From one of Primeros Pasos’ excellent volunteers!  I started volunteering with the Primeros Pasos and the Nutritional Recuperation Program in October.  The Nutritional Recuperation Program works with chronically malnourished children and their families in the Palajunoj Valley through medical treatment and health education.  At the beginning of working with the nutrition program, my artistic and crafting skills were put to the test when Cindy, the nutritionist, asked me to make fruit and vegetable crowns for the kids in the program.  Later that week, the clinic hosted a celebration for the kids and mothers of the program for el Día del Niño (Children’s Day).  The kids showed their knowledge of what fruits and vegetables they knew by guessing what each crown was and then looked incredibly cute playing outside the clinic wearing them.  Later, my artistic skills were once again put to the test when I made visuals for an activity for one of the educational seminars that the mothers in the program attend.  What I had not realized before working with the nutrition program was the importance of incorporating visual materials within an educational curriculum, especially when working with communities such as those in the Palajunoj Valley.  Guatemala has the lowest literacy rate in Central America, with large disparities between indigenous and non-indigenous communities and between men and women.  Many of the moms in the Nutritional Recuperation Program cannot read, so incorporating visual materials is both important and necessary.  Creating an educational program and curriculum without relying on written word was a challenge I hadn’t thought about before working with the Nutrition...

“Thank God that there is a clinic with free medicine that is close to the communities in the Valley. It is a great help to us here. There are many children in Candelaria that need to be seen by a doctor. When kids in my class are sick, I tell their mothers that they need to go to the the Primeros Pasos Clinic.” -Lucía, Teacher from Candelaria “‘Zanahoria! Manzana! Aguacate!’ Kids scream out a flurry of fruits and vegetables, practically falling out of their seats to raise their hands to volunteer for the activity I am leading with other volunteers from Primeros Pasos on nutrition in this 3rd grade classroom. In my first week at Primeros Pasos, such was the environment I was thrown into as a Children’s Health Educator: fast-paced, demanding, and rewarding.” -Olivia, Children’s Health Education Volunteer (Learn how you can volunteer for Primeros Pasos!) “I am the second of five brothers, and my older brother had to leave school only after completing the 9th grade to help my dad with household expenses. My dad works in the field and last year he lost his crop by the tropical storm- we were left with nothing. I thought of working instead of studying, it pained me to cause my dad so much expenses. However, soon after Primeros Pasos gave me a scholarship. Now I can study calmly knowing that the money is there for me. I have a high average in school now and I’m also being trained on various topics each month as part of the program. I am very grateful for Primeros Pasos.” -Fernando, Primeros Pasos Scholarship Recipient “I am the mother of 11 children. I raise them with my husband, and we have strong faith in God. He helps us to move forward against the lack of resources, work and opportunities that make it difficult to support all of our children. My youngest sons is making progress thanks to the Nutrition Program at Primeros Pasos. His energy and spirits are on the rise.” -Paula, Nutritional Recuperation Participant “Before coming to the EBS group, I did not have any experience in community events. But after learning the importance of women’s participation in the community, I have integrated with other groups to learn different things and share what I have learned in EBS. Thanks to Primeros Pasos for giving women the opportunity to learn about new and productive topics, even if at some point we thought we could not learn. What we have learned is absolutely useful to us as women.” -Louisa, Women’s Health Education Program (EBS)...

Primeros Pasos improves the quality of life of rural communities in Guatemala through integrated health education programs and access to medical services.”