Educational opportunities are slim in communities under the poverty line. Due to there are several needs that are not covered in remote areas in Argentina, the rural schools become a center to support the underprivileged children. By providing school supplies, the completion of this project complements the key role of the teachers and directors in rural schools who take care of the academic aspects as well as a proper nutrition and health education.
Youth must often quit school to find work and pay for immediate, pressing needs. Without a school degree, low-wage, manual labor is the only option - closing the door to higher paid work that a few extra years of education would have provided.
We are looking to provide the support necessary for children attending elementary schools, children that in several case are walking barefooted to go to the school, and give them an opportunity to learn, reach middle and high school, creating a better life for themselves and their families. A high school degree can double a person's lifetime earning potential in a developing countries in Latin America.
Sumando Manos Foundation is helping several communities with medical and nutritional needs. Since our visits started in 2005, to date nutrition deficiencies have decreased 60%, dentistry problems such as cavities 54% and common skin diseases 25%. The preventive health care education combined with healthy nutrition produced results that can be measured not only statistically, but also with prospects of a brighter future. Integrate Health, Nutrition and Education programs is key for their future.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
