Our Partnership with Mil Milagros

Guatemala has the highest rate of chronic child malnutrition in the Western Hemisphere with 50% of all children suffering from chronic malnutrition and stunting. In rural indigenous communities, the rates of child malnutrition and stunting exceed 70%. This problem is exacerbated, and caused in part, by the fact that 98% of Guatemala’s water supply is contaminated. Rural Mayas have limited access to water, nutritious food, hygiene supplies, and education; most live on $2.00 or less per day.  The lack of economic resources and the cost of school fees make it difficult for families to pay for medical care or to afford to send their children to school. The primary school completion rate is estimated to be just 51% in rural areas like those where Mil Milagros works. Last but not least, there are no doctors or dentists in the villages where Mil Milagros works, and the closest public hospital is an hour away.

One Day’s Wages partnered with Mil Milagros in 2019 for a three-year project. During this third year of the project, Mil Milagros implemented a modified version of their Healthy Schools hygiene program in 11 communities and 13 Early Childhood Development groups in Santa Lucía Utatlán. They also completed 5 distributions of emergency hygiene supplies and food to students and their families, coordinated with 121 mother leaders and 82 student council members to hold a hand-washing campaign. They broadcasted information about the COVID-19 vaccine over local cable and radio to more than 33,000 people!