Our partnership with Mil Milagros

Guatemala has the fourth highest rate of child malnutrition in the world, and the highest rate in the western Hemisphere, with 50% of all children suffering from chronic malnutrition and stunting. In rural indigenous communities like those where Mil Milagros works, the rates of child malnutrition and stunting exceed 70%. Our partnership expanded and sustained the health and hygiene program in Santa Lucía Utatlán, Guatemala. This innovative program included a partnership with the Guatemalan Ministries of Health and Education to implement the “Healthy Schools” program, which is a school-based curriculum designed to improve health and hygiene practices and prevent diseases. This program provided children with hygiene supplies, engaged and trained mother and grandmother volunteers to help implement hygiene clinics, and trained student council leaders to be health-promoters. These student leaders developed public health campaigns within their schools and communities on topics like the importance of hand washing, drinking purified water, eating fruits and vegetables, and maintaining a healthy school and home environment. The target outcomes of this program were to build the capacities of women and children to improve their health and prevent diseases by helping them develop healthy hygiene practices and to encourage their families and communities to do the same.