By Lonny Ward/Helen Barton | International Field Director/Intern
Peru was one of the countries hit hardest by COVID-19 early in the global pandemic. This caused the country to shut down with very little warning. Families were not able to get out and purchase groceries as they had been able to before the pandemic. As families were quarantined in their homes, the real power of CHOICE Humanitarian Peru’s nutrition program became visible. Families that had learned how to grow their own food were able to access nutritious fruits and vegetables even while the country was in lockdown. These families were able to maintain healthy diets in spite of the chaos around them.
In response to the country’s shutdown, the CHOICE Humanitarian Peru team sought and received special permission from the government officials to continue going out and working with families. Team members have helped families to plant and maintain their gardens so that they would continue to have access to nutritious food throughout the duration of the pandemic. Because of the success of this program, government officials have asked the CHOICE Humanitarian Peru team to expand their program and help in other areas. The team has partnered with the government to distribute vegetable seeds to isolated families, giving them hope and the ability to provide for their own nutritional needs even though the country is closed down.
We’ve always known that our nutrition program was beneficial, but the pandemic has really brought to light how critical this program is in helping families to be resilient in the face of challenges. In many communities, families that did not have this resource have been forced to break quarantine and go looking for food, potentially exposing themselves to COVID-19. In contrast, the families that we have trained have been able to stay home and stay safe. Although this program was extremely beneficial for the families that CHOICE worked with, there are thousands of families that need help. Please join us in expanding this program.
By Lonny Ward | International Field Director
By Lonny Ward/Helen Barton | International Field Director/Intern
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