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Proposal2025 Food For The PoorHealthcare BenevolentProgramLatin America and the Caribbean
Project GoalProvide access to lifesaving healthcare for individuals living in povertyacross Latin America and the Caribbean.Project DescriptionThe 2025 Food For The Poor Healthcare Benevolent Program willprovide essential medical services to individuals without the resourcesto access healthcare otherwise.We renew this ongoing program annually, with any unused fundsfrom the previous year continuing to support those most in need ofmedical assistance in the following year.Latin America and the Caribbean OverviewThe region of Latin America and the Caribbean has enduredsignificant hardship in recent years due to various economicchallenges and natural disasters. Political instability, soaring inflationand high unemployment have intensified the struggles ofimpoverished families in these areas. Additionally, the lingeringeffects of the COVID-19 pandemic — which disproportionately affectvulnerable populations and exacerbate their social challenges — leaveresidents uncertain of their future.Many families in these countries are unable to afford education fortheir children. Low-paying jobs, along with high unemployment, onlydeepen their poverty. Widespread illiteracy deepens their economicstruggles, leading to a persistently low standard of living.The housing situation for people experiencing poverty is equally dire,with most living in shoddy shacks made from salvaged materials suchas tarps, plastic and rusted zinc sheets. These dwellings provide littleprotection against the weather and lack basic facilities such as indoorplumbing, sanitation and potable water, increasing the spread ofdangerous infections and illnesses.
¹ who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water² worldbank.org/en/country/colombiaWhere We ServeThese are some of the countries where we serve with the help ofgenerous donors like you:ColombiaColombia, with a population of 52.3 million, is marred by significantsocial and geographic inequalities. Addressing poverty andstimulating prosperity more equally across all regions will includedeveloping more efficient and inclusive labor markets and reformingthe social security system. This country is also increasingly facingclimate-related challenges, which disrupt livelihoods and damageassets.² FFTP has partnered with Minuto de Dios and other like-minded organizations to advance development work in the country.Access to medical care is also a significant issue, as many familiescannot afford even the most basic necessities, let alone medications.These impoverished residents, particularly those with life-threateningconditions, need assistance to obtain proper healthcare.Additionally, nearly 400,000 children under 5 could be saved fromdeath every year if risk factors such as unsafe drinking water,improper sanitation and a lack of hygiene were addressed worldwide.¹People living in poverty across Latin America and the Caribbean facenumerous challenges that impact the most vulnerable members oftheir communities. We must constantly address these issues toprevent families’ already fragile circumstances from worsening.
El SalvadorEl Salvador is a small, dollarized economy with a population of 6.3million people, closely tied to the U.S. through trade and remittances.Poverty in this country has increased from 26.8% in 2019 to 30.3% in2023. Additionally, as of 2023, an estimated 10% of the populationlives in extreme poverty, compared to just over 5% in 2019. Systemicdeficiencies in public services, a high debt burden and increasedvulnerability to natural disasters continue to challenge the country’spoorest residents.³ Since 1996, FFTP has tirelessly worked to helppoor Salvadoran people in need.GuatemalaGuatemala, with an estimated population of 17.6 million as of 2023,has the largest economy in Central America. However, its economicgrowth has not significantly reduced financial hardship for mostresidents. In 2023, an estimated 55% of the population lived inpoverty, represented to a higher extent by Indigenous and Afro-descendant populations. This country’s child malnutrition rate isamong the highest in the world, with stunting rates in poorercommunities reaching nearly 90%.⁴ FFTP began its lifesaving work inthe country in 1986.HondurasHonduras has made progress in reducing poverty, although it stillranks as one of the poorest and most unequal countries in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean. In 2023, an estimated 51.9% percent ofthe population experienced poverty. Human development outcomesare among the lowest in the region, meaning that Honduran residentsare about half as productive as they could have been if they were fullyeducated and healthy as children.⁵ FFTP began serving the country’spopulation in 1999.³ worldbank.org/en/country/elsalvador⁴ worldbank.org/en/country/guatemala⁵ worldbank.org/en/country/honduras
