Guatemala has the 4th highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world. Anemia and parasitic diseases causing diarrhea are prevalent. Access to medical care is challenging in rural areas as 80% of the physicians are isolated to the capital city. All this leads to a high maternal and child mortality index.
Education For The Children (EFTC) is an international NGO based in Guatemala that manages Esculea de Esperanza. This social program works with disadvantaged children and their families to break the cycle of poverty through education and empowerment. The average family income in the homes of these students is between $60-160 USD. With an average of nine people to each household, families struggle to feed their families while paying $67-110 US per month on rent. About 25% of the families either are squatting or are dependent on other family members in an area called Vista Hermosa. Vista Hermosa is extremely dangerous and deemed uninhabitable by the government. Many of the working class here live in environments equivalent to the homeless in the U.S.A. 6 months of the year, the dirt floors of Vista Hermosa change to mud with a constant flow of rain. A common danger is frequent mudslides due to the steep hillside and tropical storms. Crime, including human and sex trafficking, is also very prevalent. It's not uncommon to hear horrible stories of children being mugged on their way to school.
This type of extreme poverty and environment has an enormous impact on a child's development. I recall one child whom we had been visiting for years. He was struggling with academics and frequent illnesses. He came from a single mother household where his mother worked 50-60 hours weekly. When we first met, he was at the 1 percentile of the growth chart. Each year after he fell 2%-4% and had profound anemia. When his mother was asked about his iron supplementation and home nutrition, her voice cracked. Through shared tears, she continued to describe her household. She was able to afford either a single serving of rice OR beans per day for her children. A fruit or vegetable could be accessed 1-2 times weekly. Iron supplementation was out of the question. Constant infections from parasites causing frequent diarrhea also severely affected his development. Sadly, this story is the baseline for many of these children and their stories resonate deeply. There is no valid reason for any child to lack access to basic needs including housing, education, healthcare, and food.
Our little group is committed to improving lives of hundreds of children living in poverty and sub-human conditions. EFTC is combating poverty by using a proven, long term solution. These children are faced with immeasurable life obstacles and an intensely oppressive environment. Thus, a holistic approach is required. Aracely Chacon, Director of Social Services and the school psychologist once stated, "Without a good balance of their mental health, how can they concentrate, how can they do their homework, or can they even participate if their brains and bodies are not well."
We acknowledge the extreme conditions that the children come from. The role of our group and this fundraiser is to help offset the cost of incurred health care expenses, ensuring that each child has access to routine and emergent medical care. We accomplish this by strengthening ties with local clinicians where the children receive continuity of care. We try to help alleviate the pressure from rural clinicians by volunteering our services and stocking their clinics with medicines and supplies. Our group funds our own travel expenses and provides medical supplies out of pocket, entirely independent from this fundraiser. All raised funds go directly to the health related expenses and does not cover our cost, nor any of the involved administration expenses. Our visits are an absolute blast and allow us to stay connected to EFTC and the community that is served. Volunteers find a sense of accomplishment and community, knowing they are doing good for others.
The actual expense for this year is around $15,000 due to school growth and expanded services. Though historically we have sponsored the budget entirely, this year we are refocusing our efforts. I am also very excited to announce the development of a new intervention program! This year we will begin an anemia screening program at the school by utilizing the school's newly appointed school auxillary nurse. One of the largest medical concerns is malnutrition. The cause is multi-factorial. Children here suffer from extreme malnourishment due to limited access to foods and infectious diarrhea. I've experienced first-hand communities in Guatemala where anemia rates are up to 40% of the population. This includes children who met blood transfusion criteria in developed countries. Through reoccurring infectious diarrhea, children lose their nutrition absorptive capacity. This only worsens their already critical nutrition status, severely affecting their cognitive and physical development. To reduce cost and create better access to care, the school was able to introduce a trained Guatemalan Nurse who is working at the school this year. She will be screening the children for anemia based on World Health Organization guidelines. Children who meet criteria will be provided with supplemental iron and fortified supplements.
In addition, this year we are combining efforts with the the great people from from "Strawberry Jam"! I met the founder while working the trenches in Humboldt County in California. Check out what they are doing over at: http://www.strawberyjam.com
On November 17th, 2018 we will host an annual fundraiser at 2nd Street Grill in Yakima, WA.
http://www.secondstreetgrill.com
There will be a silent auction, ticket lottery, and other games. All proceeds go directly to the healthcare fund for these children.
100% of your donations go directly to the healthcare expenses of developing children living in extreme poverty. Donations go directly to the cost of medications, diagnostic tests, as well as clinic and hospital visits.
Our annual fundraiser includes games and a silent auction at 2nd Ave Grill in Yakima, WA.
We need to meet the following:
1. Donations to help us meet our financial goal to help fund the medical budget.
2. Donations for our annual Silent Auction at 2nd Ave Grill in Yakima, WA.
3. Hemoglobin meters and associated test strips.
4. Incaparina, a successful Guatemalan fortified flour that provides additional nutrition.
5. Medicines and supplies to stock REKKO clinic, we have requested a need list.
You can learn more about the programs we support through the links below.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us, we are happy to discuss any questions you might have. If you are interested in joining, please reach out to myself or Stephanie for details. Fluent Spanish speakers are always needed.
Manichanh Ratts: [email redacted]
Stephanie Honey-Morrow: [email redacted]
Thank you all for your support! We can not achieve these goals without your kind hearted donations!
http://www.eftc.org.uk/our-work
https://www.rekko.org/es/
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS.
Rodan and Fields skin care basket donated by Jessica Garcia.
Gift certicate from the Lincoln Avenue expresso. https://www.facebook.com/Lincoln-Ave-Espresso-104083722986955/
Gift basket from Berchman's Brewing Company. http://berchmansbrewingcompany.com
Certificates for 2-60min facials valued at $65 each, 1-30 minute facial valued at $35 and 2-30 minute massages valued at $35 each from Enso Massage Studio. http://www.ensomassagestudio.com
Gift certificates for bicycle services valued at $65 each from Revolutoin Cycle! https://www.facebook.com/Revolution-Cycles-228604440350/
$150 certificate from: https://alexandrasonsecond.com
5 handcrafted earrings valued at $60 hand made in the Lost Coast by https://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetmoonjewelryco
Kudo Protector 20 backpack ($230), Pro 1400 Race bike light ($250), and a custom Orange Vessel Growler ($65) donated from: https://www.valleycyclingandfitness.com
guidestar.org/profile/26-0648715