2017 January - March Newsletter
Welcome to our first quarterly newsletter of 2017!
Primeros Pasos opened for the New Year on January 9. Some highlights from these first three months have included exciting additions to our administrative staff, developments in the nutrition program, and a visit from New Lifeline, a UK-based charitable organization.
Kicking off the New Year with a new admin team
Our previous Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Harrison has taken over as General Director. Joyce Lu, a former volunteer, has filled the gap as the current Volunteer and Communications Coordinator. We are also very excited to announce the arrival of our new Development Director, Christina Smith.
Expanding the Nutrition Recuperation Program
Our nutrition program has over tripled in size this year, now reaching 10 communities in the valley and over 400 beneficiaries. In order to support this expansion, we have hired a new nutritionist, Mónica Pérez, to assist nutrition program director Scarlet Samayoa in her efforts to continue providing quality nutrition and health education services to the women and children of the Nutrition Recuperation Program.
Building family gardens with University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University
A huge thank you to the 22 volunteers from the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University that spent their spring break building family gardens March 6-10! These gardens will provide fresh, organic fruits and vegetables for families in the nutrition program.
Health Schools Program kicks off 2017 with charlas and mobile clinics
In February, our medical and education teams taught health education classes and ran mobile clinics in each of the primary schools in the communities of Las Majadas, Bella Vista, and Xepache. In total, they saw over 400 patients.
New Lifeline Visit
On March 18, we had a visit from New Lifeline, a UK-based international charity that supports social, health, and education programs throughout Latin America. The visit was very informative and helpful for improving and advancing the provision of Primeros’ Pasos services. We look forward to working with them to continue promoting the health and well-being of communities throughout the Palajunoj Valley.
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