Dear Friend of the Clinic,
For my birthday, I’m putting together a special Earth Day celebration to honor our Clinic team and surrounding communities. My birthday happens to fall on Earth Day, which is today!
I can think of no better present than the opportunity to share with you what is happening in this special part of the world and to show how, together, we can help impoverished families learn, grow and get healthier.
Our Healthy Eating Initiative, which has had a large impact for years now, battles the high incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay, weight gain and anemia in the rural southwest communities of Nicaragua. To date, we have created 112 organic gardens in 16 communities. Since we started this great initiative, more than 9,000 people have benefited.
But here’s where we get down and dirty – in a good way!
Lessons From the Earthworms
We promote the production of vermicomposting (using earthworms) to support and enhance the structure and nutrition of the soil – guaranteeing and maximizing the productive yields of the crops of the families who participate in our Healthy Eating Initiative.
Using this method, we will continue to improve and enrich our soil each productive cycle with the main goal of achieving self-sustainability.
There are many benefits to manipulating red Californian earthworms:
• Improve aeration, water retention and nutrients
• Improve the germination capacity of the seeds
• Reduce soil erosion
• Improve soil management
• Protect the root from fungi and bacteria
• Enrich the soil with organic substances and essential minerals
• Promote the assimilation of nutrients
• Preserve and elevate the organic content of the soil
• Reduce post-transplant shock
• Increase the beneficial microbial flora
• Increase the resistance of plants to pests and diseases.
We appreciate the support of our Padrino Program parents who help us cultivate gardens full of healthy plants and vegetables. This is so important, especially now when the economy is getting worse by the day and food, especially healthy food, is very scarce.
The majority of the people who come help us out at our Clinic garden are invited to take fruits and vegetables home.
We’re thrilled by how much the Healthy Eating Initiative has grown over time, thanks to the support of people like you and the enthusiasm of our communities.
Lessons From the Water Containers
Another “green initiative” the Clinic started in late 2014 was the Clean Water Initiative.
Many impoverished families drink unclean water from rivers and wells that are polluted with disease-causing pathogens. Drinking and bathing in contaminated water can cause severe problems, like diarrhea, birth defects, cancer, typhoid fever, cholera and sometimes even death.
Our clean water filtration and distribution system has a critical impact – especially now – in times of crisis. Our goal is to help the nearby communities, health centers and schools.
We currently are in the process of making some major – and much-needed – renovations to our water treatment plant, including expanding the washing and filling area and making improvements to the filtration process.
Here are some other ways our Clinic is “going green”:
• We email our annual appeal campaigns.
• Many of our Clinic employees carpool.
• Our Clinic has a wind turbine, which creates wind power and reduces energy consumption.
• We provide bins for recycling paper, bottles, cans and cardboard.
• We promote maintaining a healthy environment in the communities, at home and at school.
• We keep green areas around our building beautiful and clean.
• We make good use of our water at all times.
• We provide educational talks to members of the community on water conservation practices and preservation and maintenance of our natural resources.
• We always encourage our team to come up with new ways to optimize our resources in an eco-conscious manner!
But to continue all our health initiatives, we need your help…
YES! To celebrate Earth Day, I want to help The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic today!
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic is supported by individual donations. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in Maryland, so all your donations are tax-deductible. We accept funds through PayPal, where you can also donate with your credit card. You can also mail a check, and we accept stock donations as well. To donate, click here.
And as my birthday pledge to you, I will personally contribute $25 for every person or organization who makes a donation to the Clinic today, Earth Day. I can’t think of a better present than for our wonderfully hardworking and dedicated team in Nicaragua – struggling right now with fewer economic resources – to get your support.
Moreover, The Oxford Club is providing matching funds of up to $50,000 for 2022. Your contribution can go even further if you donate today.
Any amount you provide has a huge, measurable impact.
Happy Earth Day!
Thank you sincerely,
Julia C. Guth
Chair of the Board
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic