Mission · Summer 2024

A mission that changed my perspective.

At 16, I organized a fundraiser to purchase and deliver essential medical equipment for the Luis Poma Health Unit in San Julián. The project became a lesson in responsibility, local coordination, and the difference between wanting to help and doing the patient work required to follow through.

$6,710raised through the completed fundraiser

30 donationsrecorded on the fundraiser page

The handoff brought family, local representatives, health staff, and donated equipment together in San Julián.

San Julián, Sonsonate Este, El Salvador · Unidad de Salud Luis Poma de San Julián

Why I got involved

The project began after seeing the resource constraints facing rural health care in El Salvador. I created the fundraiser, communicated the purpose, helped coordinate the purchase and delivery of equipment, and joined local representatives and health staff for the handoff.

What I contributed

My contribution was organizing the fundraising effort and participating in the practical work of turning donated money into equipment delivered to the clinic. The result depended on donors, family, logistics partners, local officials, and health professionals working together.

What I learned

Service is not a personal brand exercise. It requires listening, accurate context, follow-through, and respect for the people who understand a community’s needs better than an outsider does.

How it changed my perspective

The experience made human context a permanent part of how I think about products and institutions. A system can be technically impressive and still fail if it ignores trust, responsibility, or the people expected to live with its consequences.

Documented handoff

Standing with local and health representatives beside donated medical equipment and washing machines — The handoff brought family, local representatives, health staff, and donated equipment together in San Julián.

Signing documents during the equipment handoff — Following through meant participating in the practical handoff—not only raising funds online.

Boxes of donated health monitoring equipment and medical tools arranged on a table — Health-monitoring equipment prepared for the Luis Poma Health Unit.

Two boxed washing machines included in the donation — Equipment included practical infrastructure as well as clinical tools.

Handing a boxed health device to a local representative — A documented handoff with the people responsible for using and stewarding the equipment.

Standing with two members of the local health and community team — The project depended on local knowledge, health staff, and shared responsibility.

A group portrait beside donated medical equipment and washing machines — A collective effort, documented at the handoff in San Julián.

A local representative signing handoff documents during the gathering — Documentation and local stewardship were part of completing the work responsibly.

Seated beside a local project representative — Relationships and local coordination made the project possible.

Seated with a local representative during the handoff gathering — A moment from the gathering around the equipment handoff.

Wrapped equipment containers prepared for delivery — The work included getting physical equipment prepared and delivered safely.

Public record

William's Healing Hands Project: Support San Julián Clinic

The completed GoFundMe documents the fundraising effort. A public post from the San Julián district records the equipment handoff and acknowledges the Menjivar family’s contribution.

View the completed GoFundMe View the municipal acknowledgement