Introduction
Along the Gulf Coast
Haiti Clinic Report
Guatemala: Karen's Soy Nutrition Project
Kids to the Country 2010 Summer Program
Imani House Clinic
Belize: Fajina Arts & Crafts Center Opens Restaurant

Guatemala:
Disaster Relief after Volcanic Eruption
Karen's Soy Nutrition Project

Located just outside Guatemala City, on May 27, 2010, the volcano Pacaya erupted rainin down ash while sending out small earthquake tremors throughout the region. UPAVIM and Partners of the Americas volunteers distributed food, water and medicines in San Vicente Pacaya, very close to the volcano.

“After the eruption and the storm Agatha, tens of thousands of people were evacuated and are only now starting to return to their houses, where they mostly find destruction and with a heavy heart start to rebuild what they have lost.

Such big groups living together for several days, together with the lack of drinking water and medicines, led to many children becoming sick. Everywhere the harvest has been destroyed, which in areas that depend almost entirely on agriculture means most families won’t have any source of income for at least several months. Plenty is helping to fund these distributions.”
— Jeroen Daelman

Karen’s Soy Nutrition Project

Karen’s Soy Nutrition Project (KSNP) is progressing, but has been slowed down by the recent volcanic eruption near Guatemala City and Tropical Storm Agatha.

"Since our last report Plenty’s partners, Grupo de Soya Santa Maria (GSSM) and Jorge Gonzales, have been remodeling the rooms at the church-owned building where the food processing will happen. They have painted walls, installed several new electric and plumbing outlets, and a large new sink. They have also completed the roof, window and door repairs that were needed.

Work at the project site was delayed for about a month when the volcano Pacaya erupted in May.  For a couple weeks it spewed sulfuric ash and rocks all over the city causing damage to many homes and buildings. 

The falling ash caused skin and respiratory problems that affected our partners, and many thousand of people throughout Guatemala City. Heavy rains and flooding followed the eruption, causing more problems, especially for people living near the dump.  Nearly 200 deaths have been reported countrywide as well as 20,000 people being evacuated to shelters.  It took some of our partners several weeks to finish their home repairs. 

In June Plenty was awarded a $6,000 grant from the Trull Foundation of Texas to help initiate the Karen Soy Nutrician Project.  The funding is to be used for purchasing a convection baking oven, dough mixer, stainless steel table, and other small materials needed for the bakery.  When these are purchased and installed, GSSM will begin to carry out the children’s food supplementation activities.—Thomas Heikkala

2011 Fall Bulletin

Introduction
Guatemala: Project Updates
Pine Ridge: Garden Harvest
Plenty Belize: Solar Water Project
Gulf Coast: Books to Kids, Volunteers
Kids to the Country: Summer 2011
NEW!: Soy in El Salvador

• Plenty Belize
• The Farm Community