Hungry kids do not learn
Did you know that Guatemala has the 2nd highest rate of moderate or severe food insecurity in all of Latin America and the Caribbean?
More than half of the population suffers from food and nutrition insecurity, which results in maladies such as stunted growth, susceptibility to illness, mental health difficulties and loss of structural brain development.
We know from research and observation that hungry kids do not learn.
A recent BYU study on the impact of malnutrition in Guatemala provided further evidence that children who do not receive adequate nutrition, not only suffer from poor immune systems, but also do not have a properly developed prefrontal cortex. This can affect everything from social skills to the ability to focus or succeed in a classroom setting.
GRACES meets the needs of students who suffer from malnutrition and who survive the hunger crisis on a daily basis.
The families at Escuela Integrada make, on average, $297 per month. That amount has to cover their rent, utilities, transportation, medical expenses, clothing and food.
With an extremely limited budget, our families worry about whether or not they will be able to feed their children.
Every day at Escuela Integrada, kids receive a warm nutritious breakfast and lunch. Their families also receive a food bag during the vacation months of November and December.
Feeding the children is an integral part of the holistic education that the school provides.
GRACES’ Year-End Campaign launches today with one goal: to feed the kids at Escuela Integrada.
Each meal the school provides costs $1.31, which means you can feed a child for a week for only $13.10. With a gift of $262, you can feed an entire classroom for a week.
Will you help us provide the gift of food this holiday season?
Your tax-deductible, year-end gift ensures that the kids at Escuela Integrada keep growing, keep developing and keep learning. Every dollar donated between December 1-31 will go directly to purchasing food for GRACES’ Meal Support Program.
Thank you, in advance, for your generosity!