Dr. Todd Jackson and volunteers began their journey to Guatemala over two decades ago to assess opportunities to serve. This trip marked the beginning of a profound bond between GES and Guatemala, fueled by strong connections with its people and environment.
What started as a mission to combat blindness transformed into a collaborative effort to create sustainability by providing essential infrastructure and tools to amplify our impact.
The team’s passion for the country and her people led to significant developments in supporting local surgeons. Inspired by the life-changing story of a blind boy named Tomas, who regained his sight through surgery by a local physician, Dr. Loza Bicky, Dr. Jackson and the team realized the vital role of localized care for long-term success.
In 2021, GES made a monumental $50,000 donation of state-of-the-art cataract equipment and supplies. The donation of this single machine enables local surgeons to conduct thousands of surgeries, whereas our limited visits can only accommodate a few hundred.
Building on this success, GES continued its commitment in 2022, donating an additional $15,000 worth of equipment and establishing monthly sponsorships for local physicians. This ongoing support signifies the evolution of GES’s efforts from a gesture of love to a sustainable model of support for local surgeons. While this long-term approach may incur higher costs, it undeniably yields a more substantial and lasting impact.
Witness the impact of our initiatives, the lives touched, and the hope restored by exploring the extraordinary work we have accomplished within the communities we serve in Guatemala.