Operación San Andrés
In March 2019, 26 students and two faculty members from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, USA, visited Operación San Andrés, partnering with our team to conduct a medical clinic for underserved populations in Collique. For an entire week, the team of pre-medical and nursing students provided medical screenings, health services, reading glasses, and educational activities to more than 400 children and adults. Operación San Andrés partnered with several government and private institutions to organize medical clinics at different areas in Collique, as well as in two government projects supporting disadvantaged families. The Talita Cumi program and Luz de Esperanza Church were also involved in planning and organizing activities that took place in different areas of Collique.
Kids in the Operación San Andrés programs also benefited from activities run by Baylor students. They learned about health topics such as personal hygiene, nutrition, exercise, and safety around strangers, among others. To end the week, more than forty fathers and mothers gathered at OSA House to learn how to take better care of their children's health. This remarkable initiative from Baylor University was accompanied by more than 25 local community leaders, trained by Operación San Andrés, who supported the work of the visitors and helped them reach more people across the community. These committed community leaders are part of Talita Cumi, an initiative sponsored by Operación San Andrés to prevent violence against women in the community.
During the week, dozens of people expressed their gratitude to Baylor and Operación San Andrés for this joint project and asked them to organize it again in the near future. Jacinta, age 60, said, "I first thank God for all the support we received and for all the people that made it possible. I now have my reading glasses that help me so much in my daily activities. It would have not been possible without your help."
