HELPS International is proud to announce its recent alliance with the Ronald McDonald Children's Foundation  in Guatemala. The Global Ronald McDonald House Charities are known for their tireless work on behalf of children throughout the world.

In Guatemala, the Foundation was established to channel assistance to the rural and urban infants, children and youth with special emphasis on health and education issues.  The Foundation operates a Ronald McDonald house to provide assistance, meals and lodging for sick children and a family member that require the facilities in order to travel from rural communities to access the medical opportunities available in Guatemala City.  The Foundation also provides resources for family rooms with public hospitals to ensure the comfort and support for sick children and their families.  Through the alliance with HELPS International the Guatemalan Ronald McDonald Children's Foundation will:

• Enable patients form the HELPS medical teams operating in rural communities throughout the country to receive follow up care, when necessary, by referring them to facilities of the Ronald McDonald House.
• Provide funding for a recently-expanded pilot project in Santa Avelina, Cotzal, Quiché that develops home visits by education and health promoters for early stimulation and basic health care to enable pre-school age children to better prepare for elementary education and improve health, nutrition and wellbeing as early as possible.
• Ensure general support for every aspect of the HELPS International health and education programs that involve children throughout Guatemala.

This alliance proves, once again, that the Guatemalan leadership and visionaries identify and support the HELPS International programs.  It demonstrates that Guatemalans are committed and willing to invest and participate in improving the lives of their countrymen hand in hand with the staff and volunteers working tirelessly to break the cycle of poverty.  The Ronald McDonald children's Foundation in Guatemala and HELPS International are proud to join forces and work together to improve and change lives from infancy, through childhood and adolescence into the future adults of Guatemala.