Empower Guatemalan Families With Food & Nutrition

Families in 15 of Guatemala’s 22 Departments (similar to states) are eating more nutritious food and living better lives because of your support of Seeds for a Future. We’re thrilled to provide you with an exciting update on our integrated program, highlighting how we empower women with vital knowledge about the “First 1,000 Days.” Also, it’s a joy to share that seeds are being sown in our new Demonstration Garden, as the region prepares to welcome the dry season in Guatemala.  

Sharing Nutrition and Empowering Health for the Future

Our First 1,000 Days program is centered around ensuring that the crucial period from conception to a child's second birthday is filled with optimal nutrition and healthcare. By prioritizing maternal and child health, we aim to lay the foundation for lifelong well-being. Our program highlights include:

• Empowering Mothers: The program is designed to provide critical support to mothers and their babies during the period from conception through the first two years of a child's life, which is recognized as a crucial window of opportunity for ensuring optimal health and development. Our extensionist team offers targeted support and education, to empower mothers with the knowledge and resources they need to provide the best start in life for their children. 
• Nutrition Education: Nutrition education is a powerful component of our First 1,000 Days program, as it plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of both mothers and infants. Our program helps families to have backyard gardens, which then provide essential vitamins and nutrients to expectant mothers and young children, helping to combat food insecurity and malnutrition to counter their long-term effects.
• The WASH Pogam: The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) component of the First 1,000 Days program focuses on ensuring access to clean water, proper sanitation facilities, and good hygiene practices during the critical period from conception to a child's second birthday. This part of the program plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the health and well-being of both mothers and children, contributing to a strong foundation for a healthy life.

Learn more about program details and their impact by clicking the link below to access our program highlights and watch a short video featuring program member and Extensionist, Doña Matea. In it, she shares our teaching points and her personal experience with the First 1,000 Days program. 

Partnering with a Finca (farm) Owner to Create Opportunity 

Our Extensionist Team in Chocola is collaborating with a local property owner to create a vibrant new demonstration garden within our community. This initiative represents a significant step toward fostering sustainable practices and food security by offering: 

• Hands-On Learning:  A central demonstration garden offers a practical, hands-on learning experience for community members. It allows them to see, touch, and engage with various techniques, learning firsthand how to grow, care for, and harvest their own produce.
• Community Engagement:  The garden becomes a gathering place for sharing knowledge and experiences, encouraging community members to come together, exchange ideas, and strengthen local bonds.
• Accessibility:  A central location ensures that the garden is easily accessible to a wider audience, eliminating barriers to participation and promoting inclusivity.
• Skill Development:  Community members can develop practical gardening skills and knowledge, enhancing their self-sufficiency and food security, and reducing reliance on external food sources.

This demonstration garden not only cultivates the same produce our members grow in their own backyard gardens but also cultivates a sense of community and a commitment to sustainable, hands-on learning. Together, we're sowing the seeds for a healthier, more self-reliant future.

Inspire, Informed, and Involved with Population Connection 

Don't forget to join us on Thursday, Nov 30, 2023, at 2:00 PM for an in-depth discussion about The First 1,000 Days, as Daillen Culver discusses the importance of early childhood nutrition. Hosted by Population Connection, she'll also explore the implications for development in rural Guatemala

Click the link below to register! 

Links:

• The First 1,00 Days Program with Seeds for a Future
• Register for our Online Speaking Engagement; Nov 30 at 2pm ET