Please click the map circles below to view the Google Mapslocations for the countries where this program serves.JamaicaJamaica, with a population of over 2.8 million, has one of the slowest-growing economies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Itspersistently low productivity growth is due to a weak businessenvironment, limited innovation and human capital constraints.Jamaica is highly vulnerable to external shocks because its agricultureand tourism sectors, which account for more than half of the jobs, aredirectly affected by climate-related events. Food insecurity remainsan issue, with one-third of the population reporting in 2024 that theywent an entire day without eating during the previous month.⁶ FFTPhas been working in Jamaica since our founding in 1982.⁶ worldbank.org/en/country/jamaica
2025 FFTP Healthcare Benevolent ProgramFFTP’s Healthcare Benevolent Program provides healthcareassistance to the poorest of the poor. Poverty limits people’s accessto proper healthcare, causing them to suffer needlessly. This programmakes a real difference in the lives of individuals and their familieswho desperately need medical care but do not have the resources toobtain help for themselves or their loved ones.Through this life-changing initiative, we assist individuals and familymembers facing significant health challenges. We stand beside thosewho lack effective medical solutions to alleviate their suffering. Overthe years, we have worked alongside donors like you to save the livesof entire families, effectively transforming their futures through thecrucial gift of healthcare.The importance of taking action, no matter how small, is clearlyreflected in Hebrews 6:10, which reminds us that “God is not unjust;He will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as youhave helped his people and continue to help them.” By supporting this program through financial contributions andprayers, you can play a vital role in helping those in need. Weencourage you to contribute however you can, knowing that everyact of kindness will significantly impact another person’s life forever.Personal StoriesThis report contains heartwarming tales that have unfolded over thepast year, sweet stories of compassion and kindness. In thesenarratives, the benevolence of steadfast donors like you emerged as atestament to the extraordinary power of generosity. You can become a fellow champion of hope, casting light upon thelives of those with nowhere else to turn. Your selfless actions canserve as a profound reminder that the human spirit can create ahaven of warmth and support for those in need.
This project improved the quality of life for 400 children by financingspecialized surgeries that their families could not afford. FFTP, withhelp from donors like you, developed this program in partnership withMario Catarino Rivas Hospital and the Ruth Paz Foundation. These surgeries changed the lives of the children who received them,opening the door to long and healthy lives for them. Each timelyprocedure renewed families’ hope by providing effective solutions tothe serious medical problems that once plagued their children.Little Warriors Medical Support Phase II
Hospitalization can be an anxiety-inducing and often traumaticexperience. Children are especially vulnerable to the adverse effectsof illnesses and prolonged hospital stays. Frequent trips to thehospital can create a sense of dread in a child, turning the constantneed for medical care into an overwhelming source of stress for theseyoung patients and their loved ones.However, necessary surgeries replaced these temporary medicaltreatments and eliminated the root cause of children’s diseases, all atno cost to their families. Moreover, this timely access to surgical caresignificantly reduced the risk of serious complications and madecontinued hospital visits unnecessary.Roland’s surgery healed hischronic condition and endedhis emergency hospital visits.Please click his photo to viewmore children who receivedsurgeries through this project.
Click this image to see more photosof the surgical teams in action.The medical teams at Mario Catarino Rivas Hospital’s and the RuthPaz Foundation’s facilities offer advanced surgical techniques to theirlittlest patients using the highest quality materials. Their work reducesthe risk of infection and ensures a smooth recovery for the children.
The story of Jose Dagoberto Zelaya, whose son has severe cerebralpalsy, is a beautiful depiction of what your support can accomplish.Jose’s son does not speak, see or walk, so we supported him throughthis program with a wheelchair, diapers, wipes and other much-needed supplies.Jose told us, “I want to thank God for having met CEPUDO and thedonors at Food For The Poor because, thanks to them, I was able tocarry out the surgery for my child ... . Everything went well; theyalready operated on him, and I thank them from the bottom of myheart for the successful surgery.”Jose continued, “There are times when I feel caught between a rockand a hard place with him, but I feel happy for all the things and helpthey have given me for my son ... . I wish that God keeps you safe andthat you continue to support children in need like mine.”Through your unforgettable faith and compassion, you broughtnew life to the son of this loving and grateful father.
