Presbyterian Program of Diaconia

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Diaconia is a development ministry of the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala which is working in 45 communities in the 15 presbyteries of the church. Diaconia supports programs which are formed and carried on at the community level. Its leadership is invested in training local people and utilizing local resources in order to create programs that which are sustainable. Programs include: non-formal education, including literacy; preventive health and nutrition; agriculture and organic fishing; theological services; and integral development of women. Started in 1987, in what was initially a three-year program of the Southwestern Presbytery of the NEPCG, it has grown to a place where it directly impacts approximately 900 families, many more indirectly.

Health workers and health promoters which are trained through programs of Diaconia, are chosen by their communities. They are able to participate in a variety of training programs which cover such topics as nutrition, personal hygiene, use of growth charts, care of wounds and fractures, and more recently, training in dental extraction, a subject which has been well received. Because the cost of modern medicine has risen beyond the reach of most people, the health workers are learning to use natural (herbal) medicines and how to grow "medicine gardens".

In Guatemala the Program of Diaconia is assisted by grants from the PC(USA) Thank Offering, Extra Commitment Opportunities (Acct.# 862618), Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self-Development of People and funds from the Medical Benevolence Foundation.

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