The Mikhuna Project
| Summary | Mikhuna, which means food in the Quechua language, is a food program initiative which started in 2020 to support those most impacted by the halting of tourism due to COVID-19. The remote high altitude indigenous farming communities that we serve, make their livelihood by selling their woven goods, food they can grow, or the animals they herd. Sometimes the men become porters or participate in illegal mining to support their income. Despite this, many Andean families are unable to afford fruits and vegetables, and few foods can be grown above 12,000ft/3650m elevation other than potatoes. In addition the importance of nutrition is not well understood. A study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition in 2019 showed that malnutrition happened in children 29.9% (vs 4.8%) of the time and anemia 39.5%(vs 24%) to those of of low socio-economic status. Children were malnourished 29.7%(vs 4.2%) of the time and experienced anemia 35.8%(vs 22.6%) of the time when their mother had only 6 years of education. Those children of indigenous backgrounds had a 37.4%(vs 13%) likelihood of having malnutrition and a 45.8%(vs 30.9%) chance of anemia. The Mikhuna Project is an assistance and educational program working with the local leaders to determine their best solution. |
| Challenge | T0 decrease malnutrition and anemia in a manner that aligns with Andean cultural beliefs and supports local famers. Making these donations memorable events that foster learning and growth is another challenge, along with shifting the family priorities to include nutrition. |
| Solution | The way the Mikhuna Project is addressing this problem is by instituting a backpack food program for pre-school to elementary school age children. We purchase bananas, avocados, oranges, carrots, etc from local farmers and bring it to the local schools to distribute. We wish to expand our services to weekly deliveries of food. Education about the importance of nutrition is also incorporated into each donation and we plan to partner with health experts for monthly classes for the kids and their parents. The reasoning behind the choices of raw foods to purchase is that of cost effectiveness, nutrition, and the ability to eat immediately. Purchases are done at the local markets to support the local farmers. |
| Long-Term Impact | That the children will be empowered, proud of their culture, and know that they are not a forgotten people. Nutritional choices and understanding of nutrition will not only improve for these children, but those of future generations. Additionally, adequate nutrition will help them be successful at school and have a greater potential to create positive change for themselves and their community. |
| Website and Social Media Links | Facebook & Instagram |
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