Elderly Info

The food crisis in Guatemala is having a devastating effect on the elderly. Without enough to eat, many older people are becoming weak and malnourished, leaving them more vulnerable to illnesses that they cannot afford medical care for. They are unable to provide for even their most basic needs. In many cases, family members are unable to help as they struggle to feed themselves and their own children, leaving the elderly without any form of support and often living in heartbreaking conditions.

Please help us bring them the life-sustaining food and medical care that they so desperately need. General donations are used to ensure that we always have an adequate supply of food, medicine, and funds for meals, necessary medical treatment, and transportation. Monthly sponsorship would help feed one person, once a day for five days a week. Via blog and web album, we'll show you exactly where your aid is going and help you get to know the men and women whose lives you are changing.

If you would like to sponsor an elderly person for $35 a month, please click here and write "monthly sponsorship'' in the Other box. To make a one-time donation for medicine, rent, or other costs, please click here and enter "Elderly Care Program" in the Other box. Any questions can be directed to Amy at amy@mayanfamilies.org


Media on Mayan Families Elderly

Book:
Ancianos : Megan Gette + photos by Rob Bain, Nisa East, Rhett Hammerton and Hiroko Tanaka

Videos:
Mayan Families- Ancianos Stories : Nisa East

Mayan Families Elderly Feeding Care Program : Rhett Hammerton

Facing Hunger: Elderly in Rural Guatemala



Mar 31, 2011

Andrea Buch lives with her grandchild Claudia. Claudia's mother committed suicide when Claudia was three years old, and Andrea has cared for her ever since. Claudia also had a little sister who was one year old when her mother died, but Andrea was unable to support both of them and she was forced to give the baby away to another family. Claudia's father abandoned her mother and he does not support them in any way, he is married and has a family.


Claudia's grandfather died 30yrs ago from alcoholism and thus raised her mother and now Claudia alone, always struggling to find enough to feed those dependent on her. Until Mayan Families found this little family of two, Claudia had never been to school because her grandmother could not afford it but she is very happy that thanks to her sponsor she now has the opportunity to go.

Andrea usually makes tortillas with beans and brings them to the market to sell on the week ends in Panajachel. She earns $2 US per day. Otherwise she weaves guipils and napkins. She earns $3 US in the week doing this. She has a total of $7 US per week to live on to feed herself and Claudia. However, Andrea has a serious problem with her eyesight. She has lost the sight in one eye and her other eye often hurts, and this is seriously affecting her capacity to work. She therefore has been earning much less in recent months.
Their diet consists mostly of wild herbs that they gather, beans and mostly tortillas with salt.

Even though Andrea owns the house they live in, she is unable to afford electricity. The house is on a very steep cliff and it is a long walk to the main highway, and a very steep walk up from the village's center where they must go to collect water to carry back home. They do not have a pila to wash their clothes and instead they must also carry these down to the village center and then carry them back up. They do not have a closet and so instead they keep their clothes in a cardboard box.

To support Andrea and Claudia to receive healthy hot lunches with the Mayan Families feeding program we estimate it will cost around $29 per month for each of them ($58 for both together). If you are able to assist this family please go to the donate monthly website, go to the other programs box and enter A 64.
Thank you so much!

1 comment:

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