Feed The Dream establishes and oversees nutrition programs that provide food, vitamins, health education, hygiene and enrichment to children under 5 years of age and women of reproductive age in impoverished rural Guatemala. We work in partnership with the indigenous. Non for Profit 501(c)3
www.FeedTheDream.org 2010 HIGHLIGHTS • Recipient of 2010 Northwestern University Alumnae Award • Reaching out to over 1000 daily • Establishing and overseeing our program in 14 communities • Expansion of Tzununá • Extending emergency relief funds following Hurricane Agatha • Nov., 2009, UNICEF ranks Guatemala #3 in the world for the worst nutrition FALL 2010 NEWSLETTER 6 YEARS LATER… With the completion of 6 years in The Highlands of Guatemala, Feed the Dream has experienced significant and heart-warming progress in our 14 villages. Someone recently asked me if there was anything more to the indigenous' lives other than struggling each day for survival. Today I can emphatically say YES as the communities continue to gather to learn and apply nutritional principles, hygiene, school attendance for all, etc. They are using water filters and vented enclosed stoves. Their babies are bigger and healthier than ever before. They have learned the value of each family member and have enjoyed socialization for the first time. Sparkling eyes and ready smiles reveal a new self- confidence for the future with good health being within their reach. This only happened because of YOU—your donations, support and belief in our program. The indigenous find it hard to believe that we, people from so far away—care about them. And that we do. I join them in saying… “Matiox”……“Gracias” in Kaqchikel Sandy Haggart Founder TAKING OWNERSHIP On the shore of Lake Atitlan is Tzununá , one of our newest and most enthusiastic villages. The villagers worked hard to establish their meeting place and plant their garden. Micaela, our indigenous miracle- worker, met with them for education on nutrition, meal preparation with diversity of nutrients, hygiene, potable water and vented enclosed stoves. She also emphasized the value of each family member and the equality of girls and boys. The socialization and the ensuing self- esteem transformed them. After a year there was a robbery. Someone cut through the cyclone fence and stole 30 lbs. of rice, 30 lbs. of sugar, a blender and some chairs. We suspended our program much to the dismay of the women, as it was the best thing that had ever happened to them and their children. Completely on their own, they explored other possibilities; and one month later they rented a new location to renew our Feed the Dream program and replaced the stolen items with their own quetzales (local currency). They chose to take ownership and make positive decisions on their own and prove to Feed the Dream how much they had learned! We are so proud of them. They increased the number of women and children participating and included additional community leaders, who were anxious to support their initiative. Many more malnourished children are now being helped because the Tzununá villagers refused to give up after having made so much progress.
6 YEARS LATER…Withthecompletionof6yearsinTheHighlandsofGuatemala,Feed the Dreamhasexperiencedsignificantandheart-warmingprogressinour14villages.Someonerecentlyaskedmeiftherewasanythingmoretotheindigenous'livesotherthanstrugglingeachdayforsurvival.TodayIcanemphaticallysayYESasthecommunitiescontinuetogathertolearnandapplynutritionalprinciples,hygiene,schoolattendanceforall,etc.Theyareusingwaterfiltersandventedenclosedstoves.Theirbabiesarebiggerandhealthierthaneverbefore.Theyhavelearnedthevalueofeachfamilymemberandhaveenjoyedsocializationforthefirsttime.Sparklingeyesandreadysmilesrevealanewself-confidenceforthefuturewithgoodhealthbeingwithintheirreach.ThisonlyhappenedbecauseofYOU—yourdonations,supportandbeliefinourprogram.Theindigenousfindithardtobelievethatwe,peoplefromsofaraway—careaboutthem.Andthatwedo.Ijointheminsaying…“Matiox”……“Gracias”inKaqchikel
Sandy Haggart Founder
TAKING OWNERSHIP On the shore of Lake Atitlan is Tzununá , one of our newest and most enthusiastic villages. The villagers worked hard to establish their meeting place and plant their garden. Micaela, our indigenous miracle-worker, met with them for education on nutrition, meal preparation with diversity of nutrients, hygiene, potable water and vented enclosed stoves. She also emphasized the value of each family member and the equality of girls and boys. The socialization and the ensuing self-esteem transformed them. After a year there was a robbery. Someone cut through the cyclone fence and stole 30 lbs. of rice, 30 lbs. of sugar, a blender and some chairs. We suspended our program much to the dismay of the women, as it was the best thing that had ever happened to them and their children. Completely on their own, they explored other possibilities; and one month later they rented a new location to renew our Feed the Dream program and replaced the stolen items with their own quetzales (local currency). They chose to take ownership and make positive decisions on their own and prove to Feed the Dream how much they had learned! We are so proud of them. They increased the number of women and children participating and included additional community leaders, who were anxious to support their initiative. Many more malnourished children are now being helped because the Tzununá villagers refused to give up after having made so much progress.
InJanuaryFeed the Dream addedthepowderedMayaNut,whichhadbeenroastedandground,toourtortillasand incaparina(fortifieddrink).It'sanamazingnaturaladditivethatsignificantlyrestoreshealthtomalnourishedchildren.It'softenreferredtoas"treeoflife,"asforthousandsofyearsithasgrowninCentralAmericanforestsandhasbeenusedasastaplefood.
HURRICANE AGATHALastMayGuatemalastruggledwithadualnaturaldisasterofVolcanoPacaya'seruption,coveringGuatemalaCitywith3"ofash,andmoresignificantly,2dayslaterthedestructiveHurricaneAgatha'sdumping20"ofrainwithinhours.Manypeoplewerecutofffromtherestofcivilizationwithroadsdestroyedandhomesandcropsdevastatedbymudslides,rainandboulders.ManyofFeed the Dream's villagesweredirectlyhit.SeveralmonthslaterourvillageofPajomelstillisinaccessibleunlessbyfootonaprecariouspath.
Feed the Dream wantedtohelpwithreliefefforts,andyourespondedsogenerously.Ourvillagesneededourhelpmorethanevernotjusttocontinuetheirnutritionandeducationalprogramswithusbutalsotomeettheirbasicneeds.Itistrulyhumblingtoseehowthesedesperatelypoorpeopleareabletocontinuallysurvivesuchodds.ItisinpartduetothecompassionandperseveranceofFeed the Dream'ssupporters,whobringthesewonderfulpeoplehope.
JULIE CRAWFORD • Winnetka, ILThere is a magicthathappenswhenaperson’spresenceonearthisacknowledged,supportedandcelebrated.Theystandabittaller;workharderforthemselvesandtheirfamily;dreambigger;smileandlaughandsing.InvisitingtheFeed the Dream(FTD)villagesthispastJanuary,Iwashonoredtowitnessthismagicfirsthandoverandoveragain.Womenwhowereonceshyandreservedproudlyspokeoftheiraccomplishments;onewomantookSandybythearmandledhertoacookingdemonstration;theytaughtus
HOLLY CLARK • Louisville, KYI am so proud ofthepeoplethatFeed the Dream serves.Insteadofflatexpressionsofwomenjustsurviving,wesawbeamingfacesandsmiles!Theirlaughterwascontagious.Onewomanstandingnearanabundantcommunitygardenproudlyspoketousthanking“thosethatarehereandthosethatIcannotsee”.Theywereveryappreciativeofthe“handup”theyhadreceivedandworkedtowards. IamespeciallyimpressedwithMicaela.Themutualadmirationofheralongwiththevillagessheservesisbeautifultosee.Youcantell
thatherpassionisfromtheheart. Sinceweareblessedwiththeadoptionofourdaughter,Sarita,IoftenseeherinthemanyGuatemalanchildren’seyes.Theprenatalvitaminsandvegetableswillnotonlyproducehealthierbabiesbutcanpotentiallypreventmanybirthdefectsthatwouldbemuchhardertocareforunderharshlivingconditions.Eachchilddeservesthechancetohaveahealthyandlovingstart.Betweenthenutritionandeducationprograms,youarebenefitinganentirefamily.Agiftto Feed the Dreamimpactsmanygenerations.
darkoutwithoutanyelectricityorflashlightswithcornonherheadthatneedstobegroundfortheday’sfoodstapleoftortillas?Iwonderhowmanytimesshe’stwistedanankleorlostherfooting.IknowIdidinbroaddaylightwithmybrandnewNikecross-trainerson! Finally,shearrivesatanothervillage’scorngrinderandwaitinlinetogrindhercorn.Herbabiesarehungryandtired.Theywait.Atlast,theircornisgroundandthiswomanstartsthelonguphilltrekbacktoherdirt-flooredone-roomhomethatsheshareswithher6children.Dawnisjustbreaking.Ontothenextstep:makingabout150tortillasfortheday.There’snothingeasyaboutthelivesoftheIndigenouswomenandchildrenthatFeed the Dreamhelps.Thiswoman,alongwithalltheothersofhervillage,willmakethissamehiketomorrowmorningandeverydayafterthat. Whatstruckmethemostduringourtripwasthehappiness,love,appreciation,andgenuineawethatthesewomenfeeltowardFeedtheDreamanditsgeneroussupportersforcaringaboutthem-caringenoughtotakethetimetogettoknowthemandhelpthemtohelpthemselves.TheyareproudoftheirgrowthsincepartneringwithFeed the Dreamandeagertoshowofftheiraccomplishments:teachingushowtomakebananabreadintheirnewoven,feedingusamealwithfreshvegetablesthey’vegrownintheircommunitygarden,showingustheclothingthatthey’vemadeonthevillagesewingmachine,sharingtheartoftortillamaking,exposingustotheperilousdaily“hike”theyenduredbeforetheyreceivedtheirowncorngrinderandallowingustoplaywiththeirchildren.Iamtheoneinawe!
