ANTONIA’S HOPE NOURISHES HER COMMUNITY

Antonia is “a smiling, supportive and responsible” mother and auntie. She lives with her husband, Gilberto, two children, and a nephew, near our Chiclayo site in Peru. She and Gilberto are raising their nephew, Eithel, alongside little Cristian and Samantha. Eithel was blessed with a Chalice sponsor in 2019, which is how Antonia got involved with the Chiclayo site.

Antonia is part, along with her friends, of the "Mujeres con Esperanza" (Mothers with Hope) Chalice family circle.

“At the beginning, she was shy,” the site staff recall, and “it was difficult for her to participate.” She held back from group decisions. But as the site staff continued to train and motivate the parents, she really started to bloom.

“A first challenge was to start her small pastry business,” the site staff continue. Antonia bakes cakes and desserts to order. This is a great source of income and helps her contribute to her children’s education. “She has the dream of implementing her business and generating employment for other mothers,” the site staff say proudly.

Mastering her first challenge, Antonia took on a second: she became the Chiclayo site’s nutrition program coordinator. She and four other mothers run the daily program. Since November 2022, they have supported fifty children to recover from malnutrition!

When the field workers told her just how many children were facing malnutrition, she was deeply concerned. They knew the significance of the new meal program.

"We were happy [to have the program] and we started working hard," Antonia says.

“My mom lent us her house and the program is running there.”

“Chalice supported us with the implementation of the kitchen,” and after a few renovations, "now we are organized.”

She describes how she and the mothers get it all done. “[We] take turns cooking, we rotate to buy food, we attend training...” And, after pausing for breath, she continues, “four times a week our children have their lunches, they are evaluated by weight and height.

“They are really improving and now they get sick less."

Antonia has truly come out of her shell in this role. The site staff say, “she is the leader of her community.”

"I am grateful to God for the help that Chalice always gives me and my family," Antonia says. “Thanks to my children's sponsors for giving me the opportunity to learn, keep growing, and encouraging me.”