Guatemala's children languish from malnutrition

October 8, 2009
Guatemala’s children languish from malnutrition

More than two million Guatemalans live in extreme poverty, and nearly half of the children in Guatemala are malnourished. In some areas, nearly every child is affected.

Most suffer from chronic malnutrition, which means that while they are getting enough calories, the food they eat is severely lacking in vitamins and protein.

As Samuel Loewenberg reports, this poor nutrition affects not only their bodies, but their future.

This production was sponsored by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

For more:

Click here for the full transcript of the video.

Listen to our radio show on “Guatemala: Behind the famine”
View the Pulitzer Center’s Food Insecurity multimedia project.
Read Samuel Loewenberg’s blog from the field: Chronic malnutrition fatigues Guatemala’s children

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Tags: food, Guatemala, hunger, malnourishment, nutrition, poverty, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reportin, Samuel Loewenberg, Saving the Children

Comments

9 comments

01/15/2010 :: 10:14:32 AM
lagina clark Says:

i feel realy sorry for them and it was really hard to watch the broadcast

11/19/2009 :: 09:42:18 AM
The state of Fair Trade, part 3 (or Why Fair Trade isn’t enough) « coffee + development Says:

[…] can hear the report of pistol fire through the open window.) Or drought and hunger. Or de facto ethnic apartheid. Or the long-term impacts of climate change. Fair Trade can’t do much against these […]

10/12/2009 :: 10:24:53 PM
Teresa Perkins Says:

I can recommend the organization CFCA as one that does great honest work in Guatemala. Go to their website cfcausa.org and read about this organization. They are making positive change, one child at a time.

10/11/2009 :: 12:07:10 PM
Sam Nodal Says:

How can I get involved, feeding and helping feed the people. I want my money to go directly to the poor, not the organization helping them. I’ve done some christian missionary work in Guatemala …

10/09/2009 :: 09:13:17 AM
nya Says:

It was hard to watch the broadcast. One of the duties of a responsible government is to take care of its most vulnerable citizens, and Guatemala has failed in its duty.

10/09/2009 :: 08:31:34 AM
Bill Says:

While on my way to Guatemala for the first time I thought “here I am, just an American do-gooder putting a pin on my chest”. But, I tell you all that changed once my feet hit the ground and I actually served the people of Guatemala! It’s easy for use to point a finger. It’s far more difficult to roll up our sleeves, get involved, get dirty, get outside our comfort zone, and serve someone other than ourselves. I been back multiple times since. Yes, I see corruption. But, we are all corrupt in one form or another. Jesus doesn’t ask us to point out each other’s faults but to lift each other up and to “think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works”. Hebrews 10:24

10/09/2009 :: 07:29:40 AM
Mike Says:

Tim, I have seen this as well. However, I have been doing work in Guatemala for over 20 years and know many that do great, self-sacrificing work. Please do not allow the misguided efforts of the few deter you from doing what you can. It is most certainly not all about the money for everyone.

10/08/2009 :: 04:26:01 PM
Sibo Says:

That’s typical third world countries, same as in Africa where only a small percentage of population enjoys the wealth while the majority in miserable conditions.

10/08/2009 :: 04:08:50 PM
tim Says:

I have also seen “do-gooders” in Guatemala that turn a orphanage into a big money business, I have seen the owners of 2 different orphanages argue over who gets the next kid. It’s all about the money.

WORLDFOCUS

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