OUR GUATEMALAN TRIP IMPRESSIONS
PAT FREY • Glenview, IL
All those wonderful pictures frompreviousFTD tripswhichIviewedattheannualeventcamealiveformeduringthisspecialjourney!WhataspecialprivilegeitwastopersonallywitnessthegratitudeandappreciationfromsometimesshymothersandadorablechildrenforwhatFeed the Dreamisprovidinginthevillages.Whatwemightconsideraprimitivestoveorasimplenutritioussnackasmallgesture,arethingsthataremakingahugeimpactinimprovingthelivesoffamiliesandsmallchildren.TheNovemberteamwaswarmlygreetedandreceivedineachvillagewithspecialpraisesfor“Queen”Sandy.Wefeltasthoughwewereroyalty!Weobserved,wesharedtheirfood,weenjoyedthegamesandsongsofthechildren,wetouredsomeoftheirhomesandadmiredtheirvegetablegardens.Thetripwasafabulousweekfulloflifetimememoriesandnewfriendships!
ANNE SCHRAUTH • Glenview, IL
One of the first thoughts thatstruckmeaswetraveledfromvillagetovillageinGuatemalawasthewonderful,capable,caringpeople(Americansandindigenous)thatSandyhaschosentoworkwith.Sheistrulyputtinghereffortinalltherightplaces,whereitcountsmost…nutrition,education,andwomen!Read“HalftheSky”byNicholasD.KristofandSherylWuDunn.Theappreciationshownbyeveryoneinthevillageisoverwhelming.
LOUISE CURRY • Glenview, IL
I was struck by the daily hardship of their lives. Whatweconsidereverydaynecessitiesaretotallyabsentintheirlives.ThevillagesofXetzitziandLaPila,welcomeduswithjoyandcelebrationIwasoverwhelmedbytheirhospitality.ItisthebasicthingsthatFeed the Dreamprovideswhicharesolifechanging:thechildren’svitaminsforhealthybodies,seedsforgrowingvegetableswithessentialnutrients,waterfilterstoavertdiseasesandsimplestovestoeliminateburnsandsmoke.Iwasimpressedhowoneortwowomenineachvillagehavelearnedtotakealeadershiproletoteachtheothersaboutsanitation,nutritionandgardening.Whileaccomplishingthesetasksthewomenofthevillagedevelopasenseofempowermentandcommunity.WhatagreatprivilegeitwastoberepresentingFeed the Dream andallofyouwhomakethisdreampossible.
JOAN GIBSON • Albuquerque, NM
My first memory: themountainvillageofLaPila.Whenwearrived,womenandchildrenlinedthepineneedleandflowerstrewnpathtowelcomeus.ThoughFeed the DreamwasrelativelynewtoLaPila,thevillagersunderstandthatFTD willnotabandonthemasotherNGOshadpreviouslydone.DuringourvisittothelakevillageofChuitzanchaj,thewomenmadepresentationsonthemeaningofamistad(friendship).Untilrecently,becauseofthreatsofimprisonmentandworseforcollectiveactivism,nevergathered,didnotparticipateincommunityactivities,andcertainlydidnotlifttheirvoicestoproclaimtheirstrengthaswomen.Asweleft,withraisedarms,theycheered:“Somos Mujeres. Sí, se puede!” WeaskedoneofSandy’scolleaguesinGuatemalahowshechosewhattotacklefirst,giventheextentanddepthofthesuffering.Herreply:“Yougrabtheedgenearestyou.”AsSandyremindedusmorethanonce:SuccessinGuatemalaisgettingthroughtheday.ThesemagnificentpeopleneedFeed the Dreammorethanever.
