Last week our oldest daughter came home and informed us that her teacher has told them to have eggs for breakfast this week. Why? Because they are taking their state standardized yearly testing and need to have protein from the eggs to help their minds and bodies with the testing. J
Hmm…kind of interesting since one of Nuestros Niños projects is to provide chickens to families in Guatemala! The whole reason is to provide protein to families. Some families literally have nothing to eat. I have seen children whose black hair has turned blonde due to the malnutrition. Others subsist on tortillas and salt. Some will scourge the woods for edible plants. By supplying chickens, it provides a nutritious food source – EGGS. If there are extra eggs, families can sell them at the market to provide a source of income. 
The chickens provide a sustainable source of protein. They are easy and inexpensive to care for – making it a good choice for families. I remember going into homes on our first service trip in 2008 and thinking how strange, but cute it was to have baby chicks running around by my feet.
Now I can appreciate what a life changer these chickens can be for families. Malnutrition is prevalent in Guatemala. As we have all heard – protein and nutritious food is vital in our ability to be ready to learn in the classroom!
At first we planned on providing 10 chicks to each family, however, it has been determined that it is better to provide 3 chickens to each family. The chickens are more likely to live in the harsh summer rainfalls than the chicks – and they are already providing eggs. Many families have an egg or two by the time they have walked to their homes.
Families are identified as good recipients for the chickens, and then arrive early at the Mayan Families’office anxious to receive this precious gift. Recipients are instructed on how to take care of the chickens by the staff. The children and adults on the service trip scoop chicken feed into bags to be given to the families.
Then the fun begins! Our kids get to figure out the best way to catch the chicken and move it into the receiving family’s basket. For some kids, it seems like they have been doing it forever. For others, it is a treat to see them master the feat and gain the confidence to catch the chicken. Each family receives three chickens from Nuestros Niños.
