Grace White, Projects Coordinator

I am a recent graduate of James Madison University holding a bachelor's in International Affairs and Modern Foreign Languages. Additionally I am working towards a graduate certificate in Non-Governmental Organization Management. The product of my studies is a passion to work in organizations like Pop Wuj that seek to increase the standard of living in a sustainable way without changing the culture in the surrounding areas. Pop Wuj is a necessary institution in Guatemala as the people of Guatemala suffer from some of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world and are physically affected by the conditions they live in, most notably the presence of open fires within the home. Presently, the Guatemalan government does not have any initiative to tackle these major problems.
Pop Wuj, a grassroots non-governmental organization, has many projects that aim to augment the health, education, and the environment for the people in the communities surrounding Xela.

Katie Adamides

As an undergraduate student of global public health, I see the necessity of the programs that Pop Wuj coordinates. Guatemala does not have a system of public health education or government-funded public health initiatives, so organizations like Pop Wuj are the only public health initiatives working towards eliminating preventable illness, such as smoke inhalation-related respiratory complications, Guatemala´s second-leading cause of childhood death. The stove project helps elimate the cause of this preventable illness, and the other projects here target other types of illnesses that lower the quality and duration of life for impoverished populations. This kind of work is slow going, but it´s the only path worth taking. There´s a place for every skillset and an opportunity for every creative mind.

Michael Majzoub

I am currently an undergraduate at Davidson College studying Political Science and am part of the Social Work Program here at Pop Wuj.

I created this site to address the growing need for an place online for volunteers to update progress on the programs, communicate both accomplished goals and needs for the future, and offer an easy way for individuals to fundraise to support these programs. My time at Pop Wuj has opened my eyes to the pressing need that exists in highland Guatemala. It is my hope that this site helps the projects, the people, and the mission come alive and inspire you as much as they have me.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this site please feel free to contact me at mimajzoub@davidson.edu.