CHW TestimoniesEl SalvadorUganda
CHW Impact: June - December 2025
The second half of 2025 reminded us that sustainable health impact is built over time, through consistent learning, trusted relationships, and Community Health Workers (CHWs) who quietly show up month after month. Across Latin America and East Africa, CHWs continued to strengthen their skills, respond to real-time community needs, and step into leadership roles. From milestone anniversaries to large-scale trainings, these months captured both depth and growth.
El Jute Monthly Meetings: A Model of Commitment (El Salvador)
From June through November, the El Jute group demonstrated what long-term commitment looks like in practice. Since graduating in July 2024, El Jute has become our most consistent CHW group, meeting 15 times in just over a year and only pausing during December due to Christmas commitments.
During the second half of 2025 alone, the group covered a wide range of critical health topics:
- June–July: Sexual and reproductive health, family planning, and sexually transmitted infections
- August: Parasites, bedbugs, and ticks, paired with hands-on community care, including a home visit to support an elderly woman with a chronic skin condition
- September–October: A two-month study on common childhood illnesses, including dehydration, respiratory symptoms, malnutrition, and growth concerns
- November: Menstruation and menopause, helping close gaps in women’s health education
Beyond the curriculum, El Jute CHWs consistently reported accompanying neighbors, taking blood pressure, visiting the elderly, and responding to children’s health concerns. Group leader Xiomara also led a practical demonstration on making oral rehydration solution, reinforcing the group’s emphasis on actionable, accessible care.
As Xiomara shared earlier in the year, being a health worker doesn’t mean being a doctor or nurse—it means helping with what you know. El Jute continues to embody that belief!
Uganda Trainings: Expanding Advanced Maternal Health Education
In September, International HELP returned to Uganda to deepen and expand local health education through two back-to-back trainings. Together, these trainings reflect International HELP’s commitment to both long-term accompaniment and strategic expansion, strengthening existing CHW networks while empowering new local leaders.
From September 8–11, we provided our Advanced Maternal Health Certification to our existing group of 25 CHWs in Mukono, in partnership with Hope4Youth School. This training built on skills developed in previous years, filling critical gaps in maternal risk recognition, emergency response, and community education.
From September 13–18, we trained and certified a new group of 21 CHWs in Entebbe, partnering with House of Love Fellowship Entebbe. These new CHWs are now equipped to support mothers and families in their communities with lifesaving knowledge and preventive care.
To learn more about the impact this group has made since September, read their blog here.
El Sunza Community Events (El Salvador)
The El Sunza group hosted multiple community initiatives this fall:
- A mosquito abatement campaign to prevent dengue and other vector-borne diseases
- A medical outing where an elderly community member was referred for inpatient care due to dangerously high blood pressure and glucose levels
- A large community health campaign connected to the Project Integrating Grandparents, reaching over 100 people through partnerships with local leadership, the mayor’s office, and community organizations
These events highlighted the growing role of CHWs as connectors, bridging clinics, local government, and community members.
Celebrating 10 Years of International HELP
On November 25, International HELP celebrated 10 years of educating, empowering, and equipping Community Health Workers around the world. Over the past decade, this work has grown from a single training to hundreds of CHWs serving across multiple countries, each one helping prevent disease and strengthen community health from within.
To reflect on this milestone, we shared our Decade of Impact blog. We invite you to read that blog and celebrate the impact made possible through partnership, perseverance, and community leadership.
Looking Ahead
As 2025 came to a close, one theme stood out: consistency builds trust, and trust builds impact. Whether through monthly meetings, home visits, or large-scale trainings, Community Health Workers (CHWs) continue to show what community-led health looks like in action.
As we move into 2026, we look forward to deepening these partnerships, expanding advanced trainings, and continuing to walk alongside CHWs as they serve, ensuring that no one in their communities is overlooked or left behind.
