Food Security Guatemala Project #69150

Save Families from a Lifetime of Malnutrition

by Seeds for a Future

Project Report | Nov 17, 2025
Thank You for a Year of Impact and Empowerment

By Leilani Yats | Executive Director

Team member, Ana, tending to a family garden

To our Community of Supporters

Since launching in March 2025, the Save Families from a Lifetime of Malnutrition project aimed to expand Seeds for a Future’s proven, long-term solution to chronic malnutrition in rural Guatemala. While the project did not reach its fundraising goal, its mission remained deeply aligned with our organization’s core work, empowering families with the skills, resources, and knowledge to grow nutritious food, improve health, and build lasting resilience.

For more than 15 years, Seeds for a Future’s Program has supported over 5,400 families in 21 communities with sustainable food production, nutrition training, and income-generating skills. Throughout this project period, we continued delivering this life-changing support to families across eight rural departments of Guatemala.

Key Activities & Achievements (2025)

Despite limited project funding, our field teams achieved meaningful progress this year:

265 people served directly in 2025
Expanded into 8 new communities, extending food security and nutrition strategies to more families
Planted 3 new school gardens, increasing access to fresh, nutritious foods for children
Partnered with 3 Guatemalan nonprofit organizations: The M Story, Water4Life, and WINGS, to expand health, hygiene, and family planning support
Distributed 200 water filters, ensuring safe drinking water for vulnerable households
Provided 12 months of one-on-one mentoring for new families, helping them establish permaculture gardens, raise small animal protein, and gain nutrition and health education

These activities build on a long-term track record of impact: over 32,400 people have experienced improved food security, health, and livelihoods through our Program since 2009.

Why This Project Is Being Deactivated

This project is being closed due to organizational project consolidation.

Because this initiative closely overlapped with our broader program, we made a strategic decision to unify our efforts under our flagship GlobalGiving project: “Empower Guatemalan Families With Food & Nutrition.”

This consolidation allows us to:

Streamline donor communication
Strengthen project visibility
Direct resources more efficiently into a single, high-impact program
Ensure families receive consistent, long-term support

We deeply appreciate your understanding and continued belief in this work.

How Donors Can Stay Connected

Your support can continue transforming lives through our flagship project via the link below: Empower Guatemalan Families With Food & Nutrition

We welcome you to stay connected, continue your support, and see firsthand how your generosity is helping families break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.

Closing Note of Gratitude

Thank you for standing with Guatemala’s rural families and for your commitment to health, dignity, and opportunity. While this project concludes, the work continues — and your compassion continues to change lives.

With deep gratitude,

Leilani Yats

Links:

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Jul 25, 2025
Rooted in Community, Growing Toward Tomorrow

By Leilani Yats | Executive Director

New Field Team Member, Alba, from Santa Barbara

Dear Friend of Seeds for a Future,

This year has been one of meaningful growth for our communities and our team. We’ve expanded into new towns, welcomed enthusiastic new participants, and strengthened our local leadership to ensure that every family we serve receives the care and knowledge they deserve.

As the seasons shift, so too does the scope of our work. In response to high demand, our team has been working diligently to reach families beyond our traditional borders. Today, hundreds of eager households across new communities are embracing the opportunity to cultivate food security and better health.

Local Leadership in Action: Meet Alba

Thanks to your continued support and our partnership with The Me Story, we’ve expanded our team with the addition of Alba, a new Field Team Member in Santa Bárbara, Suchitepéquez—just an hour from our home base in Chocolá.

Alba trained intensively with our team and has since taken the lead in supporting her neighbors. In just a few short months, she has helped over 25 families launch their own family farms, giving them access to year-round harvests of fresh, nutrient-rich foods.

That translates to more than 150 individuals now empowered to nourish themselves with homegrown produce right at their doorsteps.

In Santa Bárbara, many households are led by women, as male family members often migrate in search of work. Through Alba’s leadership, these women are gaining the tools to confidently manage their homes, support their families, and strengthen their communities. It’s a powerful reflection of The Me Story’s mission.

In Her Own Words

"To grow food to eat, you have to sweat, but it's worth it. When you come to my house and see the chard, you're surprised that I can harvest my own food. I'm very happy because this is helping me a lot with feeding my family.”
— Lilian R., Program Participant

Lilian’s words capture the spirit of what Seeds for a Future is all about: empowerment, resilience, and dignity. Through your support, women like Lilian are cultivating food and pride in equal measure.

Holistic Impact Through Partnerships

The Seeds for a Future Program is more than an opportunity for rural families lacking resources; we are a gateway to their holistic well-being. This quarter, we deepened our community impact by partnering with WINGS, a nonprofit organization that offers vital women’s health services.

Together, we promoted cervical cancer screenings in Chocolá and Santo Tomás La Unión. These events welcomed women from traditionally conservative communities and sparked crucial conversations about preventive care that could change lives.

Your Support Makes This Possible

Every family farm, every training, every health screening is rooted in your belief in this work. As our programs expand, so does our appreciation for your trust, generosity, and dedication to lasting change.

Thank you for walking alongside us.

With warmth and appreciation,
Leilani Yats
Executive Director
Seeds for a Future

Program Leader, Ermenia, meeting potential members

Program members showcasing their home garden

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