GUATEMALA CITY, Dec. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Ismael Cala Foundation and Passion Asociación Guatemala formalized a strategic alliance to increase awareness of social problems and work towards the development of the region, following the joint efforts carried out by both leaders in indigenous communities, landfills, and orphanages, among other locations.

The leaders of both organizations – strategist and communicator Ismael Cala and Dr. Mark Arellano – celebrated Christmas with more than 350 children and delivered food and toy donations.

“A year and a half ago, Cala arrived in Guatemala to raise funds for a social awareness and empowerment event. This first contribution led to the construction of the Center for the Prevention of Chronic Malnutrition in El Caserío Asunción Chivoc, in San Juan Sacatepéquez. Subsequently, several local businessmen and other people joined in, to whom we are grateful,” said Dr. Arellano.

“I am happy and proud of this alliance. After collaborating on previous projects, we now have this third program with the Center for the Prevention of Chronic Malnutrition. Our objective is to raise awareness in Guatemalan society of the need to reduce the rates of chronic malnutrition and extreme poverty that affect the country,” said Ismael Cala.

The Center for the Prevention of Chronic Malnutrition aims to comprehensively address the extreme poverty that gives rise to this situation, which constitutes the last link of underdevelopment. In so doing, it seeks to intervene in actions such as clean water, environmentally friendly stoves, solar panels, adequate drainage, education, nutrition, health, family vegetable gardens, education on values, and correct hygiene practices, among others.

According to UNICEF, Guatemala ranks sixth in the world among countries with chronic malnutrition. Fifty-two percent of children under the age of five suffer from it, and nearly three million Guatemalans lack access to safe drinking water

ABOUT THE ISMAEL CALA FOUNDATION

The Ismael Cala Foundation (FIC) is a non-profit organization headed by Ismael Cala, which seeks to impact communities in Latin America and the Caribbean by training its youth in leadership and entrepreneurship; strengthening social development organizations that serve children and adolescents with cognitive disabilities, and connecting young people with our partners to promote their education and training through scholarships.

ABOUT PASSION ASOCIACIÓN GUATEMALA

Passion Asociación Guatemala was founded by Dr. Mark E. Arellano, who was a scholarship holder for more than 15 years and experienced neediness and the process of personal transformation firsthand, before going on to become a physician and surgeon. The association was established in 2010, together with a team of professional friends, with the vision that united they could comprehensively contribute to addressing the issue of extreme poverty and creating peace in Guatemala. It currently dedicates time, effort, and resources to expand the opportunities and freedoms of children exposed to social risk, high vulnerability and life in the streets.

SOURCE Cala Enterprises