Argentina, named as “the land of silver” because of the great quantity of metal discovered by the Spanish when they arrived there, is still facing economic challenges that are having a major impact on education, especially for children in low-income communities. While the national poverty rate has dropped to 31.6%, that still means over 14 million people are living in poverty1. This leads to over 2 million children in Argentina who miss at least one meal every day and roughly 1 million of those children reportedly go to bed without dinner2. Many young children suffer from stunted growth, anemia, and other preventable health conditions caused by poor diets and inadequate healthcare3. Without proper nutrition during these critical early years, Argentina risks a generation of children growing up with long-term physical and cognitive challenges.
Córdoba, which has the oldest university in Argentina, still has many issues with the education of its residents. Local reports and NGOs say over 57% of children in Córdoba live in poverty, and 11% in extreme poverty4. Families in low-income neighborhoods often struggle to afford nutritious food, relying on low-cost, low-nutrient options just to survive. Malnutrition and undernourishment are most severe in informal settlements, where children frequently face weakened immune systems, delayed growth, and higher risks of illness. In the Cordoba region, around 89% of households experienced food insecurity5. There is an urgent need for improved access to nutritious meals, healthcare, and parental support programs to ensure children in Córdoba can grow up healthy and strong.
In response, HXP Builders will build two new rooms for a daycare and nutrition center in Córdoba designed to help meet these needs. The social center will offer a safe place for young children under the age of 2 to receive care to help them stay healthy in the first couple years of their lives. It will also be designed to help the family members of these children to receive care and present a safe place for parents to leave their children throughout the day while they work. By improving the access to nutritional care, HXP Builders will help to break the cycle of poverty and create opportunities for children and families in Córdoba to learn, grow, and succeed.
Sources:
3 UNICEF
5 Fundeps