The principal goals of our work in El Salvador include the following:

1. To establish an effective system for delivering acute and preventative healthcare to members of this underserved Salvadorian community;
2. Transition from a system of triage healthcare to one of preventive healthcare by implementing biannual well-child visits, and monitoring key health indicators for the entire community;
3. Decrease pediatric malnutrition and the number of underweight children in the community;
4. Curb the devastating spread of common endemic disease caused by preventable microbial infections; and
5. Promote and sustain health education programs, focusing on pediatric and maternal health.

FIMRC strives to develop sustainable programs within the community. Project Las Delicias strives to provide educational opportunity for community members on preventative health issues pertinent to the population. In collaboration with GHVP volunteers, medical students and health professionals, FIMRC realized many noteworthy achievements in 2009, including:

• Executed 574 comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care house visits within the community to promote maternal and child health
• Promoted and executed 3 community-wide clean-ups
• Conducted 723 house visits to address basic sanitation issues within the community
• Assisted with the distribution of over 3500 abates for the prevention of dengue within the community, including educational sessions to all recipients
• Planned and executed 48 weekly health education sessions to the Micro Health Insurance Program
• Planted 12 nutritional gardens with the Micro Health Insurance Program
• Conducted 520 house visits in 2009 to promote implementation of health habits within the home
• Assisted the Ministry of Health with over 480 childhood vaccinations
• Executed a height and weight campaign to identify malnourished children under 5 years for a nutrition group
• Distributed 1125 pounds of milk to the nutrition group with funding provided by Sister Gloria (Project FIAT)
• Provided 9 months of education, wellness visits and check-ups to the nutrition group
• Funded, through fundraising efforts of the FIMRC Chapter of the University of Michigan, and distributed 365 water filters within the Las Delicias and Las Brisas communities
• Executed 32 educational sessions on contaminated water
• Assisted with the distribution of anti-parasite medication to over 900 community members, focusing on all school aged children
• Provided a month long first aid training to 22 community members
• Developed educational materials about dengue, chagas, water contamination, budgeting, reproductive health, basic hygiene, waste management, common diseases, the respiratory system and other pertinent public health issues for distribution within the community
• Delivered dental hygiene trainings and kits to over 700 children
• Planned and executed 7 health fairs in the community
• Assisted the Ministry of Health with 500 anti-rabies vaccinations
• Formed a chagas prevention committee and executed 96 house visits with educational sessions
• Planned and executed 16 trainings on H1N1 to over 300 households
• Created a small business development course for local teenagers with the funding of Project FIAT
• Constructed 12 gray water boxes within the community, which included a month long education session before the construction
• Founded a Young Mothers’ Group to promote reproductive health education in the community
• Provided service to 2615 patients, including regular healthy child check-ups
• Promoted the FIMRC clinic and its services in 11 communities in the region
• Assisted the Ministry of Health with the annual health census
• Assisted in the community disaster preparedness and mitigation plan with the Ministry of Health

Marloes Nijboer, Field Operations Manager
Las Delicias, El Salvador
Originally from Denmark, Marloes obtained her BS in Human Geography and Planning as well as her MS in International Development Studies from the University of Utrecht. Marloes has extensive international experience through her work in Tanzania and Guatemala. Most recently, Marloes served as the Women’s Health Education Program Assistant for PrimerosPasos, where she facilitated workshops on community health issues, expanded the reach of programming, and managed volunteers. In her current role, Marloes works with countless partnerships to continually develop public health interventions, ensuring that Global Health Volunteers have a wonderful health immersion experience and a positive, lasting impact on the community!

Kalli Bermingham, Micro Health Insurance Program (MHIP) Coordinator
Las Delicias, El Salvador
Kalli joined FIMRC's Project Las Delicias in June 2011. Prior to her work with FIMRC, she spent three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama. During her first two years in Panama she worked as a sustainable agriculture volunteer helping farmers implement more sustainable farming techniques, and in her third year she worked with women and youth as the Gender and Development and HIV Coordinator. During her third year Kalli found an interest in public health and is very excited to continue grassroots development in Las Delicias. Originally from Montana, Kalli received a BA in psychology from Willamette University in Oregon. Outside of work, she loves Latin music and is looking forward to perfecting her Salsa and Bachata moves here in El Salvador. Kalli is committed to improving the health and well being of communities through engagement and participation, and we’re very excited for the strides MHIP will make under her tenure!