JAMIE DETWEILER • Del Mar, CA
ItwasveryheartwarmingtoseethewomenandchildrenexpresstheirappreciationtoSandyforallthatFeed the Dreamhasdonetoimprovetheirlives.Theirsmilesandhugsweresorealandgenuine. FTD hasfoundthecoreofaneed(nutritionalfood,selfesteem,andearningthehelp)andissuccessfullyworkingtheissuetogivethesepeopleabetterchanceinlife.KAREN GABSCH • La Jolla, CA
ThewomenandchildrenoftheFeed the Dreamvillagesareveryspecial.EachmotherhasareasontobelievethatthelivesoftheirchildrenwillbebetterthanthechildhoodtheyhadandIwasimpressedwithwhattheywerewillingtodotomakethathappen.Theleadershipofthevillagesbyfellowindigenouswomenisoutstanding.ThegratitudetoSandyknowsnoboundsandisbeautifullyandmosthumblyexpressed.ThewomenandchildrenareheroesfortryingtohaveabetterlifeandFeed the DreamistheSuperHerothatismakingthathappen.ThemissionofFeed the Dream isaseriousone,butthejoyandlaughteroftravelingtoFTD villagesisthebest.
OUR GUATEMALAN TRIP IMPRESSIONS
A special 49th high school reunion trip.
6TH ANNUAL GOLF & LUNCHEON EVENTOn Aug. 2nd 170 women attended our annual fundraiser and enthusiastically made it our most successful day ever with a net of $98,000! We had perfect weather with an outstanding Silent Auction table and raffles. Centerpieces of indigenous carved wooden angels sold out within minutes! We are thrilled and grateful for our success--especially during these difficult economic times. Such confidence and belief in our program makes health possible for so many. For pictures of attendees taken by Sheridan Road magazine, please visit www.feedthedream.org.
***Our 7th Annual Event will be earlier next year on Monday, July 18th.
Birthday parties by our youngest supporters to honor Guatemalan children:
HELPING HANDS
13 IS OUR LUCKY NUMBER—AGAIN! Feed the Dream is again so fortunate to have another runner as a superb supporter (Julie Crawford in 2008 and Katy Knoer in 2009)! In May in Ft.Collins, Suzanne Bolling, (Sandy Haggart's daughter), ran the Colorado half-marathon.
"This Mother's Day, I am going to run a half-marathon and I would like to raise money to help other mothers who aren't as fortunate. It's
amazing how much my mom has accomplished these last 6 years. Before Feed The Dream, people in these villages were mainly drinking coffee and eating tortillas for sustenance. Can you imagine giving a four-year-old three cups of coffee each day because it's the only thing you have in your home? I am so proud of my mom for helping so many people—people who are just like us but not as fortunate financially. When I run on Mother's Day, I will be thinking of all the women and children who deserve a good meal, who love their families and who are trying to do their best with the resources they have."
OnceagainthereisanopportunitytodonateaHolidayTamaleBaskettoadestitutefamilyonChristmasEve.Abasketfeedsupto12familymembers and provides themwith the ingredients for the traditionalmeal:oil,15lbs.ofrice,ablockofdrinkingchocolate,bread,leavestomake tamales, a chicken, raisins, redgrapes, sugar, salt, coffee,tomatoesandpumpkinseeds.Lastyeartheindigenouswomen,whohadfaithfullyparticipatedinourprogram,weregivenabasket!Itwas
Thebasketsweighalmost45lbs.,andit'snotuncommonforthemtowalkgreatdistances in themountains toget theirs. Wouldn't it bewonderful tobe thereandhelppackanddistribute thesebaskets andexperience their joy anddeepgratitude?Thereisawayyoucanbethereinspirit.Won'tyouconsiderdonatingbasketsat$50each? Feed the Dreamgiftcardscanbesenttothosepeopleinwhosehonoryouhavedonated.Theycanbeforholidaygifts,thankyous,teacherpresents,friends,specialeventsorsimplybecauseyoucareaboutsomeonewhoismuchlessfortunateandinneed.
Sandy Neville Haggart grew up in La Jolla, CA. She received both her B.A. and M.A. from Northwestern University. She and her husband Gil raised their family in Glenview, IL, where they have resided for 45 years.
8 year oldWe need you more than ever now withthecurrentcrisisinmalnutritionandcriticalfoodshortage.Yes,thesearedifficulteconomictimesforeveryone,butwecanhelpinawaythatiscrucialfortheindigenousbutnotlife-changingforus.Weknowthatyouhaveachoiceamongcharities,andwewillbegratefulifyouchooseFeed the Dream.
Donations may be mailed to: FEED THE DREAM
P. O. Box 2642 Glenview, IL 60025or online at www.feedthedream.org
All donations are tax-deductible as we are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, #30-0536205
