As the sun remains hidden behind the mountains and the tranquil waters of Lake Atitlan embrace the stillness, a 33-year-old woman in the small village of San Marcos La Laguna begins her day. With two children and eight months pregnant, she rises early to prepare breakfast before her kids wake up and get ready for school.

Magdalena Sancoy

Magdalena is the protagonist of this story, representing the sentiments and actions of many mothers in rural Guatemala. As she shares her journey, one phrase resonates throughout: "we must fight for our children." Her daily efforts, waking up early to cook, are driven by her love for her children and the desire to provide them with a quality life for their development.

A Journey of Motherhood:

With her third child on the way, Magdalena's face radiates excitement and determination. She eagerly awaits the experience of giving birth next month, receiving consistent support from the local midwife who monitors her progress weekly. Additionally, she has been attending health check-ups to ensure the well-being of her baby.

Despite her pregnancy, Magdalena continues to work, just as she has done for the past decade. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to close her daily consumer goods business temporarily. When circumstances normalized, she found a more profitable opportunity—a special tortilla stove. With her characteristic determination, Magdalena obtained a loan to purchase the stove. For almost two years now, she visits the nixtamal mill after her children go to school, prepares beans, and by 8 am, she is ready to serve her customers with freshly cooked tortillas. She has even started selling breakfast meals.

Aware of her pregnancy, Magdalena decided to approach Konojel and participated in a workshop. She says, "I had a lot of fun, and it's a special time to play with the kids." The Healthy Babies program aims to provide educational support to mothers in San Marcos La Laguna, addressing the issue of chronic child malnutrition prevalent in Guatemala and promoting comprehensive child development from pregnancy.

Joining the Community:

Flora, who leads the program's activities, invited Magdalena to join the group of participating mothers. For the past three months, she has been attending workshops, learning nutritious recipes for her family, and gaining knowledge about child development. This gathering of mothers and the Konojel team also serves as a support group and a space for socializing, a privilege many women don't often have as they are the first to wake up and the last to go to sleep, attending to their families' needs in a rural context.