The world is a beautiful place
to be born into
if you don't mind
some people dying
all the time
or maybe only starving
some of the time
which isn't half so bad
if it isn't you..
Laurence Ferlinghetti
...every beat shared...
Programs
Vitamins
Shared Beat provides year-round vitamins for 2830 children and 475 pregnant and nursing mothers living around the Guatemala City dump and in 20 rural villages of Guatemala.
In 2010, Shared Beat will begin providing year-round vitamins for 4400 children, 520 pregnant
and nursing mothers, 500 senior citizens, 100 diabetic patients and 500 clinic patients.
Our Vitamin Program is made possible through private donations and the help of our friends
Total Vitamins for 2010= 1.4 million!
Want to give a gift of vitamins to a child, pregnant woman or a senior in honor of a friend or
loved one for the holidays or any day?
E-mail us info@sharedbeat.org
Parasite Prevention
Lack of clean water makes intestinal parasites are a significant problem for residents in developing countries.
Shared Beat provides anti-parasitic medication according to WHO recommendations for all people in the vitamin program.
Medical Support
Safe Passage Students
In 2007, Shared Beat created health folders on the 550 students of Safe Passage, an educational enrichment program for children living around the Guatemala City dump. Annual physical exams, visual screens and height & weight are done on each student. In addition to screenings, Shared Beat set up an Emergency Fund for acute and chronic problems of the students.
Safe Passage Families and Community
Twice per year, Shared Beat volunteers hold health clinics for the families and community members of Safe Passage. During the clinics the patients are given medical care and medications at no cost. Thanks to Greg Webb & Save Direct Rx and Blessings International, our medication costs are relatively low so we can provide year-round prescriptions for seizure, diabetic and blood pressure medications.
Guatemalan Community
Shared Beat medical outreach clinics have been held in Guajilote, San Andres Ixapa an 4 communities of Panajachel.
Vision Support
In addition to visual screens, the children and adult students of Safe Passage are provided with glasses. Using the Focometer, a handheld visual screening device developed in Houston, inexpense glasses are made by Shared Beat volunteers in minutes. For more complicated prescriptions or for sturdier frames, Shared Beat receives help from Mike Thombley at Eye Deal Eyewear, Inc- eyedealeyewear.com.
Reading glasses are also available for patients at our open medical clinics.
Healthcare Scholarships
Healthcare scholarships assist students (adult and teens) living in the Guatemala interested in pursuing healthcare careers. The students are sponsored monitarily throughout their time of studies.
In 2008, Shared Beat awarded 2 healthcare scholarships to Carolina Hernandez and Flor Cervantes, adult students of the Safe Passage Women's Literacy Program. Carolina & Flor will began their middle and high school studies in January 2009 and in 1 year will be able to study nursing.
In 2009, Shared Beat awarded 3 nursing scholarships:
Sara Lopez- Health Promoter with Vamos Adelante, a rural Guatemalan nonprofit
Lydia- a teacher with Planting Seeds
Aide Perez- a 2009 graduate of the Safe Passage Women's Literacy Program
Scholarship recipients are required to volunteer during the Shared Beat community clinics. During this time, as well as helping with record & visual screens, the students learn basic nursing.
Bisett Scholar
In 2010, Shared Beat Board of Directors created a scholarship to honor the Don & Billie Bisett Family for their love and service to Shared Beat over the past 4 years. Members of the Bisett Family: Don & his late wife Billie Bisett, Marie Berkenkamp- Shared Beat President, Mark & Donette Bisett, Kennard & Seth Bisett and David & Terry Bisett.
The first Bisett scholar is Flor, a high school student from the Safe Passage enrichment program. Flor has 1 year of pre-medical studies and in 2011 she will begin her studies as a nurse.
For information on how to be a scholarship sponsor e-mail Sara Berry at scholarships@sharedbeat.org
