Rural Kitchen Program

Two traditional stoves in the new kitchen

Santa Maria Utatlán, Guatemala

In Guatemala today, social exclusion of indigenous minorities persists (43% of the population), chronic malnourishment in the young, poverty rates and infant mortality are some of the highest in all of Latin America. Basic healthcare, sanitation, nutrition and access to clean water are some of the greatest challenges that most rural indigenous Guatemalan people face on a day-to-day basis. 79% of the country lives in poverty, where most families survive on less than $2 a day. Of these, the poorest members and most disenfranchised in Guatemala are indigenous women and children. In rural Guatemala, 70% of children are chronically malnourished and just 51% complete sixth grade. 

ViviendasLeón is launching a Rural Kitchen Construction Program in partnership with Mil Milagros, that will build school kitchens to teach nutrition and improve cooking skills for indigenous mothers and children in the Mayan Highlands communities of Santa Lucia Utatlan. Mil Milagros currently teaches cooking and supplies schools with fresh produce to create daily lunches for children.

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