Outreach for World Hope (OWH) is a non-profit, tax deductible 501 (c)(3) approved, non-denominational Christian organization with the goal of improving the quality of life of the world's poor by providing humanitarian aid, hope, and compassion without regard to race, color, nationality or religious affiliation.

The Need

The Chiquimula region of Guatemala is located in the eastern part of the country known as “The Dry Corridor” due it is chronic shortage of rainfall resulting in drought conditions and long term famine.  OWH has been working in the region since 2005 to save the lives of children found in the end stages of starvation, while at the same time providing pathways out of poverty, and hope for the future, through education and sustainable agriculture programs.  

The typically difficult conditions have deteriorated significantly during the latter months of 2009. In the third quarter of 2009, Guatemala was severely affected by erratic and insufficient rains during the months that typically provide enough rain to grow a meager harvest for fall.  This coupled with unusually high temperatures, lead to the loss of crops and subsequent food shortages more severe than usual. The insufficient rainfall in addition to the international financial crisis has led to a rise in unemployment, drop in household incomes, starvation and disease. Particularly vulnerable are the rural poor living in the most affected area – The Dry Corridor in the eastern part of the country. Women and Children represent 80% of the victims of the crisis and are in desperate need of interventional assistance. In Mid September Guatemala president Alvaro Colom, issued Government Decree 10-2009 declaring a “State of Public Calamity”.

Hundreds of children are currently in critical condition in intensive care units of various health centers. An assessment during the second week of September by the Ministry of Health determined that 50 percent of all children in Guatemala suffer from long term malnutrition. There are 54,000 families at “extremely high risk” of food shortage and an additional 400,000 families considered to be at “high risk”.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Unicef, The World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) are all working to provide emergency relief during this time of crisis. We commend the efforts of these organizations and grateful for their attention to the outcry for immediate assistance. However, these efforts provide only a very short term “band-aid” solution to a serious long term problem. Therefore, we remain committed to the long term well-being of the families of this challenged region and are seeking funding for the long term projects that will lead to stability and independence.

Outreach for World Hope Life Boat and

 Virtual Village Programs

OWH’s Life Boat and Virtual Village programs save lives at imminent risk and offer viable opportunities for future success.

The Life Boat Program

When a child is found in the end stages of starvation, there is no debate about what must be done first. The OWH Life Boat Program is a temporary sponsorship program by which severely malnourished children are identified and hospitalized for nutritional rehabilitation, while permanent sponsors are sought. The Life Boat program is funded by foundation grants and general donations, and ensures that no child dies while awaiting an individual sponsor. While in the Life Boat program, the child and his or her family receive a needs assessment, medical care, social services, vitamins, and clothing and shoes if needed.  Upon completion of inpatient hospital re-nourishment and stabilization, the child may return home but remains in the Life Boat Program and receives a steady supply of food each month until he or she is chosen by a sponsor and is transferred to the Virtual Village program.

The Virtual Village Program

The Virtual Village program is a long-term sponsorship program by which at-risk families are is under the care of OWH ministry until the initially starved child reaches the age of 16. The criterion for sponsorship of a family is the demonstration of extreme need and at least one child in code red malnutrition. Through a partnership between OWH and the government sponsored Center for Nutritional Recuperation in Jocotan, patients are referred from one to the other.  The hospital provides inpatient nutritional rehabilitation for thirty days, or longer if needed. When the child is stable he or she may return home to his or her own geographical village, but remains a member of the OWH Virtual Village and returns to a sponsorship distribution once each month to receive a large supply of provisions for the following month including rice, black beans, corn, vitamin drink, powdered milk, cereal, soup mix, pasta, sugar, oil, and bleach. The child’s growth and weight are monitored and all family members receive medical care if needed.  Each family member is treated for worms and parasites on a regular basis to ensure that nourishment is absorbed, and social services and counseling are provided to identify and resolve domestic challenges within the home.  

If a child continues to struggle with malnutrition following re-nourishment and admission into the Virtual Village Program, a social worker and nurse conduct home visits to determine the cause of the problem and ensure the health and safety of the child.  Alcoholism in one or both of the parents and subsequent neglect are common problems.  In extreme cases Outreach for World Hope has undertaken court proceedings to remove children from abusive and neglectful situations.

