Community-driven Healthcare & Education work

Dr. Martin Kanne, a local retired family physician, has been dedicated to helping the people of Guatemala and Honduras for over 30 years. He initiated the Guatemala Humanitarian Fund, which focuses on various humanitarian projects, including building schools, churches, and kitchens to uplift the communities in need. Dr. Kanne's mission is to provide sustainable support and resources to enhance the lives of individuals in Guatemala.

Growing up in small-town Iowa in the 50s and 60s in a large Catholic family, Martin Kanne was shielded from the world's poverty and suffering, despite his parents' and teachers' efforts to instill empathy. He vowed that if he achieved his dream of becoming a physician, he would help those in need in the Third World. In 1989, a medical mission trip to Guatemala profoundly impacted him, exposing him to severe poverty and inspiring a lifelong commitment to aid. He adopted a Guatemalan girl in 1992 and funded a church construction in Nimipá. Since 2000, he has undertaken annual medical missions and construction projects in Honduras and Guatemala, working with local leaders and involving youth to expose them to these experiences. His projects have included building schools, churches, and homes, and providing medical care. A memorable 2020 mission trip underscored the importance of resilience and support, as his team navigated a sudden travel ban due to COVID-19. His work continues to focus on various infrastructure projects, aiming to improve living conditions and inspire the next generation.

Dr. Kanne will focus his presentation on the community-driven healthcare and education work of the Organization for the Development of the Indigenous Maya (ODIM), an organization he has worked with for nearly 20 years.