With tears streaming from her face, Guadalupe* tells a teacher at Escuela Integrada of her struggles caring for her three children after her husband suddenly left. She says how important Escuela Integrada is in their lives and how sometimes the only food that her children eat are what they receive at the school.
According to the World Food Programme, "Almost half the population cannot afford the cost of the basic food basket. As a result, the prevalence of stunting in children under 5 is one of the highest in the world." As it is for Guadalupe and her children, this is the reality for many children at Escuela Integrada.
The parents sacrifice a great deal in order for their children to go to school. Some families walk 8 miles a day in order to drop and pick up their kids from school. Others work 60+ hours a week so that their children don't have to. The luxury of education in Guatemala is not free and it comes at a price- but these families are willing to pay that price.
Our Healthy Start program will provide breakfasts and lunch for the entire year of 2020. It will give the students of Escuela Integrada the energy that they need in order to continue on with their education. Our parents have also committed to completing service hours at the school in order to provide this benefit to their children.
Our goal is $66,800, please consider partnering with us to make this possible- we can only do it with your help!
