In June, 1991, several founding members of The Shalom Foundation Board took their first trip to Guatemala City. In 1995, a 22-member team provided construction assistance and conducted the organization’s first Medical/Dental “clinic”. Annual Missions Trips were planned and led each year since that time. In June, 1996 a 26-member volunteer team began work on Shalom Church with Pastor Alvaro Perdomo. In May, 1997 a 48-member Missions Team provided additional construction work on Shalom Church and much-needed medical treatment — the largest Shalom team to travel to Guatemala at the time. In May, 1998, Shalom volunteers began construction on Shalom School to provide a safe and loving place for marginalized children who had no school available to them. Shalom Foundation Board Members and volunteers attended the Shalom School Dedication in January, 2000 which marked the traditional beginning of the Guatemalan school year (January 15). The Shalom Foundation has provided Education Sponsorships for more than 1,300 students, K-12, following the opening of this Christian school. Shalom Mission Teams have built more than 80 homes for families living in extreme poverty. They outfitted a commercial kitchen for the “Food for Thought” Nutrition Program, remodeled local schools, provided medical, dental and optical services, funded computers and text books, shared thousands of Bibles, installed Clean Water Systems and more. Shalom Foundation volunteers also worked side by side with Guatemalans to remodel, outfit and open the Moore Pediatric Surgery Center.
The Moore Pediatric Surgery Center opened in 2011 to serve children and families from across Guatemala. Without intervention, these children would otherwise go untreated, facing life-long suffering or death. The Moore Pediatric Surgery Center serves as an international destination for Children’s Hospitals, Medical Centers, and medical teams from across the country supporting the foundation’s Medical Initiative. The facility is utilized by teams year-round. These teams work with local Guatemalan medical specialists to provide surgical care to the poor within a modern facility. By partnering with in-country doctors and nurses for follow up treatment, the most and best care can be provided to the most children. This unique model can provide on-going services where there are otherwise none available. The Moore Center provides hope and the opportunity to heal hundreds of children each year. Charitable care services provided through the surgery center transform hundreds of families each year, touching thousands of lives.
To donate and for more information visit www.theshalomfoundation.org