For a few years the Newberg Rotary Club had been looking for an international project. There were a couple of ideas for different locations including a potential project in Mexico. Even though beginning a relationship with a club in Guatemala was going to cost the Newberg Club a bit more than starting a project in Mexico, it was decided that this opportunity would be more beneficial to everyone involved. The Guatemala project began in 2004 with the intent of helping small villages emerge from poverty. There were different elements to the project including dental work, medical care, water purification, construction and electrical work, and a MicroCredit program.
The first team to go to Guatemala worked in the city of El Hato. They conducted dental work in order “to decrease the need for extensive dental care and to expand dental education and cleanings, as well as, provide fluoride treatment to the children getting cleanings.” At the time of the first visit, the community did not have electricity and most of the dental work was extractions.
By 2006 the program had expanded to include the city of Vuelta Grande, which had also just recently received electricity. Medical and dental clinics were performed in both cities. Antiquated water systems were found in both locations so water testing was performed to make sure the communities had safe water.
There was a minor set back the following year as it was discovered that some electrical wires had been excavated as a new classroom was built in Vuelta Grande. The Antigua Rotary Club provided a generator as the water team continued to test and update the water systems.
As the dental, medical, electrical, and water projects continued, a micro banking project was introduced to El Hato in 2008. This program worked to help women develop a business enterprise. The first year of the program was dedicated to helping women raise pigs and chickens. In addition to the micro banking project, an educational program also received its first year of funding. By 2009 all five projects were up and running with help from other Rotarians and clubs in Los Olivos, California; McMinnville; Camus/Washougal; Vancouver; Portland; and the Early Bird Club.


As the relationship with Guatemala continued, there was no medical clinic in 2013 but there was a dental clinic and funding continued to go the education program. The community really seemed to be getting interested in Rotary’s work as they asked for use of the equipment even when Rotary wasn’t there.


The team expected the needs at San Mateo to be easier to treat since they were closer to accessible dental care. However, once they started to see patients, they realized that most children had never seen a dentist. They performed many extractions and saw a record number of patients two days in a row. To ensure that everyone needing dental care was seen they developed a process of meeting with those who had the greatest need first. They also specialized work stations so specific tasks were performed at each station.
