Astrid is an 11-month-old girl who lives in the rural highlands of Guatemala. Her aunt takes care of her on weekdays when her mother, father, and grandmother leave to work as day laborers in the local countryside.
Although she loves to eat fruits like watermelon and papaya, Astrid suffers from malnutrition. The lack of protein, calories, and nutrients in her diet has weakened Astrid’s immune system and left her susceptible to the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as increased risk of chronic illness, lowered IQ, and a higher likelihood of dropping out of school.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. With the help of our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, Astrid’s family is requesting $492 for growth monitoring and food supplementation starting on May 25.
Additionally, community health workers will teach Astrid’s family how to create a nutrient-rich diet given their limited resources so Astrid can gain weight, grow taller, and catch up with the other children her age.
Astrid’s mother says, “I am doing all I can so that my daughter can grow big and healthy because in the future I wish for her to become a professional.”