Hi! I'm Lis, a dietetics student finishing my undergraduate degree at Kansas State University and about to begin my Master of Public Health (MPH) with a focus on nutrition and community health.

This summer, I'm volunteering in rural Guatemala through a university service-learning program, working alongside Natün, an Indigenous-led nonprofit based in the Lake Atitlan region. One of Natün's focus areas is Nutrition and Health, equiping Maya families with capacity-building workshops and resources to improve nutrition and health, based on ancenstral techniques and sustained through local leadership. To learn more visit Natün's website.

In the Lake Atitlan region the chronic malnutrition rate for children under 5 is 58%, however through Natün's own socioeconomic study its been determined that the rate in Indigenous communities in the area is as high as 80%. As part of my project, I’m co-developing a visual recipe book designed for Indigenous mothers of young children—many of whom are recovering from chronic malnutrition. Families already grow vegetables at home thanks to Natün’s amazing family agriculture program which includes community gardens, family gardens, and egg-laying chicken distribution. This recipe book, in collaboration with community members and Natün's staff, will expand the diverse use of fresh vegetables from family gardens.

This book will be filled with simple, visual, culturally familiar recipes—made with foods from family gardens like yerba mora (a native edible and medical herb), spinach, and eggs. It's meant to support families with diverse literacy levels and improve child nutrition in practical ways.

I've received a $500 grant to kick off research and development, and I’m now raising $1,500 more to print and distribute 300 books directly to Indigenous communities in the Lake Atitlan region.

If you're able to support this project, it would mean so much to me—and to the families we’re working with.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Disclaimer - No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.