This project will provide nutritional supplements to pregnant and breastfeeding women in 17 rural Maya villages in Guatemala giving babies a healthy start to life in a place where 80% of children suffer chronic malnutrition with stunted growth. Nutritional support in pregnancy and lactation, combined with our existing supplement program for babies 6-24 months, can prevent stunting for the critical first 1000 days and assure the growth and brain development needed for a productive life.
Up to 80% of Maya children in remote Guatemalan villages suffer chronic malnutrition, causing stunting that limit physical growth and brain development. Malnutrition in the critical first 1000 days of life means children do not reach their full physical and cognitive potential, limiting their ability to live a healthy productive life. Discrimination, poverty, limited nutritious food, unsafe water, and rapid repeat pregnancy in malnourished women lead to low birth weight babies that never recover
Providing essential supplements to undernourished women during pregnancy and early lactation ensures babies receive the nutrients they need from conception. The first 1,000 days of life are critical-infants rely entirely on maternal intake for vital vitamins, iron, folate, and calories. Adequate support helps them reach healthy birth weight, thrive through exclusive breastfeeding, and sets them up to remain healthy in our supplement program for babies 6-24 months.
Guatemala has the highest rate of chronic malnutrition and stunting in the Americas, affecting nearly half of children under five and up to 80% in indigenous rural areas. This long-term growth failure, driven by poor diet, infection and poverty, causes developmental delays and 45% of child deaths. Nutritional supplements from 6-24 months reduce stunting to 35%. Providing maternal supplements from conception could eliminate it entirely giving children the opportunity for a healthy productive life
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
