Ak' Tenamit

Travelers to the Rio Dulce see the tremendous beauty, the canyon, wild animal and bird life, hot and cold springs, clear starry nights and tropical rainforest. Yet hidden behind this beauty is more poverty than in any other region of Guatemala. More than 6,000 Kek'chi (Mayan) Indians live in over 50 isolated villages in the mountains along the river. Most have been displaced by political violence from their homes in the central highlands. They now suffer lack of medical care, educational facilities and opportunities to support a family.

Project Ak' Tenamit is a community-development project dedicated to empowering indigenous communities through grassroots programs in health, education and income generation.

Our education programs extend beyond our own site's school to more than 70 village schools. Our income generation programs address the problem of few work opportunities by creating new alternatives. In addition to our 24 hour health clinic (which you are welcome to attend) we reach into the isolated villages with regular visits for medical treatments and immunizations and for health education.

The guiding philosophy behind everything we do is "self help". The villagers are involved with the project by providing construction or maintenance for medical credits. Nothing is given away for free as we encourage growth toward independence.

International volunteers have proven crucial to our success. Doctors, teachers, consultants and other professionals supplement our Kek'chi / Guatemalan staff and help keep our costs down.

Ak' Tenamit always appreciates the support we receive from the cruising community whether it is a direct financial contribution, patronizing of the charity table at the Cayuco Club, a donation of medicines, books, paint, buckets, solar panels, batteries, any size rope or your volunteered time.

We welcome your visit any time and will be happy to show you around. We stand by on channel 88 and are located about six miles upriver from Livingston at 15° 46.68'N and 88° 48.20'W.

Dana Tucker, LPN
Resident Nurse

Visit the Ak' Tenamit web page at http://www.aktenamit.org/index.html