Books for Food Program Helps Fight Hunger in Guatemala
2021-02-13
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1A books-for-food program in Guatemala is helping feed needy children as hunger rates rise during the coronavirus crisis.
2The program began about a year ago in the city of Quetzaltenango.
3It is run by a local nonprofit organization that aims to feed nearly 400 children.
4Bonifaz Díaz works for the program.
5 He delivers books on his bicycle to people across the area.
6When people receive the books, they give him food in return.
7On a recent day, Díaz dropped off a sociology book to the home of a local teacher.
8In return, he picked up four bags of Incaparina, a high-protein drink mix widely used in the country to fight child hunger.
9Guatemala has long suffered high rates of child malnutrition.
10But the coronavirus pandemic has worsened the problem.
11Since the pandemic hit, Díaz has traveled more than 2,000 kilometers on his bicycle.
12He has delivered loads of books and carried back thousands of kilograms of Incaparina for the nonprofit group 32 Volcanoes.
13The program is simple. People choose a book they want from a list of donated titles, and in return give bags of Incaparina.
14By bringing the books-for-food program directly to people's homes, the 44-year-old Díaz makes sure donations keep flowing.
15The hunger crisis has intensified as many people stay home to avoid catching or spreading the coronavirus.
16"People want to provide support, but ... stay-at-home (restrictions) have gotten very strong," said Díaz, an actor by profession.
17"People get motivated if I go to their home with my bike."
18Díaz sometimes pulls a small cart that helps him carry up to 57 kilograms of product.
19He has traveled as far as 60 kilometers for a delivery to a town in the Western Highlands, where road conditions are poor.
20The World Bank estimates that nearly half of the population in Guatemala's highlands, a majority-indigenous area, suffers from malnutrition.
21Incaparina has been a lifesaving product for many families.
22One bag provides 24 servings and costs about $1.15.
23But that price is still costly for the families that 32 Volcanoes serves, said the program's co-founder, Dr. Carmen Benítez.
24The number of children her group serves has increased from 120 to 382 during the pandemic.
25Nearly a year into the books-for-food program, two more cyclists have joined Díaz and donations keep flowing in.
26Ana Castillo is the 29-year-old high school teacher who recently received the sociology book from Diaz.
27She donates to the program often.
28The 1.8 kilograms of Incaparina she provided will help one family eat for a month.
29Castillo looks forward to choosing her books from the titles Díaz posts on social media.
30She told The Associated Press that she also loves the feeling of a "growing circle" of giving and receiving.
31"You might not get to those places, but your help can," she said.
32Díaz said he plans to continue cycling against hunger as long as the need exists.
33He has faced his own economic difficulties since the theater company he co-founded closed last spring.
34But the program has kept him active.
35"It's an opportunity to serve in which we all benefit," Díaz said.
36I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A books-for-food program in Guatemala is helping feed needy children as hunger rates rise during the coronavirus crisis. 2The program began about a year ago in the city of Quetzaltenango. It is run by a local nonprofit organization that aims to feed nearly 400 children. 3Bonifaz Díaz works for the program. He delivers books on his bicycle to people across the area. When people receive the books, they give him food in return. 4On a recent day, Díaz dropped off a sociology book to the home of a local teacher. In return, he picked up four bags of Incaparina, a high-protein drink mix widely used in the country to fight child hunger. 5Guatemala has long suffered high rates of child malnutrition. But the coronavirus pandemic has worsened the problem. Since the pandemic hit, Díaz has traveled more than 2,000 kilometers on his bicycle. He has delivered loads of books and carried back thousands of kilograms of Incaparina for the nonprofit group 32 Volcanoes. 6The program is simple. People choose a book they want from a list of donated titles, and in return give bags of Incaparina. By bringing the books-for-food program directly to people's homes, the 44-year-old Díaz makes sure donations keep flowing. The hunger crisis has intensified as many people stay home to avoid catching or spreading the coronavirus. 7"People want to provide support, but ... stay-at-home (restrictions) have gotten very strong," said Díaz, an actor by profession. "People get motivated if I go to their home with my bike." 8Díaz sometimes pulls a small cart that helps him carry up to 57 kilograms of product. He has traveled as far as 60 kilometers for a delivery to a town in the Western Highlands, where road conditions are poor. 9The World Bank estimates that nearly half of the population in Guatemala's highlands, a majority-indigenous area, suffers from malnutrition. 10Incaparina has been a lifesaving product for many families. One bag provides 24 servings and costs about $1.15. But that price is still costly for the families that 32 Volcanoes serves, said the program's co-founder, Dr. Carmen Benítez. The number of children her group serves has increased from 120 to 382 during the pandemic. 11Nearly a year into the books-for-food program, two more cyclists have joined Díaz and donations keep flowing in. 12Ana Castillo is the 29-year-old high school teacher who recently received the sociology book from Diaz. She donates to the program often. The 1.8 kilograms of Incaparina she provided will help one family eat for a month. 13Castillo looks forward to choosing her books from the titles Díaz posts on social media. She told The Associated Press that she also loves the feeling of a "growing circle" of giving and receiving. "You might not get to those places, but your help can," she said. 14Díaz said he plans to continue cycling against hunger as long as the need exists. He has faced his own economic difficulties since the theater company he co-founded closed last spring. But the program has kept him active. 15"It's an opportunity to serve in which we all benefit," Díaz said. 16I'm Bryan Lynn. 17The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 18We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 19_______________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21deliver - v. to take goods from one place to another 22bicycle - n. a vehicle with two wheels that you sit on and move by turning two pedals 23sociology - n. the study of society and the relationship between people in society 24title - n. the name of a book, film, etc. 25motivate - v. to give someone a reason for doing something 26cart - n. a small vehicle that is pulled and is used for carrying goods 27indigenous - adj. produced in or existing naturally in an area 28opportunity - n. a period of time or situation when something can be done 29benefit - v. to be helped by something