For just $55 a month, you can sponsor a mother and child in this program.

Healthy Mommy & Me /
Mamá y Yo Saludable

Guatemala has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world, with 47% of children under age 5 suffering from chronic malnutrition. The long-term consequences for their physical health and intellectual development are devastating.

ODIM’s “Healthy Mommy & Me” program was founded in 2015 as part of the global movement, the “First 1000 Days.” Studies prove that by bolstering nutrition, education and health practices from conception to a child’s second birthday, children can develop physically and mentally for healthy futures.

Each year we enroll 120 mothers and babies in the program.  The program includes four methods of intervention: prenatal and postnatal healthcare for mothers and infants up to two years of age, education focused on child development and healthy nutrition using local food sources, monthly distribution of nutritional supplements, and monthly support groups.

2024 Budget: $46,519

For just $36 a month, you can sponsor one of our students for one month of the five-month course.

Adolescent Health /
Salud del Adolescente

Guatemala has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in all of Central America. Eighty-four percent of women in Guatemala have their first child before they reach age 20, often earlier. Nationally, in 2020, 13 girls between the ages of 10-14 got pregnant each day, and nearly 100,000 girls under the age of 20 gave birth.

ODIM’s Adolescent Health program began in 2018 to prevent pregnancies among adolescent girls in San Juan and San Pablo la Laguna through comprehensive sexual health education. In this five-month course, originally supported by grants from the British Embassy in Guatemala, we empower youth to make healthy decisions regarding their sexual health and development. Sexual health is generally omitted from the school curriculum and is a taboo subject in households of the communities where we work. We approach this subject as holistically as possible: including a range of themes such as healthy relationships, alcohol abuse, mental health, contraceptives, and sexuality. To maintain cultural sensitivity and break down the taboo, we work closely with parents to help them learn with their child as they navigate together the many changes that occur during adolescence.

The aim of this program is to create a strong cohort of participants confident in their ability to make decisions that best meet their needs and dreams. 

In addition, all participants receive access to dental and primary health care to support their overall well-being. We offer contraceptives, no questions asked for free as well as confidential STI testing.

2024 Budget: $28,301

You can sponsor a participant in Caminemos Juntos for $35 a month.

Let's Walk Together /
Caminemos Juntos

Diabetes is a widespread health issue in Guatemala that affects 30 % of men and 27%. of women nationally.

ODIM’s “Let’s Walk Together” diabetes program provides education about living healthy with the disease, exercise, cooking classes, and bi-weekly support groups. The program’s goal is to empower participants to take control of their health and live the healthiest life possible. Participants also receive health consultations, house visits, regular glucose and A1c checks, and extremely low-cost monthly medicines (at approximately $1.50 per month). Between our two clinics, we serve over 300 diabetic patients. The majority have Type 2 diabetes.

Each year we hold a festival in the community to raise awareness and celebrate our dedicated participants.

2024 Budget: $33,013

For just $95 a month, you can sponsor one of our students in the scholarship program.

Scholarships /
Alcanzando Sueños

ODIM’s first community education program, “Reaching Dreams/Alcanzando Sueños”, was founded in 2008 with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty for children in San Pablo la Laguna through educational scholarships.

Four out of 10 children in San Pablo are not in school, and 80% of those who are, drop out before 6th grade. The majority of families list “lack of funds” as the principal reason for not being able to continue their child’s education. 

Each year, this program helps promising junior high and senior high school students reach their academic goals by offering scholarships, funded by generous sponsors, to cover their school tuition, books, supplies, and uniforms. ODIM scholarship students also receive supplemental tutoring by ODIM promoters in English, Mathematics, Sexual Education, and Computing as well as complimentary access to primary medical and dental care in our clinics.  To give back to their community, students organize monthly community service projects that support local environmental and conservation efforts in their hometown.

2024 Budget: $20,905

For $470.00 you can provide an Onil Stove, Ecofilter and classes for one family!

High Impact Home Improvements / Viviendas Saludable

Founded in 2018, ODIM’s High Impact Home Improvement program aims to improve the health of low-income families in San Pablo and San Juan through impactful home interventions. Families in our program receive efficient, wood-burning stoves that reduce or eliminate smoke in the homes and Ecofiltro water filters, which reduce or eliminate the number of bacteria in drinking water.

These two home interventions combat the prevalence of respiratory and intestinal illnesses caused by toxic smoke inhalation and consumption of contaminated water. Each family also receives six educational sessions to learn how to use and maintain these interventions as well as strategies to maintain the overall health and hygiene of the home.

2024 Budget: $42,490