michelle Terry says the classes are important because when they are in Guatemala they are going to "try to fit in with their culture as much as possible."
"There a lot of things you have to remember not to do like motion for a child to come with your finger, take pictures of the locals, only drink bottled water and you have to leave all of your plates and left over food on the table for the family to clean up when you are done eating," says Terry.
The group is also collecting donations for the children around Kirkwood's campus. Hebl and the students' goal is that they each take one military duffel bag of supplies with them on the visit. Donations needed include clothes, school supplies, medicine, educational games and baby supplies.
Once there students will work at the mission to assist in bettering the children's health status. The dental hygiene students are going to work in a clinic with Dr. William Weaver of West Liberty during their time in Guatemala to clean children’s teeth, nursing students plan to conduct well-exams and give immunizations and occupational therapy assistant students will be working with the disabled.
Says Hebl, "We are a 'me, me, me' culture, the Guatemalan people have nothing. I'm trying to show students the importance of giving to others through their time and talents."
Students will also give back to the Guatemalan community by building a house for a child and their family. Volunteers from the mission will aid the health science students in building a home that includes one door and one window. The students will select a child based on a letter they have written to the mission about their need for a home, their grades at the school and by viewing the applicant's current housing situations.
According to Hebl many of the Guatemalan children that are part of the project are "in desperate need of a home." A typical home in the country is made of cardboard, corn stalks, tin or materials that the people find and tie together. Because Guatemala is a hilly, tropical rainforest, during the frequent rainstorms the peoples' homes and possessions are washed away.
Although there will be an opportunity for sightseeing in Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenengo, and the Mayan ruins of Tikal, Hebl stresses that this trip will not be easy.
"It will be culture shock for the students. They have never seen this much poverty as we have all been blessed with food, clothes and a home. Being there is very touching," says Hebl.
When asked how she will deal with the guilt and sadness Smith says she will "just go day by day."
In the future Hebl hopes she and other faculty in the department can make the mission trip a yearly or bi-annual occurrence.
Hebl expects that the trip will be eye-opening and that students do not yet realize the impact that the experience will have on them.
Says Hebl, "I have told the students, 'trust me you will have to go back.' There is not a day, week, or month I don't think about the children. That's when you know it has truly changed your life. A big part of my heart was left in Guatemala, and Guatemala has been left in my heart forever."
That sentiment may soon be shared by Brooke Hoeger. The Mason City native is another student going on the service trip. She says it will be "kind of an adventure" but hopes to accomplish some good things.
"This is my first trip ever out of the country, so I'm pretty excited. But I know we can help while we are there," Hoeger said.
[PHOTO: Kirkwood Health Science Professor, Lisa Hebl (dark blue top, back row) shares a moment with children during a 2002 service trip to Antigua, Guatemala. Photo provided by Ms. Hebl.)
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