Did you know that approximately 800 million people in the world go to bed hungry each night? That's equivalent to about one in nine people on earth. The vast majority of the world's hungry people live in developing countries, where 12.9 percent of the population is undernourished. According to the CIA World Fact book, Guatemala has the sixth-worst rate of chronic malnutrition in the world, despite being described as a relatively well-off lower-middle class country.
The chronic undernutrition of children under 5 is 49.8%, the highest in the region and the 4th highest in the world. 53% of the population lives in Poverty, with 13% in extreme poverty. Guatemala’s chronically malnourished infants do eat, however, their consists of low quality and carb-heavy foods, such as corn tortillas and rice. The nutritional deficits take a devastating toll, hindering brain development, among other disabling effects.
The country’s income inequality means that rural areas suffer from a lack of basic infrastructure. Clean water and electricity are almost nonexistent in many villages. Education is scarce and less than 40 percent of indigenous women in Guatemala are literate, compared with an overall rate of 85 percent for Latin America. Needless to say, there is a lot of work to be done in this Country.
Organizations such as Outreach For World Hope are stepping in and doing the work to provide sustainable resources for the people in the most impoverished regions of Eastern Guatemala. Since 2005 they have been saving the lives of children found in the end stages of starvation. They are providing pathways out of poverty and hope for the future, through education and sustainable agriculture programs.
Every year, OWH provides opportunities to participate in short term medical missions where they serve hundreds of families in need. The natives receive medical care and parasite treatment, personal hygiene, clothing, and toys for children. Families are educated on the importance of clean water and are blessed with simple water filtration systems.
The teams plant fruit trees and vegetable gardens, install vented cooking stoves, and build homes for qualified families. Severely malnourished children are profiled and placed into OWH's life boat program, which supplies families with nutrient rich food and medical support, which aids these children to better health. These mission trips are not possible without all the people that support our efforts to impact these families on a monthly basis.
Thank you to all that commit to sponsoring families with monetary gifts and donations. The circulation of your resources give hope and save lives everyday. Outreach for World Hope has over 200 children in their Life Boat program that need sponsorship. For only $32/month, you'll have the opportunity to supply nutrient rich food and medical assistance for an entire family. For more information regarding sponsorship opportunities, visit www.outreachforworldhope.org.
“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” ― Barack Obama
Written and Photographed by:: Rebecca Muñoz