We fight child malnutrition by equipping children and their families with the knowledge they need to produce and prepare nutritious foods in their homes, encouraging long-term nutritional health in the long term among indigenous communities in rural Guatemala. Our approach consists of educational activities in home agriculture and food preparation; all activities also impart knowledge of what makes a healthy diet and the role nutrition plays in overall health.
Food insecurity and lack of dietary diversity present major challenges for children in indigenous coffee-growing communities throughout Guatemala. In the country's western highlands, stunting in children occurs at rates as high as 70%. In the state of Solola, where Pueblo a Pueblo is located, 94% of the population is food insecure. These problems translate into poor health, poor academic performance, and a high risk of illness among young students.
We fight malnutrition by providing education in two areas: home agriculture and healthy cooking. Programming in Pueblo a Pueblo's Educational Organic Garden introduces local students, teachers, and parents to gardening techniques they can use to grow nutritious organic produce at home. Nutrition trainings in schools teach parents and students how to turn home-grown vegetables into nutritious meals. All activities also seek to raise awareness of the importance of a nutritious diet.
Through education, the project empowers students and their families to use the environmental resources in their communities to improve their diets, promoting better health outcomes and overall wellness among participants in the long term. The collaborative nature of the project, which partners with local primary schools to realize its activities, fosters a culture of cooperation and innovation around issues of agriculture and food security in partner communities.