The Road to Independence

We at OWH believe that although it is necessary to save the lives of children at imminent risk of starvation, it is equally important to provide opportunities and training which lead to self sufficiency.  We cannot provide long term solutions to these problems without attacking the underlying causes and offering a means for overcoming obstacles. We are focusing on two specific keys to the future success of the families of this region, 1)opportunities for improvement in economic situation by way of food production, and 2) education for the children.  We have made significant strides in both areas and are seeking funding for the expansion of programs that have already proven successful.  

The research we have conducted over the past three years as lead to the identification of several seed varieties that have proven to be more hearty and drought tolerant that the traditional seeds used by local farmers, therefore producing higher yields. Particularly promising are the Llanero tomato, Arifi bean hybrid, and a cowpea variety which is similar to the black bean, but is rich in folic acid, therefore helping to prevent birth defects. We have implemented a program that is enabling families to feed themselves by growing these and other crops in small family gardens requiring a very small amount of land, by way of a simple drip irrigation system.   

Bucket Kit Gardens

In January of 2009 OWH planted bucket kit gardens as at the homes of eight families within the Virtual Village Program. The Bucket Kits were obtained through an organization called Chapin Living Waters and their success had been documented in Africa and other arid locations.  Each family was provided with the basic equipment consisting or two sticks and a cross bar which holds a 5 gallon bucket one meter off the ground. The families were also provided with seeds, fertilizer and pesticides.  The bucket which must be filled twice each day, drips water into the ground by way of four 25 foot hoses which are connected to the bottom of the bucket and have apertures at 8 inch intervals enabling the water “leak” out thereby watering the seedlings. One bucket kit is capable of feeding a family year round as long s there is a water source available from which to fill the bucket.

The gardens have proven to be a huge success and are an exciting breakthrough as they provide food security regardless of erratic rainfall. In “The Dry Corridor” farmers grow a small amount of food during the rainy season and reap a harvest in the fall, however the food does not last until the following fall so admission of severely starved children into local hospitals peaks in the summer months. Families with Bucket Kit Gardens will avoid starvation during these months and can even sell surplus food to purchase more seeds and fertilizer, making the gardens self sustaining.    

Hen Farming

OWH is pleased to summarize another successful agriculture project that was initiated in the spring of 2009, and will be expanded in 2010.  Staff member, Jorge Madrid, interviewed and selected 8 families to be recipients of 8 egg laying hens each, and provided technical support and training with regard to their care to ensure success. The hens were purchased at 12 weeks of age and were given immunizations and a start up supply of food.  The families constructed “hen houses” or containment areas using materials they were able to gather on their own.  The hens began laying eggs at 16 weeks of age and are now supplying much needed calcium and protein to the families’ diets.  Surplus eggs are used to purchase hen feed as well as other necessities.  We are amazed and proud to be able to report that as of this writing, not one hen has died! The potential of this program for preventing child malnutrition is outstanding. We plan to provide this opportunity to100 additional families in 2010.    

Education

Outreach for World Hope views education as an important means to independence and success. Since its inception in 2005, OWH has partnered with local government to improve the quality and availability of education for children in the region.  OWH, with the help of visiting volunteer teams, has provided several tons of school supplies to under-equipped rural schools, supplied hundreds of desks to schools to replace rickety tables made of bricks and planks, expanded an overcrowded school that was holding classes in the kitchen and hallways, and provided scholarships to children wanting to continue on to a higher level of education than was available in their communities.

In January of 2010 OWH, in partnership with the mayor of Camotan, will donate six computers to facilitate the opening of a computer lab that will enable children to learn skills that will lead to employment.  

Additional Accomplishments of 2009

Other projects completed by Outreach for World Hope Include:

1. The donation of a modern ultrasound unit (only the second of its kind in Guatemala) to the Chiquimula Public Hospital.

2. Two volunteer short term mission trips offering U.S. volunteers the opportunity to help and serve.

3. The construction of an elaborate play system as part of the OWH sponsored renovation of a broken down city park.

4. The renovation and painting of a dilapidated rural health post.

5. Many mobile medical clinics providing life saving medical care in rural mountain villages.

6. The rescue and rehabilitation of numerous newly identified severely starved children by way of admission into the Life Boat and Child Sponsorship Program. 

Thank you!

OWH leadership wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to our family of supporters, sponsors, volunteers and granting foundations which make our work possible. The ministry’s many successes are the result of the love and generosity of many, and we consider it an honor to partner with you.