Mercy Corps & WINGS – Guatemala

Aug 29

Chronic malnutrition remains a significant challenge in Guatemala, particularly in indigenous communities. Nationally, approximately half of children under the age of five are chronically undernourished, with higher rates reported in regions such as Alta Verapaz. Indigenous women and children are among the most affected, and limited access to healthcare services—including family planning—continues to contribute to poor health outcomes.

In this context, illuminAid partnered with Mercy Corps and WINGS to support their ongoing work in Alta Verapaz. Twenty staff members (ten from each organization) participated in a four-day Video Education Workshop focused on basic video production and the use of cordless, battery-powered projectors for community outreach.

Both organizations are engaged in programming related to nutrition and family planning. Mercy Corps staff are working on the USAID-funded PROCOMIDA project, while WINGS focuses on reproductive health outreach within indigenous Mayan communities.

During the workshop, participants developed introductory video content and practiced facilitating community screenings. Pre- and post-workshop surveys, along with facilitator observations, indicated increased participant confidence in planning and producing video content. Many participants reported limited prior experience with video and expressed interest in applying these tools within their existing programs.

Following the training, both organizations developed preliminary plans to integrate video into their activities over the next three to six months. Mercy Corps indicated interest in piloting the approach within the remaining implementation period of the PROCOMIDA project. WINGS plans to incorporate video into its ongoing outreach efforts and assess its usefulness within their programming.

illuminAid will provide follow-up support through its Local Video Trainers, who will be available to advise or assist as needed. illuminAid also plans to conduct periodic check-ins to understand how the organizations are using the equipment and training in practice.