After operating a Preschool Nutrition Center in the small town of San Antonio Palopo, Guatemala since 2010, we need to establish a permanent building to house the over 50 preschoolers that rely on the center for daily nutrition and education. Currently the preschool operates in a temporary shelter which is dark, cramped, and not conducive to learning and growing.
San Antonio is one the most impoverished and isolated communities in the region, with an urgent need for quality education centers and regular humanitarian aid. Most of the children only speak their indigenous Maya language Kaq'chikel at home, limiting their ability to continue their education. Additionally, many of the students have grown up in extreme poverty, limiting their access to nutrition and ability to flourish.
The three-story building will house almost 90 students, as well as a kitchen to prepare a daily nutritional meal and snack. There, in addition to nutrition assistance and a bilingual education, the students will also learn about basic hygiene and get regular vitamins and deworming medication. This holistic approach will ensure that every child has the resources and support to stay in school.
With a permanent building in San Antonio we will be able to triple the number of children receiving daily nutritional assistance and education. Without the support that the Mayan Families Preschool Nutrition Centers provide, these children will most likely drop out of primary school and never escape the cycle of poverty. By widening our impact and committing to the health, future, and education of these children, we will prepare a new generation for success.
