Reports on Improving health of 500 Guatemalan school children

Project Report | Jun 23, 2025
Updates from Santiago

By Jami S. Smith | CEO

We are proud to share the impact your support made possible in March 2025. Thanks to your generosity, we reached 933 children across six schools, advancing our mission to build healthier futures for every child we serve.

Health Screenings & Preventive Care

In March, our team conducted height and weight screenings for all 933 students. These routine assessments help us monitor each child's growth over time and quickly identify any signs of undernutrition or other health concerns.

We also distributed albendazole, a safe and effective deworming medication, to help prevent anemia and improve nutrient absorption—a simple intervention with profound effects on energy levels, school attendance, and long-term development.

Weekly Health Education

Our dedicated health educators worked weekly in each school, providing engaging, age-appropriate lessons focused on:

Personal hygiene and sanitation
Disease prevention strategies
Social-emotional learning to support mental well-being
Nutrition education to encourage healthy eating habits
The value of education to inspire long-term learning

By combining medical screenings with consistent, empowering education, we’re helping children grow up healthier, more confident, and better equipped to thrive—in school and in life.

Your continued support fuels this vital work. Together, we’re not just treating health issues—we’re preventing them, and building stronger communities one student at a time.

With deep gratitude,
The Team at Mayanza

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Feb 24, 2025
Returning to Santiago

By Jami Smith | CEO

Nov 3, 2024
Update on the School Health Program

By Jami Smith | CEO

Ana Maria and Isa, our health educators

We are pleased to present this report on our ongoing weekly School Health Education Program aimed at improving the health and well-being of school children in Guatemala. This initiative addresses critical health challenges faced by young learners and promotes long-term positive health behaviors.

Program Objectives

Increase Health Awareness: Equip children with essential knowledge about hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention.
Promote Healthy Practices: Encourage the adoption of healthy behaviors through interactive lessons and activities.
Engage Communities: Involve parents and community members to foster a supportive environment for healthy living.

Target Audience

The program targets school children aged 3 to 12 years in rural areas of Guatemala. This demographic of indigenous Maya is particularly vulnerable to preventable diseases and malnutrition.

Program Implementation

Weekly Sessions

Curriculum: Each week, children participate in engaging sessions that cover topics such as:
- Personal hygiene (handwashing, dental care)
- Nutrition and healthy eating habits
- Physical activity and its benefits
- Understanding common illnesses and prevention strategies
Methodology: Interactive teaching methods, including games, demonstrations, and group discussions, are used to make learning enjoyable and effective.

Your continued support is vital for sustaining and expanding this program to reach more children and families.

Future Directions

To enhance our impact, we plan to:

Expand Reach: Include additional schools in neighboring communities.
Develop Advanced Curriculum: Introduce topics such as mental health and reproductive health as children grow older.
Increase Parent Engagement: Offer more resources and workshops for families.

Conclusion

The Weekly Health Education Program is making a significant difference in the lives of children in Guatemala. We thank you for your support and commitment to improving health outcomes in our communities. Together, we can continue to empower future generations with the knowledge and skills to lead healthier lives.

Thank you for being a vital part of this important initiative!