Where once plantations thrived, Senahu now has virtually no employment and many of the 133 rural communities have been left with no means of meeting their basic needs. You won't find these Kekchi Mayan villages on maps, since for generations, they were simply part of farms responsible for their housing and welfare.  Even before the 2001 coffee crisis, the Alta Verapaz region had Guatemala's highest rates of extreme poverty (living on less than $1 per day).  One visiting doctor described the area's deprivation as worse than in Haiti.  The picture is grim and the prospect of employment returning to the region remote.  In the meantime, there are many children who are chronically ill, or who die from severe malnutrition compounded by lack of clean drinking water.      

Babies generally maintain good health as long as they are nursing.  However when the baby is weaned, the risk of malnutrition, disease and death increases significantly.  Once the child begins school, Incaparina is provided as a daily supplement by the government.  The Sehahu project is designed for babies and children from 10 months to 5 years of age.  Incaparina is also provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers. 

A recent 8 month pilot study* indicates that 86% of the children gained weight, with 47% gaining more or faster than the World Health Organization standard for their age.  *University of Maine

This is an excellent project for medical groups.  The project was initiated and supported by the Madison Medical Clinic in Idaho.  The clinic contributes $10.00 per procedure, i.e., birth, operation, etc.  This donation supports the nutrition project in an entire village. 

Currently we also have family groups who combine financial resources to provide support for a village. 

Current costs :  ($500*-$600 per month) (the purchase of the Incaparina is the only expense for this project--all other services/expenses are donated)

*This is the cost for an average village, costs vary, depending on the size of the village.

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