SewHope
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, & Values
    • Board & Staff
    • Transparency
    • About Shannon
  • Programs
    • Cervical Cancer Prevention
    • Agriculture
    • Education
    • Nutrition >
      • KIds Against Hunger
      • Vitamin Program
    • Health >
      • Child Health
      • Stove Project
      • Clean Water projects
      • Spiritual Development
  • Events
    • LEAP
    • Miles for Missions
    • Oak Openings Stampede 2019
  • Get Involved
    • Sponsor a Child
    • Take a Trip with Us!
  • Blog
  • Archives
    • Archived Blogs >
      • Sr. Pam's Blog
      • Peter's blog
      • Flori's blog
      • 2011 blogs
      • Saying good-bye to Karen
    • In the Media
    • Promo Videos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Annual Reports/Finances
  • Contact Us
  • Donate

Better Food, Better Life - by Danielle Saevig

5/20/2018

0 Comments

 
University of Toledo medical student Danielle Saevig poses with students from SewHope's education program in Santa Ana, Guatemala.
[Photo: Medical student Danielle Saevig poses with students from SewHope's education program.]
Pineapples grow in the garden behind the SewHope clinic in Santa Ana, Guatemala.[Photo: Pineapples grow in the garden behind the SewHope clinic.]
​It was Hippocrates that said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” I believe there is a lot of truth to that. Poor diets in America result in diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Poor diets in Peten result in anemia, neural tube defects, developmental delays, and a few cases of diabetes and hypertension. But food impacts more than just the physical body. It feeds the soul. In abundance, it can provide a feeling of comfort. In shortage, anxiety and fear.

This week, I have seen numerous families without adequate nutrition and numerous families with adequate nutrition. The difference is stark. Families without adequate nutrition have to face more obstacles in life. They may have a child that can’t speak or can’t walk. They may have more infections because of a poor functioning immune system. They may have rotting teeth, making it painful to eat the food they do have and leading to even less nutrition.

There is also a correlation between those that cannot afford food and other risk factors. Families with inadequate nutrition may have dirt floors and no beds. Or they may have many kids in one room or open flame stoves with poor ventilation. So addressing just nutrition is not going to be enough to change these families’ circumstances.

But by providing food and vitamins, I see hope. The kids in the after school program love snack time. The garden here feeds them with fresh fruits and vegetables that keep their minds sharp and their bodies strong. The number of families we have seen with adequate nutrition seem to be increasing. The public schools provide whole, nutritious lunches. Continuing to provide education, school lunches, and garden-grown veggies, I see how much of a positive impact it will have on the community of Santa Ana, Péten. Also, who doesn’t love good food?

Danielle Saevig is a medical student at the University of Toledo. She joined us at the clinic in Guatemala this past week, along with Dr. Anne, Dr. Gary, Dr. Kim, and three other medical students.

University of Toledo medical student Danielle Saevig poses with students from SewHope's education program in Santa Ana, Guatemala.
[Photo: Danielle poses with some of the students from SewHope's education program.]
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2019
    May 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    February 2014
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

DONATE
OUR MISSION: SewHope partners with the poor, marginalized, and exploited in Guatemala to help end the injustices of poverty and bring about sustainable communities.
CONTACT US
HOME
ABOUT US
Mission, Vision, & Values
Board & Staff
Transparency
PROGRAMS
Cervical Cancer Prevention
Education
Public Health
Women's Groups
EVENTS
LEAP
Miles for Missions
Oak Openings Stampede
GET INVOLVED
BLOG
ARCHIVES
In the Media
Archived Blogs
Promo Videos
Photo Galleries
© SewHope, Inc. 2019
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, & Values
    • Board & Staff
    • Transparency
    • About Shannon
  • Programs
    • Cervical Cancer Prevention
    • Agriculture
    • Education
    • Nutrition >
      • KIds Against Hunger
      • Vitamin Program
    • Health >
      • Child Health
      • Stove Project
      • Clean Water projects
      • Spiritual Development
  • Events
    • LEAP
    • Miles for Missions
    • Oak Openings Stampede 2019
  • Get Involved
    • Sponsor a Child
    • Take a Trip with Us!
  • Blog
  • Archives
    • Archived Blogs >
      • Sr. Pam's Blog
      • Peter's blog
      • Flori's blog
      • 2011 blogs
      • Saying good-bye to Karen
    • In the Media
    • Promo Videos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Annual Reports/Finances
  • Contact Us
  • Donate