Matthew’s Fundraiser for the Saint Georges Community Medical Clinic at Project Somos

Help Matthew fulfill his wish by contributing to our campaign to build the Neighborhood House and Community Medical Clinic at Project Somos

Event Date:            October 13, 2016  

Location:                 St. George's School

Event Contact:      Matthew Boroditsky     mboroditsky12@gmail.com

Project Somos Medical Clinic

Hello, my name is Matthew Boroditsky and I would like to thank you for visiting our page. This project came about with the help of many people and the partnership of many wonderful institutions.  In 2013 while attending my senior year at St Georges School I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.  At the time I had recently returned from Guatemala for a service-learning experience arranged through an existing partnership between St Georges and Project Somos.  It was difficult to witness first-hand the poverty and despair in this country. This hopeless feeling and tragic loss of what we at home would consider basic simple care sparked an idea to construct a medical clinic on site. At the time, I was not fully aware of how this could be done, but when Children’s Wish came along, I knew exactly what to wish for. I wanted my wish to make a difference in this world and continue to help the people of Guatemala for many years to come, trying to parallel the philosophy of Project Somos in its recognition of the importance of sustainability. Nearing the end of my treatment, in partnership with Children’s wish, we were able to direct the initial funds for the medical clinic for Project Somos.

The Project Somos Medical Clinic and Neighborhood house will bring much needed medical and dental clinic rooms to the Project Somos families and the village of Chivarabal.  A recent study by SFU Global Health found that women in our local community are often unable to access basic medical services as they are unable to leave their children in order to the take the long bus ride to the nearest hospital and clinics.  The same study found an overwhelming need for improved public health education in the community.  Our new facility would meet both needs by providing clinic rooms for visiting medical and dental brigades and classroom space for public health education. At the same time, the facility would allow us to introduce Internet based learning to the community through an internet classroom.   

In keeping with Project Somos' commitment to environmental sustainability, the 960 square foot building will be built with earthquake resistant earth bag construction and will feature solar hot water and solar electrical power.