Safe, Energy Efficient Cookstoves in Guatemala

During the first quarter of 2023, HRI enrolled a total of 127 children, 63 girls (49%) and 64 boys (51%) of three communities (Retiro, Las Brisas and Plan de Ávila) in its School Feeding Program. Moreover, HRI collected key intel (gender, grade, race, age, among others) of each child and obtained signed commitments from their parents to send out their children to school and participate in all year-round HRI activities, including our clean, safe cookstoves project.

We took the information collected and created a new database so we could understand demographics and easily identify those most vulnerable and those most likely to take children out of school if they did not receive some sort of assistance. Some of the key activities during this quarter are mentioned as follow:

• Identified 127 beneficiaries in coordination with the COCODES, school officials and other local leaders. School officials confirmed all beneficiaries are enrolled in school this year and signed a letter of commitment to support HRI’s activities throughout the school year.
  
  
• Collected registration forms and commitments signed by parents. Each child has a dossier that will help HRI to track its performance and holistic interventions.
  
  
• Historically, the reality is if there isn’t food provided and if they can’t afford school supplies, children aren’t allowed to attend school. Therefore, HRI spent a great deal of time ensuring all school aged children were not only enrolled in school but that they also had every school supply required to enroll. 127 children received school supplies divided in two categories: Kindergarten (42 children: 26 girls and 16 boys) and Elementary School (85 children: 37 girls and 48 boys).
  
  
• Because we served 27% more students with school supplies this year compared to last year, we were not able to provide food in March. However, we did resume food distributions for the School Breakfast Program in April.

• In addition, HRI has identified that 56 of these children do not have appropriate latrines, 48 children lack water filters, and 45 do not have a proper stove in their households. HRI is committed to raising funds to meet these critical needs. However, were it not for the School Breakfast Program, HRI would not have the trust of the families. The School Breakfast Program opened the door for even greater impact to improve the health, safety and dignity of all those we serve together.

Trifecta Projects Completed in Q1:

• Safe Cookstoves 4 safe cookstoves were installed to improve the air quality and safety for 9 adults and 8 children
  
  
• Latrines 1 latrine was installed to improve the sanitation, safety and dignity of 1 adult and 4 children
  
  
• ZERO WATER FILTERS WERE PROVIDED AS NO NEW FUNDING WAS SECURED FOR THIS NEED

Click here to read about Eufemia - a single mom who lost a child a child simply because they did not have a clean water filter.

Click here to watch Petrona's reaction, giving glory to God, when she finds out HRI is providing a new latrine and toilet.

Youth Engagement & Leadership Development Program

• # of Trainings 1 Meaning Making Training
• # of Youth Participants 44
• # of Meals Provided 44

47 People Served through Other Projects Including:

• Medical Projects 2
• Entrepreneurship Projects 15
• Emergency Food Supplies 24 472 meals (not included in totals above as it was separate from breakfast program)

Click here to read Beylin's entrepreneurship success story.

Highlands

HRI has begun expanding our work to serve indigenous villages in the Highlands where we will target some of the poorest and most vulnerable families and communities. This program will address many of the basic needs required for improving child outcomes and breaking the cycle of generational extreme poverty.

All of these programs and services together are critical as we work to improve the health, safety and dignity of all those we serve together. Thank you for partnersing with HRI! 

Links:

• HRI Website