Paving a Healthy Way for Future Generations

In Guatemala, about 46% of all children under the age of 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition. Not only does this affect a child’s physical and mental health in the short-term, but it can also have long-term cognitive, social, and physical effects. Talking about nutritional issues and raising awareness about the importance of pregnancy care and care in the early years of a child’s life can help parents avoid these effects.

Maria Rufina Mantanic Ajqui, 25, is a housewife and mother of three children. She lives in the community of Chuaferro. This year, Maria’s community began to receive training in maternal and child health from volunteers trained by World Renew.

Concerned about the well-being of her children, Mantanic Ajqui was excited to learn about the training and activities being promoted in her community and began to actively participate in each of the meetings.

“I heard that ladies with children under 2 years old were receiving instruction to help the health of their children,” Mantanic Ajqui shared. "My baby gets sick a lot, and every time he gets sick, he loses a lot of weight. So I went, and I became very interested.”

Mantanic Ajqui has learned about nutrition and why early stimulation is very important. She also learned about full-time breastfeeding and more. Mantanic Ajqui says she is happy she got involved with this program.

“We have learned many new things about how to take care of our children. They teach us how certain activities can develop motor skills in our children. We talk about nutrition issues, hygiene issues, and many other topics. I hope to continue learning more because I have realized that there is a lot of information that I didn't have and that I could improve my children's healthcare in that way,” she said.

The young mother added that before attending the classes, she did not know about the importance of prenatal care. “In none of my three pregnancies was I as careful as I should have been, and now I know the consequences that this has on my children's health,” Mantanic Ajqui admitted. “Now I have to take better care of them and, thanks to the workshops, now I know that food should be a priority for my children so they grow up healthy. I also pay more attention to food preparation and hygiene. My baby was very underweight, but at the last check-up, I could see how he has been improving.”

Mantanic Ajqui said she gives thanks to God for this new knowledge. “I pray a lot for the people involved in this project, for the pregnant women, and for the children in my community,” she said. “I know that God is the one who has opened this space so that we can teach future generations.” And those future generations offer hope for a healthier future.