Good morning,

Howard has asked me to make sure that you received news of his experiences during his travel to Belize. He was in Belize, helping to launch the Children's Nutrition program with our program partners, the Belize Ministry of Health. Notes from Howard's daily experiences, in his own words, are below. Pretty awesome!

Greetings from Punta Gorda, Belize!

When we reached the village of San Antonio I couldn't believe my eyes. A few weeks ago when I were down here planning the launch with the Health Committee —a small group of Mayan villagers —they said they wanted to put on a Health Faire to help kick off our event. At the time I thought "Well that's really nice" and expected a few booths and some leaflets.

What I saw on Friday took me completely by surprise. The people in the village had spent the entire week going into the jungle cutting down bamboo, constructed 20 booths and invited everyone in the community and neighboring villages to participate.

There were Mayan women making soy milk, many booths with steaming plates of local food —everything from plantains to tamales, and rice and chicken. I met with the Cacao Growers Association and learned that they are growing organic chocolate and supplying it to people in the Natural Products Industry—small world.

There was a display on organic fruits and vegetables, another on AIDS, one about Pap Smears, and one promoting breastfeeding. I saw a young guy with a t-shirt that said "I am a real man because I don't hurt women." I went up to him to tell him I loved his t-shirt and he showed me his booth to promote stopping domestic violence.

Click here to watch the podcast of Howard’s recent distribution in Belize

Then the Minister of Health gave a speech thanking Vitamin Angels and saying how excited everyone was to be participating in this wonderful program to improve the health of their children. It was incredible day —we never wanted to leave.

With the help of our able team that included Tony Olson from SPINS and his 13 year old daughter Briana, Melody Harwood from Cantox, Kathie Velazquez from Vitamin Angels, and our friends from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, PAHO, UNICEF, Miss Eva and the Health Committee in San Antonio, we distributed Vitamin A and deworming tablets to every child in the village—a few hundred children.

Belize is now at a crossroads. The Mayan communities are working hard to improve their situation and they still need help. 60% of the children still have parasites, stunting is widespread because of chronic malnutrition (we put Tony's daughter Briana who is 13 next to other 13 year old children and the size difference was shocking —the Belize children who are 13, 14 and 15, look about 9,10, and 11 because they have been malnourished for so long).

A lot will change in upcoming years in Belize and providing vital nutrition will play a key role in building a strong foundation so these children and communities can advance.

Vitamin Angels is honored to be able to work with the Mayan people and our partners in Belize to help make a better life for these children.

Best,

Howard

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Howard B Schiffer
Founder & President
VITAMIN ANGELS

P.O. Box 42029
Santa Barbara, CA  93140

Ph: 805 564 8400
Fx: 805 564 8499
Web: www.VitaminAngels.org