…but give nutrition and cooking classes to 96 mothers six times a year, and every student will eat a healthy lunch and attend school with a full tummy and an eager mind.
6th grade students at a graduation ceremony in Proyecto Semilla, a school for child workers in Panajachel, Guatemala
At least, that’s the idea driving Mil Milagros, a Boston-based non-governmental organization operating in four schools around the tourist town of Panajachel in Guatemala. Mil Milagros feeds around 600 students every day for the cost of about $1.20 per child; by feeding children a hot lunch in school, they ensure that children will finish primary school.
According to Guatemalan government statistics, 56% of the population lives in poverty and only 30% of the children in Guatemala complete sixth grade. Among Mayan girls, 79% do not finish primary school. A recent article in The Economist put child malnutrition statistics around 80% in parts of rural Guatemala where the population is predominantly indigenous. Mil Milagros, however, believes the percentage to be much higher.
Mil Milagro’s mission is to improve the health, well-being, and educational outcomes of children in Guatemala. High aspirations, but they fall in line with the United Nations’ equally ambitious UN Development Goals to achieve universal primary education and end poverty and childhood hunger by 2015. Mil Milagros is working to make these ideals a reality. With day-to-day operations run almost entirely by their Guatemalan staff, Mil Milagros currently provides hot lunches to each school, nutrition classes to mothers, teaching seminars to teachers, and school supplies as well as dental and hygiene products to the students of four schools in the municipality of Sololá.
The success of Mil Milagros’ programs comes from their emphasis on strong partnerships and active participation of the teachers, parents, and students. The school of Chichimuch in Santa Lucia Utatlan serves as a glowing example: hot lunches are prepared everyday by a team of five mothers, each serving a voluntary shift every 20 or so days. While currently the hot lunches are dependent on funding provided by Mil Milagros, the community is already launching innovative fundraising programs. Last year the school purchased 140 chicks, one for every student. The children raised the chicks and after only a month the school was able to resell them, doubling their financial capital and fostering horticultural skills in the students. The schools seek to expand such programs to include school gardens and similar livestock projects.
Not only do these homegrown initiatives raise additional funds for the schools, they serve as incredible examples of capacity-building and sustainability through nonprofit work.
Kate Bennett is currently researching nonprofit effectiveness in Guatemala. For more about her experiences, check out her blog.
Latest posts by katembennett
- 45 More Tips from Kiva Fellows in South America - December 27th, 2011
- To Hell With Good Intentions? - December 11th, 2011
- A Do-Gooder's Guide to Responsible Giving: Kiva Cards - December 4th, 2011
- But You're Coming Back, Aren't You? - November 20th, 2011
- Earthquake! (and Disaster Mitigation through Microfinance) - November 9th, 2011
- Loan Sharks, Microloans and the Highest Interest Rates Around - August 24th, 2011
- Ana's Kitchen: How to Make a Tamale (or a Hundred) - August 18th, 2011
- Machismo Madness: In with Microlending, Out with Machismo - August 11th, 2011
- The Trough of Disillusionment - July 26th, 2011
- 3 Good Reasons to Learn Spanish - July 10th, 2011
Really interesting statistics. I love following the research you are doing as I have my own interest in non-profit work in Santiago as well.
This sounds like a fantastic sustainable program. We need more initiatives like this, that teach people how to do what they will need to do when those of us teaching return to our home countries. The fact this is mostly staffed with locals will prove its success. Kudos to you and all those working with this program.