HELPS offers many ways for you to get involved.
Below are different HELPS programs that you can contribute
to. If you would like to make a contribution please click a
name and fillin your information.
HELPS believes that increasing corn production is key to alleviating rural indigenous poverty. Improved corn yields equal an improved economy for Guatemala. HELPS, in cooperation with its partner DISAGRO,has tested and implemented a corn program in the rural highlands which promises to bring real economic change to the region.
The HELPS Gravity Water Filter was designed as a practical solution to the need for safe drinking water in the rural highlands where safe water is scarce. The HELPS water filter uses two containers and a ceramic element. A person simply pours water into the top container and it then filters to the lower container through the ceramic element, providing up to 10 gallons of safe drinking water every 24 hours. The initial setup time is approximately 15 minutes.
For centuries the indigenous Mayans have cooked meals using open flame three-stone fires on the dirt floor of the home. This traditional method of cooking is causing numerous medical and environmental problems throughout rural Guatemala. After an exhaustive two year investigation of the cultural as well as technological factors surrounding open flame three-stone fires, HELPS International developed the "ONIL" Stove: a healthier, safer way of cooking that is suited to traditional cooking methods.
HELPS believes in providing first class, US hospital standard health care to the people of Guatemala and provides surgical and general medical care assistance to as many of the rural population as possible. This alleviates the medical needs in the rural areas, creates a positive health care attitude for these patients and the villagers, and lessens the burden on the major medical centers.
The school costs are funded by donors who partner with the parents of the 131 students who attend the HELPS' private school in Santa Avelina. The parents provide approximately $20.00 per year in cash, agricultural products or work, and the PEP partner donates $300 per year. The students consider the relationship with their PEP partners as a special one, similar to that of their godparents.
