Since 2016, our friend Valentina has been making sure that children in Lemoa get the nutrition they desperately need.
The need is great
Based on known standards for height and weight for Guatemalan children, Valentina estimates that 80% of young children in the Lemoa area have serious nutrition issues. That amounts to approximately 300 children.
A shared vision
The nutrition center was conceived by Valentina and our long-time friend Sister Connie. Their goal was to create a long-term solution using a holistic approach:
Provide healthy food for malnourished children
Educating for their mothers/parents on proper nutrition, and teaching them how to cook the meals prepared at the center
Providing preschool education for the children
Teaching mothers to read and write
Working with mothers to stimulate and play with their babies (they are often carried on their mother's back, which limits child mobility and development)
We need your support
Initially funded by the Maryknoll Order from New York, Pura Vida has now taken the lead on fundraising for this project. It currently costs about $2,000/month to keep this program running.
Thanks to a generous commitment from an anonymous donor, up to $10,000 in matching funds will be made available for this fundraising campaign. Let's take advantage of this great opportunity to fund another year of the program!