Our Partnership with Mil Milagros

Guatemala is home to the highest rate of chronic child malnutrition in the Western Hemisphere; 50% of children suffer from chronic malnutrition and stunting. And in the rural areas in which Mil Milagros works, the rates are even higher, exceeding 70%. Rural Mayas in Guatemala have limited access to water, nutritious food, hygiene supplies, and education; most of which live on $2.00 or less per day. The lack of economic resources makes it difficult for families to afford medical care or send their children to school. The primary school completion rate is estimated to be about 51% in these areas and the closest public hospital is one hour away. 

One Day’s Wages partnered with Mil Milagros to support their Healthy Schools Program, an innovative health and hygiene intervention to prevent disease and improve the health of children and their families in the municipality of Santa Lucia Utatlan, Solola, Guatemala. Mil Milagros delivered monthly emergency hygiene and food supply baskets to participating children and their families, along with training volunteer mothers to serve as leaders in a new hygiene protocol developed by the Mil Milagros staff. Additionally, they created hygiene videos and podcasts that were then broadcasted to the community and used in an overall campaign to improve handwashing across the region.