The Xela Aid Philosophy

The core of Xela Aid’s philosophy is that doing our work lovingly is as important as the physical work that we accomplish. For Xela Aid, our true end product is the sum of our "doing and being". Admittedly, we have high ideals and seek Xela Aid team members who aspire to work in a good way consistent with our” doing and being” philosophy, as well as with the following:

What We Believe

We believe in serving the people of Guatemala by cooperating with them to alleviate sickness, hunger and poverty. Xela Aid does this through direct, grass-roots involvement, and by working with other established organizations to provide sustainable, community-based systems for nutrition, health care and health education, training, and related assistance to families and communities. Xela Aid also helps to enable those who receive assistance to become givers by “passing on the gift” of training and assistance to others in need. The organization works to further educational opportunities for children and adults so that they may become increasingly empowered.

We believe that it is a privilege to serve others, and that in the serving, we too are served and our lives become richer because of it.

We believe in the cultural integrity of the people of Guatemala, and are committed to minimizing the impact of our activities on their cultural traditions.

We believe that the long-term success of our efforts depends entirely on our cooperation and partnership with the Guatemalan people, and so strive to be excellent listeners and humble partners.

We Believe In...

Respect for the people we serve and for the uniqueness of individuals within the Xela Aid volunteer group. We are committed to continually developing understanding and appreciation of each other and for the Guatemalan people and way of life.

Participation of our team members and the people we serve in our decisions regarding the projects we undertake, the goals we set, and the methods we use in achieving those goals.

Communication among Xela Aid team members, the Guatemalan people, and other stakeholders in our efforts. We emphasize active listening, consensus building and compromise.

Courtesy in all interactions within Xela Aid; between team members and the Guatemalan people.

Integrity in all our dealings.