End-of-Life Nurse Navigator —Ayúdame a VivirThis critical and compassionate project is introducing a trained end-of-life (EOL) nurse navigator to the Ayúdame a Vivir Foundation’smedical center. Through this position’s critical and compassionatecare, young patients are receiving pain and symptom management, aswell as emotional support for themselves and their families.The EOL nurse navigator, Melvin Funes, is part of the canter’smultidisciplinary Mobile Pediatric Palliative Care team that comprisesan algologist (pain expert) along with oncologists and psychologists.Together, these team members monitor patients who can and wish tospend their final moments at home with their families. This newposition’s overall goal is to help patients in EOL care overcomehealthcare barriers and ensure access to medical, psychosocial andspiritual care.In this position, Melvin is tending to approximately 60 EOL patientsper year. He is responsible for establishing relationships with theirfamilies, facilitating communication between them and the healthcareteam, and helping them identify needs and access support systems.He also obtains supplies for patients such as oral serum, body cream,lip balm and dietary supplements. Ultimately, he is responsible foreducating patients and their families about their treatment options,symptom management, availability of services, grief and death.
Carmen Salaverría, a psycho-oncologist on the Mobile PediatricPalliative Care team, shared the need for an EOL nurse navigatorposition: “I have the opportunity to engage with parents about theirexperiences during the end-of-life process. Many caregivers, typicallymothers, find themselves alone in the hospital, feeling exhausted andisolated while caring for their terminally ill child.”To travel to the hospital, many caregivers must carry their loved onesuphill for over half a mile or walk for over half an hour to the nearestpublic transportation.Carmen explained that mostcaregivers “desire to experiencethe end-of-life care at home,where they can receive moresupport” from other relatives andcarry on with their lives.She continued, “Home visitsalways have a profound impact.It is hard to imagine where andhow our patients live. Visitingtheir homes allows us to be partof their world.”"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,and he will reward them for what they have done."Proverbs 19:17Most end-of-life patients and their caregivers would prefer to be athome where their loved ones can lend a hand in their care.Carmen ended by saying, “The project has also initiated a shift in howwe approach end-of-life care. Parents are recognizing that moretreatment isn't always better. We’re working to reduce aggressiveprocedures and focus on allowing families to spend more time athome rather than in the hospital.” The EOL nurse navigator positionwill help achieve this goal.
Every afternoon, Ariana’s sister sits by her side,keeping her company while doing homework.Comprehensive Care: Physical, Emotional and SpiritualPatients’ physical care involves providing medical supplies such asoxygen concentrators, medications and equipment for symptommanagement, mitigating their pain and improving their quality of life.During this process, patients and their families receive emotionalsupport through psychosocial guidance to help manage the stress,fear and sadness associated with the illnesses that they are facing.Spiritual support helps families to find comfort and meaning duringthe illnesses’ progression and to foster acceptance of the results,ultimately leading them to deeper peace.
Quality of Life during IllnessOne of this project’s greatest achievements thus far is enablingchildren to remain at home, surrounded by the love and care of theirfamilies. Receiving care at home ensures that many children spendtheir final moments in the warmth of their loved ones’ arms ratherthan in a cold, impersonal hospital room. This environment empowerspatients to face their illnesses with greater peace and dignity, offeringthem comfort during this final stage of their young lives.Young Nelson is receiving care at home, surrounded by hisfamily. Here, he and his siblings can spend fun, quality timeplaying with a tablet together.
Cost Reduction and Economic ReliefThe project is having a significant economic impact on families. Byavoiding prolonged hospital stays and frequent transfers, it reducestreatment-related expenses. Additionally, families receive support through food packages andother essential supplies, easing their financial burden and freeingthem from worry so that they can focus on their children’s well-being.Melvin and his team bring essential supplies to their home visits.
