Canmore dental trio prepare for Guatemalan trip
Dec 22, 2011 06:00 am | By Dave Whitfield | Rocky Mountain Outlook
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Canmore dentist Lloyd Evans and dental hygenist Arleah Bloxom work on a patient in Guatemala.
At just about the time most of us are ready for a break from Mother Nature’s wintry grip, a small contingent of Canmorites will be winging their way south to the warmer climes of Guatemala.
Lloyd Evans, Arleah Bloxam and Kandis Kryzanowski, leave for the Central American country on March 22, but not for the purpose of catching a few warming rays.
Rather, the trio will be making a difference in the lives of rural Guatemalans by providing dental expertise for villagers who sometimes walk through the night to line up for their services.
Evans is a dentist who shares Canmore’s Downtown Dental practice with Jonathan Bagley (205, 703 Main Street), while Bloxam is a dental hygienist and Kryzanowski a dental assistant. Evans will be making his sixth trip south, Bloxam her fifth and Kryzanowski her first.
Last year, said Evans, 86 people were in line the day they arrived.
To say the dental work is necessary is an understatement. In the area the three will travel to, many people have never seen a dentist and live with the pain of various dental inflictions 24/7. Extractions, fillings and cleanings are conducted on patients ranging in age from toddlers to seniors.
As part of Canmore’s Hearts and Hands Foundation, the dental assistance is offered in relatively primitive conditions with minimal equipment.
The clinic, if you will, consists of a couple of chairs in a home, and all of the equipment fits in a couple of large gear bags and bins.
For the most part, the dental team pays its own way (about $2,000 per person), but they are able to fundraise by selling stoves through a Hearts and Hands initiative. The stoves are constructed locally, which boosts the economy in the area, and replace open wood-burning fires in homes.
The stoves are fuel-efficient and properly vented, which reduces inhalation of hydrocarbons in the homes. Stoves are constructed on-site by Hearts and Hands volunteers.
The stoves cost $120 and can be paid for at Evans’ dental office. All funds are then used for dental services. Any denomination of funds can be dropped off, by cash or cheque, to help the dental team.
Like the dental services, the stoves make a real difference, say Evans and Bloxam. At times, the villages they visit appear to be on fire as smoke makes its way out of homes through windows, doors and roof structures.
As far as dentistry goes during the 10 days the team is in Guatemala, “we often see adults who have never seen a dentist in their life,” said Evans. “The first year I was there, I noticed a lot of the people praying. When I asked our interpreter what they were praying for, he said ‘for your hands to work faster’.”
The hardest part, said Bloxam, is seeing the lineup. Those needing dental services are given a number, and must then wait their turn.
“This year,” said Bloxam, “my heartstrings were really tugged when a husband and wife in their 70s visited us. The husband was so grateful when we were able to treat him early on the third day of our visit because he had missed two days of work while waiting in line.
“His wife came in barefoot, she’d never had shoes, and her feet were so scarred and calloused from years of hard work and walking without shoes.”
The couple suffered in having several abscessed teeth – “the pain would have been excruciating,” said Bloxam.
“I found it hard to visualize a life at 71 years old, working six days a week for $4 a day, while in constant pain. But they came in smiling, they were generous with their hugs and made sure to thank God for their good fortune.
“People sometimes walk for hours to get to us, and they’ve not even sure they’ll be seen.”
The dental work, said Evans, is mostly extractions. As well, toothbrushes and toothpaste, donated by manufacturers, are handed out.
“We spend time on education as well,” said Bloxam, “to prevent the need for us later. At first we took some floss, but they used it for sewing and other things, that’s how we learned how basic things were.”
The team stays in a hotel in Uspantan, then works in outlying areas, transported in the back of pickup trucks or ambulances. In 2011, the team did 300 extractions, 100 fillings and 30 cleanings for more than 150 people. The average is four procedures per person.
At one point, said Bloxam, the light they were using broke. “One said he was an electrician and he’d fix it for us if we bumped him up (in line). He fixed it, but the light caught fire while we were working on his teeth.”
Often, work is done while using climber’s headlamps for illumination.
“The people are so grateful for everything we do for them,” said Bloxam. “Their generosity blows me away. They carpet the ground with pine needles, then dance on them and the smell is in the air. They’ll give you a cola or offer some of their bit of food.
“Even if we don’t raise enough funds to pay for the trip, I’m going back. Every year I say ‘this is my last year’, but then I find I can’t stay away.”
A side benefit of the stove purchases is that children can then spend less time gathering wood for home cooking fires. Using the stoves quickly saves about a cord of wood because they burn efficiently.
“If we could get donations for about 30 stoves, it’d really help out,” said Evans.
For more on the Hearts and Hands Foundation, the projects supported, or to donate, visit heartshands.ca
RUNDLE COLLEGE - HEARTS & HANDS FOUNDATION
READ THIS ARTICLE
HEARTS & HANDS ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE (as of July 28, 2011):
VOLUNTEER TRIPS
19 groups totaling 450 volunteers have made trips to Guatemala
STOVE BUILDING PROJECTS
2835 stoves donated and installed in 34
villages
500 water filters donated and installed in 21 villages
by 261 volunteers on 12 trips.
12 tons of goods (medical and hygiene)
donated and delivered.
MEDICAL AND DENTAL CLINICS
Over 400 dental patients treated in 4 clinics
Held 16 dental hygiene clinics in partnership with Colgate Palmolive
123 women examined by MDs in 1 clinic
EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS
36 elementary scholarships donated and
awarded
62 students sponsored to junior/senior high
3 students sponsored to university
1 teachers salary covered for 1 year
2 ESL workshops to teachers and students in Solola and Uspantan
2 teacher training workshops involving 20 schools
13 classrooms constructed at 5 elementary schools in Uspantan
2 junior/senior high schools constructed in El Pinal and Quizachal, Uspantan
2 school kitchens built at 2 schools
4 paved playgrounds at 4 schools
27 musical instruments to IMMBI School in Uspantan
$3,000 donated to Marimba School for musical instruments
Donated school supplies and backpacks to 20 schools in partnership with USAID
1 audio system installed
Institute a literacy program in Uspantan
GENERAL
15.5+ tons of material goods delivered (school, medical, clothing, shoes, etc.)
Became a Registered Charity in Guatemala and hired Rebeca Galindo as Program Director, with local staff (2 full-time, 3 half-time and 5 other part-time workers)
Sponsorship of 2 forest restoration projects in El Pinal
Co-sponsorship of the Annual Arts Festival in Uspanta
HEARTS & HANDS FOUNDER RECEIVES AWARD, March 18, 2011
Jan Townsend was honoured on March 18th, 2011 by being named a Paul Harris Fellow by the President of the Rotary Club of Calgary West, Saadat Keshavjee, for her efforts in the partnership between the Hearts & Hands Foundation and the club in building schoolrooms in Mayan villages of Guatemala. A Paul Harris fellow is the highest Rotary honour that can be awarded to local, national or world leaders who uphold the Rotary ideal of "Service Above Self".
ALBERTA EDUCATION WEEK - HEARTS & HANDS FOUNDATION
Rocky Mountain Outlook, Canmore, Alberta - April 22, 2010
READ THIS ARTICLE
CREATING A BOND WITH GUATEMALA
The Globe and Mail, Saturday, April 17, 2010
READ THIS ARTICLE
HEARTS & HANDS CHARITY BENEFIT RAISES $15,000
On Thursday, October 15, 2009, just under 100 guests arrived for “The First Annual Charity Dinner and Auction Benefit” at Silvertip Resort.
With the fireplace glowing, guests enjoyed a 4 course dinner hosted by Rob Murray with music by Tim Clarke. Judging by the audience participation, a lot of fun occurred during the bidding on a spectacular array of auction items. The evening raised $15,000 for Hearts and Hands Foundation, who support an ongoing variety of programs for the Mayan families in Guatemala.
Hearts and Hands recognize the success of this event is due to the many hours given by individuals committed to this “Humanitarian Cause”.
We are extremely grateful to all the people who attended and supported this event along with the many volunteers of the past, present and future. We would also like to thank all the local area businesses who allowed us to advertise the event poster.
Without the incredible support of our Sponsors and the dedication of the five Board Members of Hearts & Hands, events of this nature would not be possible.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE - As of January, 2009:
Stove Building and Water Filtration Projects
2500 stoves donated and installed in 25
villages
450 water filters donated and installed
(by 350 volunteers on 16 trips!)
Dental Clinics
360 dental patients treated
123 women given medical examinations
12 tons of goods (medical and hygiene)
donated and delivered
Educational Efforts
29 elementary scholarships donated and
awarded
26 secondary scholarships donated and awarded
2 university scholarship donated and awarded
1 teacher's salary covered
2 school kitchens donated and built
1 audio system installed
REPORT OF JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2008 TRIPS
by Jan Townsend, March 2008
Two projects were completed in late
January and early February.
