This buzz will follow me through the journey of traveling to Nicaragua to visit the work the Vitamin Angels are doing to provide vitamins to children in the developing world. Having the honor to travel and observe our Serve First at Univera totally took me by surprise.
During the month of December 2010, Univera hosted a contest, with the top four associates who meet the contest requirements would have the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua. Much to my surprise I was one of the four associates who qualified. Quite actually my focus at that time was to simply take care of my family’s needs. Not only did I take care of my family’s needs, myself and 6 clients provided vitamins to 24 children for the next year.
That is huge! Just imagine what will be accomplished if we all work together to make a difference in the health of children. So my question is what will be needed to provide nutrition for 30 children for a year, every month? Simple answer, continue to do what you do, but be aware every client you assist to improve their health also leads to assisting the kids!
Vitamin Angels uses the assistance of both the Rainbow Network and the Amigos for Christ
for the distribution of needed vitamins.
Vitamin Angels is supplying Rainbow Network with vitamin A, plus a small number of children’s multivitamins and prenatals, so both of our programs, (Operation 20/20 and Thrive to Five) are represented. Rainbow works in 118 rural communities in 7 municipalities in the central and pacific parts of Nicaragua serving a total population of approx 40-50,000. According to their numbers, they are serving 5-6% of the need in the communities served and have plans to continue expanding their programs. The group will be accompanied by the US Director of Rainbow Network.
Vitamin Angels is providing Amigos for Christ with vitamin A and prenatal vitamins, so again both of our programs are represented. The group will be hosted by one of Amigos’ domestic program coordinators who regularly visits the area.
Amigos works in the Chinandega region of Nicaragua. Site visits may include visits to communities, clinics and hospitals to observe distribution of vitamin A, prenatals and/or children’s multivitamins.