Stories of Impact: Building Trust Through Connection and Cultural Humility
Hope beyond Rwanda
At TIP Global Health, interconnectedness is at the heart of everything we do. The relationships we’ve cultivated—with healthcare workers, local leaders, and global partners—are the foundation of the transformative change we aim to create. These connections have enabled us to expand health access, extend hope, and improve lives across the communities we serve.
In California’s Mixteco communities, one of the most meaningful relationships we’ve developed is with a respected traditional healer, Señora Fe. In Mixteco culture, traditional healers are trusted figures who hold profound knowledge of their community’s customs, beliefs, and health practices. For many families, she is the first person they turn to in times of need, offering remedies deeply rooted in tradition and compassion.
Through our collaboration with Señora Fe, we have gained invaluable insights into the role of traditional healing among indigenous immigrants from Mexico. Her perspective revealed the powerful intersection of tradition and modern healthcare, helping us better understand the Mixteco community’s unique customs, beliefs, and health needs. Her guidance has taught us the importance of approaching healthcare with cultural humility and honoring the trust and influence traditional healers hold within the community.
When asked how we could build trust with the community while respecting their cultural traditions, Señora Fe reflected on the importance of “confianza,” a word that embodies deep trust and confidence. She explained:
“Confianza. For me, it is a really deep and strong word. My perspective—we are so vulnerable; we have to defend ourselves. Indigenous in Oaxaca, vulnerable in Mexico, let alone in a white-country? This is why we close ourselves off. I think you should use confidence as your guiding light. Once that door opens in a home, lots of things happen that you might not have any idea of. You might see someone with back pain, but there’s a lot more going on—psychological, emotional. We are like walking volcanoes.”
Her advice emphasized the need for creativity and intentionality in building relationships:
“To build confidence, try crazy ideas, test them, and then adjust. Connect with everyone, from the people who clean the clinics to the directors. The leadership needs to know and show that they are ‘one of them.’ Give them 10 minutes of your time, to do a quick circle. Pick the full moon day, for example, and conduct a ‘limpia’ or cleansing ceremony with offerings to give thanks for our Earth to have a good week. This is something you could do as a clinic for the project. It shows you’re trying to understand the customs.”
Señora Fe’s wisdom reminds us that trust is built through genuine connection, mutual respect, and a willingness to embrace the traditions that matter most to the communities we serve. Her words challenge us to approach healthcare not only as a service but as a relationship—one that honors the lived experiences, struggles, and strengths of the people we aim to help.
At TIP Global Health, this story reflects the essence of interconnectedness and the power of cultural humility. By listening to and learning from voices like Señora Fe’s, we can continue to bridge gaps between tradition and modern healthcare, expanding health access and hope for the communities that need it most.
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