The first was a group of 21 stove
builders and a dental team working in the
village
of
El Pinal
. Dr.
Lloyd Evans and his 2 assistants (Kristin Drvaric and Arleah
Bloxam) had a very successful week. Patients lined up at
5 AM
to see Lloyd
each morning and by the end of the week he had extracted 387
teeth. The team had many stories to tell at the end of each
day.
The stove team serviced 100 homes in La
Lagunita, Xejul and Baxil. The whole group was then treated
to a farewell lunch in Xejul and a school visit in Baxil.
Supplies were delivered while at the school.
The February group constructed stoves
in 70 homes in the beautiful
village
of
Salquil Grande
.
This was our first project in this area. The group worked
quickly and the stoves were completed by late Thursday.
Friday was then spent at a school in La Primavera to deliver
more supplies. A game of soccer was played with the
students, a program was presented and a farewell lunch
enjoyed.
This was definitely a memorable project
as the area is spectacular and accommodations superior at
the Haciendas Mil and
San Antonio
. Everyone
enjoyed the beauty and remoteness of Salquil Grande and Acul
where the Haciendas are located.
As usual, both projects were followed
by visits to Chichicastenango,
Antigua
and
Tikal
.
REPORT OF OCTOBER 2007 TRIP
by Jan Townsend, October 2007
A group of 24 volunteers from Canmore,
Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Ottawa accompanied Jan to the village of El Pinal in the department of Quiche, municipality of Uspantan. Stoves were constructed in 120 homes by six teams of for volunteers each.
After training on Monday morning, the teams worked through
Saturday morning completing the project. The conditions in the village were
often difficult due to the muddy terrain from the frequent rains in this region
this time of year.
The volunteers enjoyed a warm reception by the families and
enjoyed the interaction with the delightful children throughout the week. A
visit to the two schools to deliver educational supplies was the highlight for
the volunteers. A farewell ceremony was given by the families of EL Pinal which
was very emotional for everyone. There were demonstrations of traditional dances
by the children along with speeches and gifts given to Rebeca and Jan.
The group departed Uspantan to further enjoy
Guatemala
through trips to Chichicastenango, Antigua, and
Tikal
.
REPORT OF JANURARY/FEBRUARY 2007 TRIPS
by Jan Townsend, February 2007
Two successful stove projects were
completed in January and early February. Twenty-four people
installed stoves in 120 homes in Uspantan. It was a nine–hour
drive from Guatemala City to Uspantan, which is in the highlands at around10,000 feet. It was a long drive, but very scenic as we went up and down the narrow winding road with beautiful views around every curve. The team numbered 24 and from many different cities - Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Canmore, and High River.
There were 6 teens in the group which greatly contributed to
the experience of the team. It was interesting to hear their
comments about their day at the evening meetings we shared every
night before dinner. The team volunteers were overwhelmed as
usual with the warmth and generosity of the Mayan families by
their giving of food and/or drink at the completion of the
stove. Many drinks
of atol, with tortillas were
enjoyed by all. A wonderful farewell lunch was given by the
village for us with thanks from the all the people who were in
attendance and shared the food. The group returned via Chichicastenango where they
enjoyed a tour of the town, shopping at the greatest of all
markets, and a night in the Hotel Santo Tomas, a lovely old
hacienda. The group then traveled to
Antigua for a few days. Many enjoyed the World Heritage Site
through a walking tour. Many hiked Volcano Pacaya which was a
great experience. Some rode a horse up instead of walking. Lots
of shopping was done and the old adage “shop till you drop” was experienced by many. A rare treat was the concert by the Big Band of the National Orchestra of Guatemala on the Saturday night in Central Park. It was amazing under the stars and music of Cuba, USA and Guatemala was fantastic. The first-timers went on to Tikal for two days.
The second project was in Jucanya, near
Panajachel on Lake Atitlan. Thirteen volunteers returned to Canada
on the January 28th, so the remaining eleven members
built stoves in 26 homes. The plan was for 30 homes, but due to
lack of parts, the remaining 4 homes were completed by Helps
employees the next week.
We received a great welcome from the village of Jucanya and the children at El Sala School. We were treated to a program of traditional Mayan and
modern Guatemalan dancing and songs. A real treat ! A very
special afternoon was spent meeting with the students and their
parents that we are sponsoring to Maya Escuela, a secondary
school.
