Feed the minds and bodies of 300 kids in Guatemala

Thanks to the money raised through CasaSito’s ‘’Feed the Minds and Bodies Program’’, 2013 has got off to a great start for more than 250 children and teenagers attending the projects of ‘Los Patojos’, ‘EducArte’ and ‘Semilla de Esperanza y Amor’. The money raised through CasaSito’s ‘’Feed the Minds and Bodies Program’’ also supports our vital nutrition program in the indigenous community of 'Las Conchas', in the region of Alta Verapaz. This program ensures that teenagers from poor rural families receive a healthy meal every day. For many of these young students, the meal provided by CasaSito is the only nutritious meal they will eat during the day, and many will walk hours and hours to school on an empty stomach.

The New Year is a time to reflect on the future of these children and that of their education. It is through the money raised for our school nutrition program that a rich, continued education is possible. Without the energy and nutrients provided by daily food, concentration, enthusiasm and sustained study would be so difficult. CasaSito believes that through the provision of a nutritious lunch and mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack we can give children a boost of energy to combat malnutrition and encourage healthy growth.

CasaSito and its partner projects concentrate on ensuring that the meals we provide are balanced and fortifying, and contain the necessary nutrients and vitamins to ensure that the children can study, play and make the most of their education. CasaSito believes that our nutrition program effectively complements the extracurricular educational programs offered by the projects – that allow the children to develop their creativity, experience the joy of freedom of expression and develop self-confidence.

We also believe in making sure that the families of the children appreciate the importance of a balanced diet. We run regular talks and workshops with mothers, children and project directors (for example, most recently on the nutritional value of the moringa plant), and in 2013 aim to run more cooking workshops with our partner projects.

Thank you for helping over 300 children benefit from increased energy, higher concentration levels and a continued education!

Links:

• CasaSito Website
• Facebook Page

Thanks to donors of CasaSito’s “Feed the Minds and Bodies” program, in 2012 257 children attending the educational centers of Semilla de Esperanza y Amor (SEA), EducArte, Los Patojos, received the critical nourishment they need to grow and learn.

CasaSito’s considers nutrition to be an integral part of our quest to provide better educational opportunities. Children attending our partner projects are better prepared to learn since the children receive at least one healthy full meal and/or refacción (snack) Mondays through Fridays. For most of the children served by these institutions, the meals they receive there are their only source of important protein, vitamins and nutrients.

An added and very important component of this program is that children and their mothers have an opportunity to learn about proper nutrition and healthy habits. For example, SEA enlisted the help from a nutritionist from the United States to create healthy, well-balanced weekly menus. Since the mothers are responsible for cooking the meals, they have learned to cook healthily and to combine food groups to ensure the best nutrition possible. On the other hand, EducArte and Los Patojos have incorporated health and prevention programs that teach children the importance of good nutrition and how to make good food choices. Additionally, CasaSito facilitated several interesting activities in 2012. For example, CasaSito held cooking classes that taught mothers how to prepare healthy meals with small family budgets. Also, CasaSito sponsored a series of workshops that demonstrated the high nutritional value of native Guatemalan leafy vegetables such as chipilin, macuy, chaya and moringa. During these workshops the participants also learned how to incorporate these vegetables into the family’s daily diet to ensure the best nutrition possible.

Nutrition is essential to the overall being of the child, and equally important to their educational attainment. Through your donations we ensure that more children have better opportunities to grow healthy and better equipped to learn!

Links:

• Visit our Website!