Project Salud y Paz (International Hands in Service)

Providing Health, Healing, and Education with the People of Guatemala. During the 1980s and 1990s, dentist Phil Plunk spent several weeks serving in Guatemala. This was during the time of the Guatemalan Civil War. On each trip to pull teeth, Phil became more and more aware that the need for dental care in Guatemala couldnt be solved through week-long service trips. What the people of Guatemala needed was easier access to regular care. So Phil packed up his dental practice and moved to Guatemala. In 2001, Phil founded Project Salud y Paz and opened a small clinic in Camanchaj, Quiche, Guatemala. For the first time, comprehensive dental care, including cleanings, extractions, and fillings was available to people in the rural highlands of Guatemala. Phil worked with the local bomberos (firemen) to spread the word about the American dentist providing free dental care. Slowly, news of Salud y Paz reached more and more and people and the number of patients began to grow. Since 2001, t...