Preschool Nutritional Centers

Nearly half of preschoolers in Guatemala are malnourished.  Malnutrition can hamper a child's performance in school, making them more likely to drop out, and children who are malnourished early in life can suffer long-term consequences in both mind and body.  In order to combat this problem, Mayan Families has established six Preschool Nutritional Centers in different communities in the region, which provide three-five-year-old children at risk of malnutrition with a healthy meal and a nutritious snack daily and multivitamin supplements, as well as lessons on basic hygiene.  The children, many of whom have not learned to speak Spanish at home, also get a head-start on learning Guatemala's official language before beginning school.