--- title: "CRS Photo of the Month: New Beginnings" description: Catholic Relief Services is working with 10,500 vulnerable families in the Mayan regions of Guatemala every year, so that children, pregnant women and new moms can have better access to food and healt --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/01/11/crs-photo-month-new-beginnings#) # CRS Photo of the Month: New Beginnings Jan 11, 2017 8:30:04 AM  |  by [Catholic Relief Services](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/catholic-relief-services) [!["New Beginnings" by Catholic Relief Services (CatholicMom.com)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CRS-January-2017-New-Beginnings-Photo-by-Oscar-Levia-for-CRS.jpg?width=800&height=533&name=CRS-January-2017-New-Beginnings-Photo-by-Oscar-Levia-for-CRS.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CRS-January-2017-New-Beginnings-Photo-by-Oscar-Levia-for-CRS.jpg) Photo by Oscar Levia/Silverlight for CRS. All rights reserved. Used with permission With a new year, comes a new beginning, and all the hope that brings. No one knows that more than Virginia Gomez and young mothers like her in Comitancillo, Guatemala. Virginia is the proud mom of a healthy 11-month-old, Gladys. But until recently, young, new lives were the most fragile in Comitancillo, where malnutrition poses a deadly problem for infants and toddlers. That’s why Catholic Relief Services is working with 10,500 vulnerable families there every year, so that children, pregnant women and new moms can have better access to food and health care. CRS distributes food and water filters and teaches mothers like Virginia how to prevent malnutrition, treat common illnesses and improve hygiene. The women then learn how to teach this lifesaving information to other parents, ensuring these lessons will reach more people and be passed down through generations to come. [Tweet "Better #nutrition for a bright beginning. @CatholicRelief's work in Guatemala."] “Malnutrition is often a part of a vicious cycle that includes poverty and disease," says Monica Rodriguez, who oversees the project. "A malnourished child gets sick more often, doesn't do as well in school and can become physically and mentally stunted. This keeps communities trapped in the cycle of poverty.” Mayan indigenous communities are especially shut off from basic government services, so CRS is focusing its efforts on farming families in 357 communities like Virginia’s. Most families in the region earn their living growing potatoes, and now they are learning how to improve the quality of their crop and connect directly with markets and buyers to negotiate better rates. So with the start of this year—and many more to come—Virginia and many others can look forward to a stronger, healthier future. *Copyright 2017 Catholic Relief Services* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F01%2F11%2Fcrs-photo-month-new-beginnings%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F01%2F11%2Fcrs-photo-month-new-beginnings%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F01%2F11%2Fcrs-photo-month-new-beginnings%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=CRS%20Photo%20of%20the%20Month%3A%20New%20Beginnings) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F01%2F11%2Fcrs-photo-month-new-beginnings%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F01%2F11%2Fcrs-photo-month-new-beginnings%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Catholic Relief Services](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/CRS.jpg) ### [Catholic Relief Services](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/catholic-relief-services) Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. We are the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and a member of Caritas International and the National Catholic Development Conference. Find us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/CatholicReliefServices), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/CatholicRelief), [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/catholicrelief), [Google Plus](https://plus.google.com/104550074809687046792/posts) and [Pinterest](http://www.pinterest.com/catholicrelief/). ## Related Blog Articles [ CRS Photo of the Month: CRS Thrive Projects in Kenya Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/03/08/crs-photo-month-crs-thrive-projects-kenya) [ CRS Photo of the Month: Building Sustainable Livelihoods Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/06/07/crs-photo-month-building-sustainable-livelihoods) [ Finding Hope in Our Lady of Sorrows Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/21/finding-hope-lady-sorrows) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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