The team left this family after a home visit.Measuring Success by Dignity, Love and SerenityAs of November 2024, the Pediatric Palliative Care team hasconducted 80 home visits for 25 patients and their families. Thesevisits took place across the San Salvador, Ahuachapan, Sonsonate, LaUnion, Santa Ana, San Miguel, Usulutan and La Libertad departments.Of the patients that have rejoined the Lord’s heavenly flock, 64%passed on at home surrounded by their families and loved ones, while36% passed away in the hospital.
Melvin taught Jazmín, the sister of one of his patients, how toadminister her medications.Equitable Access to Quality CareDignified and compassionate care is everyone’s right, regardless oftheir financial circumstances. This project ensures that children livingin poverty can receive quality palliative care, breaking downeconomic and social barriers.
Before entering the arms of Jesus, Bryan Villatoro spent his lastdays at home, surrounded by his loving family and the Ayúdamea Vivir team.Melvin’s position as the EOL nurse navigator unifies the MobilePediatric Palliative Care team’s various services, and the impact oftheir home visits is already extending far beyond physical relief.This project establishes a care model centered on human dignity, loveand respect. Through this team’s efforts, families can experience acomprehensive support system that empowers them to face theprocess of illness and loss with serenity and strength. This project isnot only transforming patients’ lives but also reshaping how theirfamilies and communities understand the end-of-life journey.By providing medical, emotional and spiritual care directly in patients’homes, this team is significantly improving their quality of life whilealleviating their families from the burden of care.
Click here to see a moving video of the children whomdonors like you are serving through Melvin’scompassionate work at the Ayúdame a Vivir Foundation.“The Lord sustains them on their sickbedand restores them from their bed of illness.”Psalm 41:3
Sheyla, a 9-year-old girl from Guatemala City, has faced devastatingchallenges in her short life. Not only was she born with multiple healthissues, but her mother also passed away shortly afterward. Hermaternal aunt and uncle began caring for Sheyla to give her access tomedical care, but she had to move away from the rest of her family.Most importantly, Sheyla needed neurosurgery for a meningocele, aspecific kind of spinal bifida, along with tethered spinal cordsyndrome, a condition in which the spinal cord attaches tosurrounding tissues in the spinal column and restricts movement.Furthermore, due to incontinence issues caused by this condition,Sheyla has been unable to attend school.Surgery for Sheyla —World Pediatrics
Dr. Rodriguez performed Sheyla’s successful operation at JuanPablo II Hospital.
After Sheyla’s procedure, heraunt Carmelina — Sheyla’sprimary caregiver — was happyand moved when sharing, “Sheylais doing well after surgery. It hasbeen hard keeping her quiet soshe can heal because all shewants to do is run and play!”Sheyla is also participating in amental health program thatWorld Pediatrics and FFTPdeveloped to help childrennavigate their emotional journeys.According to Carmelina, theprogram has boosted Sheyla’sself-esteem: “She rarely spoke inpublic before, [but she] is now alittle less shy and seems moreconfident.”Sheyla chose to stay in the citywith her aunt, who has cared forher since she was very young.She and Sheyla’s uncle feel thatshe would be uncomfortablereturning to her father. Sheylais preparing to attend schoolnext year, holding onto hernewly-found confidence andembracing the chance toexperience classes with her peers.
An Answer to Many PrayersThe extreme situations in countries where we serve may seemoverwhelming. However, thanks to generous individuals like you, theHealthcare Benevolent Program is a lifeline of faith, hope and love forthose who are hurting and most in need.Additionally, prayer is an invaluable resource for families with lovedones who suffer from common illnesses or rare, severe medicalconditions. For poverty-stricken people in many parts of LatinAmerica and the Caribbean, prayer is the only solution.Let us be God’s answer to their prayers.Contributions are tax-deductible under Internal Revenue CodeSection 501(c)(3).“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayersand requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep onpraying for all the Lord’s people.”Ephesians 6:18
About Food For The PoorFood For The Poor, one of the largest international relief anddevelopment organizations in the nation, does much more than feedmillions of hungry children and families living in poverty primarily in 15countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Thisinterdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency reliefassistance, water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support forvulnerable children, care for the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information, please visitfoodforthepoor.org.If you would like more information about this report, please contactyour advisor.Please click this QR code or scan it using your mobile device’scamera app to view this proposal online: