According to the Mayan way of thinking, which can still be found when speaking of traditional medicine in Guatemala, human diseases can be distinguished into “natural”, “supernatural”, diseases caused by “Gods of the Earth” or diseases of the “lower world”.
The “curandero” is the person who takes care of these diseases and generally a person becomes a “curandero” after having had a particular dream and the more he dreams the wiser he becomes.
In this context, in 1988, the GRT began working in Guatemala, initially carrying out research on traditional medicine, funded by the European Union and carried out in a Maya K’Iche’ community of Totonicapan. Subsequently, through the implementation of several projects concerning traditional medicine and ethnic minorities.
The organization has also achieved important results in the health and education sector, as well as in local production through micro-credit loans.