New Guatemalan partner addresses youth undernourishment with traditional foods

Chronic undernourishment in the Tzutujil Maya community of San Pedro la Laguna is significant, especially in young children. High rates of poverty and lack of access to nutritious foods contribute to this problem. In addition, studies indicate that the extensive use of synthetic chemical fertilizers is the main cause of contamination of nearby Lake Atitlan.

The vision of our new partner Communidad Intercultural Educativo Taa’Pi’t (Taa’Pi’t) is to help people consciously achieve their full potential and contribute to an empowered society that is comprehensively educated and productive, based on their ancestral Mayan culture and on global education. Pangea is supporting the Ruk´Uux Qa Waay´ K´Uyaa´ (Essence of our Food and Drink) project, which will create a cooking school to teach Mayan and Guatemalan dishes using traditional organic ingredients supplied by local small farmers. Workshops for 20 families on nutritious Mayan food preparation will also cover food business education and finance so that these families will be able to produce meals and food products for sale from home, at small businesses or in the local market.

The project will help to reduce undernourishment and prevent malnutrition in children as participating families learn how to select and prepare accessible, nutritious and organic indigenous and creole foods, which are especially important for good infant development. Beyond the benefits to participants, the project staff aims to create a replicable model for the municipality of San Pedro la Laguna and other communities.