Dear John,

As part of our 'Guatemala in Focus' appeal, we are excited to spotlight our ongoing work on nutrition in Indigenous Maya communities. Our latest blog post explores the challenges and importance of achieving food sovereignty amidst the influences of 'modernity'. 

Food is always more than just sustenance; it represents culture and health, and often reflects the ways in which external forces influence our health. This is why understanding and advocating for food sovereignty is crucial in every context. 

Throughout Guatemala's history, Indigenous Maya communities have faced numerous barriers to achieving food sovereignty— from the lasting impacts of civil war to the influence of international corporations, economic barriers, and a lack of culturally relevant nutrition education, especially in response to corporatised food systems and dietary influences.

These challenges are having profound health impacts: undernutrition and malnutrition is persistently high, particularly among Indigenous Maya pregnant women and children. Furthermore, recent diet change has simultaneously led to several obesity-related health conditions becoming common, contributing to an increased health burden in Indigenous Maya communities; which Ministry of Health are yet to address. 

At Health Poverty Action, we're committed to addressing these issues through our nutrition projects. We collaborate with communities to empower people to gain the skills and tools necessary to access nutritious foods, create their own vegetable gardens, and maintain cultural food practices. Our aim is to foster long-term solutions that promote community health and sustainability. 

“...all women should be planting [vegetable gardens] for their family; many of us don’t take advantage of the planting-space we have. It helps reduce our food costs, and we can be responsible ourselves for the quality of [food] we’re eating.” Dominga de León, a mother of two from Aldea Twi Pox, Concepción Chiquirichapa. 

Thank you for your ongoing support in spotlighting these critical issues. You can find out more about our Guatemala in Focus appeal, and ways you can support these kind of initiatives here.

Warm regards,

Ella Ronan,

Communications Assistant