Morena Barerra, R.N., Community Health Coordinator
Las Delicias, El Salvador
A lifelong resident of Las Delicias, Morena is well-known and trusted among the community. As a health promoter with El Salvador’s Ministry of Health, Morena serves as a liaison between FIMRC and government-run health initiatives. As a nurse, Morena brings vision and drive to Project Las Delicias in her daily work treating common diseases in the region. She has been a health promoter with El Salvador’s Ministry of Health for over 17 years, forming personal relationships with families in the area. She lives in Las Delicias with her two children.

Eduardo Quevedo, M.D., Program Manager
New York, New York
Eduardo graduated from Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador as a general physician and has been practicing medicine for 4 years. He aspires to become a specialist in family medicine. His eagerness to help in underserved areas has led him to become an active member of organizations such as Pediatricians for Central America's Children, Helping Hand, and the Rotary Club, participating in numerous mission trips since he was enrolled in medical school. As former Clinic Doctor for Project Las Delicias, Eduardo brings valuable medical perspective to on-site initiatives and contributes to the project’s long-term vision. Eduardo enjoys practicing sports, traveling, and spending time with his family and friends.

Housing
Volunteers stay at FIMRC’s Volunteer Guesthouse located in a safe area of San Salvador. The guesthouse is securely gated and guarded 24 hours per day. Amenities are comparable to a hotel and include bedding, hot showers, and daily cleaning service. Volunteers stay in shared rooms with one to three other volunteers of the same gender, and our staff do their best to honor all rooming preferences as stated in the enrollment forms. Laundry service is available for long-term volunteers. Internet access is available in the area.

Meals
Breakfast is provided daily by a hired cook at the Volunteer House. Breakfast options include pancakes, eggs, and typical Salvadoran dishes such as beans and plantains. Volunteers are responsible for purchasing additional meals from a provided list of reputable meal vendors. Lunch is generally purchased in the morning and brought to the clinic and volunteers generally go out to dinner in the evening.

Transportation
All transportation will be provided by reputable hired drivers with outstanding safety records.
Upon arrival at the San Salvador airport, volunteers are met by a driver, as well as a staff member or representative of FIMRC, and are transported to the Volunteer House. Private transportation is provided for each volunteering day between the Volunteer House, the clinic site, and all other volunteering locations in and around the community of Las Delicias.

The following cost structure reflects individual participation in the Global Health Volunteer Program at Project Las Delicias:

• Peak (January, March, May, June, July): $1149 per week
• Semi-peak (December, February, August, September): $1049 per week
• Non-peak (April, October, November): $949 per week

This cost includes the program donation that supports our project sites as well as housing, food, & transportation.  Housing, food and transportation include airport pick up/drop off and transportation to/from project site during volunteer days, lodging in the volunteer guest house and breakfast each morning for the duration of the volunteer’s stay. Excursions and trips for non-volunteer related activity as well as the associated costs are the responsibility of the volunteer.

Additional approximate costs include:

• Roundtrip airfare generally ranging between $500-$700
• Recommended spending money of $150 per week, at the discretion of the volunteer

The U.S. Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad at www.elsalvador.org.

Passport
US citizens can enter El Salvador with a valid passport. Volunteers who do not hold a US passport must check with their respective embassies for information on travel eligibility. Volunteers are responsible for obtaining or renewing their passports.

Visa
US passport holders are not required to obtain a visa prior to travel. A tourist visa can be purchased at the San Salvador airport upon arrival in-country. Non-US passport holders should check with their respective embassies for current visa requirements and regulations. Volunteers are responsible for ensuring that they are legally eligible to travel abroad.

Vaccinations
We refer all volunteers to the information provided by the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/travel for the most up to date vaccination recommendations. Please note the different recommendations not only for the country you are visiting, but also for the region in which you will be staying.

Flights
Volunteers are responsible for arranging their own flights and must fly in and out of San Salvador Comalapa International Airport (code SAL). Please click here for further information on flights.

Insurance
Volunteers are responsible for possessing health insurance which covers emergency medical evacuation. Please click here for further information.

FIMRC Payments and Enrollment Forms
Once you work with our team to confirm your volunteering site and trip dates, you will be sent a welcome message via email which will contain instructions for enrollment, as well as deadlines for the submission of materials. If you have questions about this process, do not hesitate to contact missions@fimrc.org or 1-888-211-8575.