Rotarians put their backs into helping Guatemalans

A cautious group of local Rotarians trekked into the humid jungle recently, living in another culture while lending a hand to the Mayan inhabitants and garnering experiences of a lifetime.

Volunteers from the Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates Rotary Club used personal funds to travel to Guatemala Sept. 1 to 9, aiding local families by building two dormitories in partnership with Asociacion Ak'Tenamit, a Mayan organization born in 1992 in the rainforests of eastern Guatemala.

The focus is to reduce poverty through education, improved health care and programs to raise financial help. Steve Dudenhoefer, a fellow Rotarian, founded it.

Local Rotary spokeswoman Rosemary Justen says Rotarians contribute money and work crews. She said some active members got their first impressions of a beautiful but equally poor land, whose inhabitants suffer from "malnutrition, lack of basic sanitation, electricity and running water."

According to the Ak'Tenamit Web site, "people drink from the same contaminated streams in which they bathe and water their livestock."

Justen said fellow Rotarian Mary Smith "spearheaded and is very passionate about the project," a thought echoed by Smith, the organization's director for community and international services, who has traveled to Ak'Tenamit many times.

"Our Rotary developed a sustaining partnership with Ak'Tenamit by sending members to help with dormitory construction, funding eco-friendly composting latrines and collecting medical and dental supplies, computers, bunk beds and lockers for the student," Smith said. "We became aware of an even greater need for the Rio Dulce region immediately surrounding Ak'Tenamit, because of our personal interaction with the children and staff."

Smith said the travelers split into two teams, one to build dormitories and the other to focus on education for the girls.

"We weren't tourists, but went there to work in hot and sweaty conditions," she said.

She added that $50 helps five families obtain clean potable water for three to five years. She also mentioned the need for used dental drills and chairs, a generator and two motors to restore the dental boat "so it might be fully functional."

That dental boat, furnished by Rotary, serves 32 villages along the river. Call (888) Rotary 6 to donate those supplies or funds.

Gayle Vandenbergh, who was on the team working with the girls and a first-time traveler to the area, thought it interesting to see how they promoted education.

Vandenbergh, associated with W-T Engineering in Hoffman Estates, concluded that "working together is a common thread all over the world, but at Ak'Tenamit it takes on a whole new meaning." She said the teachers realize the common goal is education.

"The conclusion is that education of the girls is the solution to social and economic problems, because the girls will go on in life to teach their families and community about many issues, including self-esteem, early childhood and teenage pregnancy," Vandenbergh said. "The girls will have the opportunity to become the community leaders."

Besides Smith and Vandenbergh, other volunteer Rotarians on the trip included Richard Casler, director of police for the Schaumburg Police Department, Jim Fabbrini, Jon Segal, and Siru and Andrew Knox.

Casler has traveled to the region and volunteered many times. Other first-timers and non-Rotarians include Fabbrini's wife Karen, Tom Langer and Priscilla Taylor. Park Ridge Rotarian Steve Schermerhorn also joined the visitors.

Smith said students built the educational center and continue to do much of the work at the school. They grow their own food and work at the school's tourist shops and restaurants. She's also happy to relate that villagers provide construction or maintenance for medical or educational credits.

"The guiding philosophy behind everything they do is self-help," Smith said.