- Home - ALDEA – formerly known as Behrhorst Partners for Development – has been strengthening Mayan communities since 1967.
- Who We Are - ALDEA and Asociación BPD are sister organizations working together to address the principal needs of rural Mayan communities in Chimaltenango, Guatemala.
- About Us - ALDEA organizes their work around one overarching objective: to reduce chronic childhood malnutrition in Mayan communities in Guatemala.
- Our Founder, Dr. Carroll Behrhorst - Behrhorst Partners for Development – now known as ALDEA – began in 1962 when Dr. Carroll Behrhorst founded Behrhorst Clinic and Hospital in Chimaltenango.
- Board of Directors - Meet the Board of Directors of ALDEA – formerly known as Behrhorst Partners for Development – partnering with indigenous Guatemalans for fifty years.
- Our Partner Organization in Guatemala, ABPD - Asociación BPD is our partner organization–they are on the ground in Guatemala, carrying out this important work as outlined in our joint Strategic Plan.
- Our History - For fifty years, ALDEA has partnered with indigenous Guatemalans to strengthen communities and enhance the health and well-being of families.
- Our Work - At ALDEA, we organize our work around one overarching objective: to reduce chronic childhood malnutrition in Mayan communities.
- Our Partner Communities - Learn more about each of the Mayan communities that ALDEA has partnered with to improve their quality of life.
- Chipatá, Santa Apolonia - Chipatá was founded fifty years ago by 10 Maya Kaqchikel families. Now, the village has grown to 280 families.
- Chuacacay, Santa Apolonia - “Chuacacay” means “the place of the shelter” in Kaqchikel (“Chua” means “place”; “Cacay” means “shelter,” or “hut.”). The town was named this way because there was a shelter where traders traveling from Quiché to Tecpán spent the night.
- Chuachun, Santa Apolonia - Chuachun is located three miles from the county seat of Santa Apolonia and 28 miles from the departmental (state) capital of Chimaltenango.
- El Garabato, Patzún - El Garabato is a small Maya Kaqchikel village nestled in the mountainous highlands of Guatemala.
- Parajbey, Santa Apolonia - Parajbey is in the municipal district of Santa Apolonia. It is close to other Santa Apolonia villages and also those from other two municipalities: San José Poaquil and Tecpán.
- Saquiyá, Patzún - About 100 Maya Kaqchikel families live in Saquiyá. Its total population is approximately 525 people, more than half of whom are children and young adults.
- Xepatán, Patzún - The largest of our partner communities to date, Xepatán is comprised of 380 families. Although no official census exists, the population is estimated at approximately 1,900 people.
- Our Integrated Approach - ALDEA’s goal is to decrease the rate of chronic childhood malnutrition in children under five in rural, Mayan villages in Chimaltenango, Guatemala.
- Nutrition Education - ALDEA’s education program focuses on nutrition during pregnancy, exclusive breastfeeding for six months, and introducing foods after six months.
- Disaster Risk Reduction - ALDEA is working with communities to adapt our processes to new weather realities so that emergency response doesn’t become our modus operandi.
- Empowerment - ALDEA strives to mobilize the entire community to address health issues – focusing on empowering women and youth to participate in local development.
- Family Planning - When families can determine the number and spacing of their children, the youngest and most vulnerable in the family have greater access to good nutrition.
- Food Security - ALDEA is introducing ecologically sustainable agriculture techniques to improve the production of basic grains through the use of sustainable fertilizing.
- Monitoring and Evaluation - Continuous monitoring and evaluation allows ALDEA to introduce new techniques or reinforcing existing ones that are producing positive results.
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene - ALDEA works with communities to design the most appropriate water and sanitation solution for that community based on an environmental assessment.
- Our Partner Communities - Learn more about each of the Mayan communities that ALDEA has partnered with to improve their quality of life.
- About Us - ALDEA organizes their work around one overarching objective: to reduce chronic childhood malnutrition in Mayan communities in Guatemala.
- Media - Follow ALDEA on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to keep tabs on how we’re helping Mayan communities in Guatemala.
- Donate - Learn more about donation options and donate to ALDEA today to help us put an end to childhood malnutrition in Guatemalan villages.
- Get Involved - Find out how you can get involved with ALDEA to help improve the quality of life in Mayan communities.
- “Glimpse of Guatemala” Tour – March 16-23, 2019 - ALDEA’s annual Glimpse of Guatemala tour is a 7-night/8-day tour highlighting rural Mayan village partners coupled with the culture of colonial Antigua.
- Learn More - Learn more about the work ALDEA does to improve the quality of life among Mayan communities in Guatemala.
- What Is Chronic Childhood Malnutrition? - Chronic childhood malnutrition is a debilitating consequence of poverty – causing cognitive impairments and stunted growth.
- Financial Reports - View ALDEA’s financial reports and audited financial statements from over the years.
- Newsletters - Read all of ALDEA’s past quarterly newsletters to find out what we’ve done to help different Mayan communities in Guatemala.
- Contact Us - Contact ALDEA today to find out how you can partner with us to put an end to childhood malnutrition.
- Site Map - Behrhorst Partners for Development – now known as ALDEA – began in 1962 when Dr. Carroll Behrhorst founded Behrhorst Clinic and Hospital in Chimaltenango.
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FacebookWe will be going LIVE for a virtual site visit to one of our rural Guatemalan partner communities for #GivingTuesday, November 27th!
Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for this exciting opportunity to see our work in action! We understand not everyone can travel to Guatemala, so we're thrilled to offer you the opportunity to interact with our programs and partners from home. Check back here for updates - we'll share the exact time and other details on this page as they become available.
UPDATE: The live stream will start at 10 a.m. Guatemala/Central time. That's 8 a.m. Pacific, 9 a.m. Mountain, and 11 a.m. Eastern. The recording will also be posted on our page so those who can't join us live can watch it later.
Do you have online shopping to do? Your purchase can support our work with Mayan families! TODAY, AmazonSmile is donating 5% (ten times the usual amount) to ALDEA when you shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/13-6266540.
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When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to ALDEA: Advancing Local Development through Empow...We'd like to introduce our new partner communities: Chajalajyá, Palamá, Palima, and Xecoxol, all in the municipality of Tecpán in rural Guatemala. These families have been busy over the last two months since we began our grassroots development journey together, and they're off to a great start!
Learn more about each community here: aldeaguatemala.org/who-we-are/our-work/our-communities/
Our initial assessment showed that on average, nearly 7 out of every 10 children under two in these villages are suffering from chronic malnutrition. We expect to reduce this rate through our infrastructure and nutrition programs. We've already begun trainings in agriculture and nutrition, and families have started planting gardens as a source of nutritious produce. We delivered 100 dairy goats to families with young children, and as the goats reproduce their female offspring will be shared until everyone has access to this consistent source of quality protein. One community, Chajalajyá, has even started work on the safe, efficient stoves that will replace indoor cooking fires, improving air quality and decreasing the need for firewood.
We have also begun our community mobilization activities to develop leadership skills, especially among women and youth, that will enable them to better identify and address current and future development challenges. Community members have chosen their peers who will be trained as promotors to lead and eventually take over full responsibility for the programs we've started together.
These four communities still have a lot to accomplish before achieving their dream of a healthier future for their children. Show them your support by making a gift today at aldeaguatemala.org/donations/!