The reality of infant malnutrition in the Bateyes of the Dominican Republic is dramatic; most children are severely malnourished when compared to age, weight and height of current U.S. standards. This state of malnutrition is caused by low food intake and the lack of nutrients in the body. In addition, children suffer serious infectious diseases derived from ingesting food in bad conditions as well as contaminated water, among other things.
With a little help from people like you, these communities can and will learn to sustain themselves in a variety of ways, such as family gardens, but at this time, many of the parents cannot find work, and the need for food for their children is now.