It was a very emotional event as the
gratitude of these families was so apparent. Many photos were taken to share with the sponsors of
these children. I am so thankful for this scholarship program as
well as the elementary scholarship sponsors.
The last, but certainly not least highlight was the visit to the village of Tocache, one of my favorite villages where we are funding the
construction of a kitchen to the school. We again received a warm welcome with a program by the
students. Everyone enjoyed playing with the children. The
kitchen is underway and the inauguration should be in about 7
weeks.
Again, I am so proud of all the volunteers
and the work completed. The attitude of the volunteers continues
to amaze me. They go in total trust of me and put their hearts
and hands into the project without complaint of anything. I can
only hope the experience will be one they will always cherish. I
certainly do.
HEARTS AND HANDS FOUNDATION PROVIDES HUMANITARIAN RELIEF IN GUATEMALA
By Julie Seibt, Calgary Herald, Saturday, January 21, 2006
There's a new face of travel that keeps its participants coming back for more. Destination takes a backseat to duty; pampering is replaced with purpose. No, it's not the Peace Corps and you don't have to be a missionary; all it takes is a strong desire to make a difference.
Hearts & Hands Foundation of Canmore gives Canadians the opportunity to provide humanitarian aid through travel in Guatemala. Two-week journeys include one week of guided visits to culturally significant sights and one week working in remote villages alongside Guatemala's indigenous people, the Maya.
Recent projects of this non-profit organization include school improvements, health and dental clinics. But the construction of new stoves for villagers in Guatemala's central highlands is the heart of the effort.
Traditional three-stone open-fire stoves contribute to health and safety concerns among the Mayan communities. Carbon monoxide levels in homes with these stoves reach 200 times normal levels, leaving inhabitants ridden with respiratory illnesses, eye disease and lethargy. Skin burns are another hazard, especially in children as they play near the stove pits. Women trek eight kilometres a day in search of wood to fuel the inefficient stoves. Deforestation is a tragedy that contributes to crop and life-ravaging mudslides.
Hearts and Hands volunteers work side by side with local villagers to build planchas - raised and ventilated stoves that are 70 percent more fuel-efficient than traditional stoves. Designed with cultural and environmental considerations by HELPS International, the stoves are made of cinder blocks, sand and ash.
But according to Hearts and Hands founder Jan Townsend, it's not just the work, it's helping others to help themselves and integrating with another culture that keeps volunteers inspired. "When we are finished a project, we know more about each other, we understand and accept our differences. We care." Cross-cultural understanding occurs naturally in the villages and is enriched with structured visits to intriguing sights.
The Tikal Ruins, an ancient Mayan ceremonial centre where pyramids rise out of jungle to pierce the sky, offer historical and cultural significance. The lakeside mountain town of Santiago de Atitlan, touted as the "bellybutton of the universe," teems with Mayan culture as the largest indigenous town in Central America. Chichicastenango market, a required stop for handicraft lovers, is perhaps the most colourful native market in all the Americas. The volunteers fly in and out of the colonial town of Antigua.
Who signs up for this unique combination of adventure and assistance? The first group of volunteers in 2004 were mostly women in their 30s and 40s. Recent groups included many couples approaching retirement. The common thread appears to be a keen interest in helping others and the financial means to pay their way. Most are afraid to, or don't know how to undertake such a journey on their own. Team leaders pave the way for a safe, enjoyable and productive visit.
Trip participants pay approximately $2,000 to cover the cost of airfare, local transportation, tours, accommodation, meals and two new stoves.
If you are considering such an undertaking, be forewarned by a message adorning a volunteers' ball cap, "The life you change may be your own."
Canmore resident Joan Lawton recalls her first trip to Guatemala - "I'd never been in a Third World country. On day one, the poverty, noise and diesel exhaust in the city was overwhelming," she says. "I was ready to go home. But when we reached the mountainous countryside, it was beautiful. I got down in the dirt and began to work and I felt better. I knew then I was going to make a difference, albeit in a small way."
It is Lawton's awareness that each new stove will allow for clear eyes, lungs and minds, cultivating health and education among people she has grown to love. Perhaps she has saved a child from a life-threatening burn. In this knowing, her own life has changed, inspiring her to do more to help others both at home and abroad. Lawton is planning to return to Guatemala early this year for the third time.
For more information, contact Jan Townsend at 1-403-609-2725.
