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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 3 February 2021
Guatemalan fights hunger with book-for-food barters by bike

By GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO are less scared, that they
Associated Press play more … that is where
Bonifaz Díaz biked through we can get results,” she
the sprawling city of Quet- said.
zaltenango, 7,640 feet Nearly a year into the
(2,330 meters) above sea books-for-food program,
level among Guatemala’s two more cyclists have
volcanoes, to deliver a so- joined Díaz. Donations are
ciology book to the home pouring in, from books and
of a local teacher. He artwork for bartering to dif-
pedaled away with four ferent kinds of nutrient-rich
brightly colored bags of In- foods like amaranth grain.
caparina, a popular cereal Ana Castillo, the 29-year-
mix crucial in fighting child old high school teacher
hunger. who last weekend received
The coronavirus has wors- the sociology book, “Liquid
ened child malnutrition in Love,” a study on modern
Guatemala, which already relationships, is a regular
suffered from the worst rate donor. The 4 pounds (1.8 ki-
of it in the Western Hemi- lograms) of Incaparina she
sphere. Since the pandem- provided in return will help
ic hit, Díaz has cycled more a highlands family eat for a
than 1,200 miles (2,000 ki- month.
lometers) with his saddle- Ana Castillo trades 4 pounds of a cereal mix for a sociology book delivered by Bonifaz Diaz in Castillo delights in choos-
bags filled with donated Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. ing her books from the titles
books, and lugged back Associated Press Díaz posts on social media,
thousands of pounds of the at-home’ has gotten very lies that are served by the bright red Incaparina bag, and she loves the feeling of
oatmeal-like food for a lo- strong,” said Díaz, an ac- nonprofit 32 Volcanoes, some salt and corn for ta- a “growing circle” of giving
cal NGO that feeds nearly tor by profession and avid co-founder Dr. Carmen males — or cheap, pro- and receiving.
400 kids. cyclist. “People get moti- Benítez said, with 97% of cessed foods that do noth- “You might not get to those
People pick a book they vated if I go to their home those households scraping ing to prevent stunting and places, but your help can,”
want from a list of donated with my bike.” by on less than that per day increase diabetes, as well she said.
titles, and in return give sev- He sometimes tows a small in income. Nearly half the as learning and behavioral “This small grain of sand
eral bags of Incaparina. By cart to be able to carry as population of Guatema- disabilities. to be able to change this
bringing the books-for-food much as 125 pounds (57 la’s Western Highlands, a With the number of kids her country.”
barter program directly kilograms) and has gone majority-indigenous region, association helps skyrock- For his part, Díaz plans to
to people’s homes, the as far as 37 miles (60 kilo- suffers from chronic mal- eting from 120 to 382 during continue cycling against
44-year-old is ensuring that meters) for a delivery to a nutrition, according to the the pandemic, “the barter- hunger as long as it’s need-
donations keep flowing to nearby town in the high- World Bank, and Incapa- ing is food security,” Benítez ed, even as he’s struggling
fight the hunger crisis as lands, where many roads rina is a lifesaver for many said. “The idea is that be- economically as well since
many people stay home as are gutted with potholes. families. fore age 5, children won’t the theater company he
much as possible to avoid A 1 pound bag of Inca- On visits to rural homes that already be chronically mal- co-founded has been shut-
catching or spreading the parina, which provides 24 get help from 32 Volca- nourished.” tered since last spring.
virus. servings, costs just 9 quet- noes’ nutrition programs, And the initiative is having “It’s an opportunity to serve
“People want to provide zales ($1.15). But that’s well Benítez often sees little food an impact. in which we all benefit,” he
support, but … the ‘stay- out of reach for the fami- on the shelves other than a “Seeing that the children said.q

Haiti leader speaks of more power for diaspora amid strife

By EVENS SANON voted upon in April. ers step up their demands elections scheduled for later this year.q
Associated Press “It’s time to change it,” he that Moïse relinquish pow-
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti said. “We can’t continue er on Sunday, arguing that
(AP) — Haitian President like this. The country is par- his five-year term began
Jovenel Moïse said Mon- alyzed.” when that of former Presi-
day that proposed con- Moïse spoke on the first dent Michel Martelly ex-
stitutional amendments day of a two-day transpor- pired in February 2016.
would allow members of tation strike that paralyzed However, a chaotic elec-
the country’s diaspora to parts of Haiti and forced tion process led to the ap-
run for the presidency and the closure of banks, pointment of a provisional
other high-ranking offices. schools and businesses. president for a year until
The announcement came Haiti also has been hit by Moïse was sworn in a year
during an online pub- ongoing, often violent later.Moïse also pledged
lic address during which protests in recent years to keep fighting a rise in
Moïse reiterated that he against corruption and for kidnapping, saying he
would not step down until better living conditions. won’t allow gang mem-
February 2022 and urged The proposed constitution- bers to scare people into A woman pushes her merchandise away from tires set fire
Haitians to support the al changes are expected not participating in the by protesters during a countrywide strike demanding the
creation of a new consti- to be made public this upcoming constitutional resignation of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-
tution, which is due to be week as opposition lead- referendum or the general Prince, Haiti, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021.
Associated Press