The first five years of life are the most critical period of human development. During this stage, up to 90% of neural connections are formed, axons are myelinated to allow fast transmission of nerve impulses, and neurotransmitter systems – such as dopamine – are consolidated to regulate attention, motivation, and learning. This is a unique window of brain plasticity. Yet in the Peruvian Andes, for many children, this window is closing too early.

Iron-deficiency anemia affects 53.8% of children under age three in Cusco and more than 65% in high-Andean communities. Iron is not just another nutrient: it is a key part of the brain’s energy metabolism. Without it, myelination is delayed, dendrites do not branch properly, and the hippocampus – the center of memory – develops with reduced volume. Longitudinal studies by Lozoff and colleagues (2006, 2013) showed that people who suffered anemia in early childhood had, 25 years later, lower white-matter volume, deficits in executive functions, and lower educational attainment. The most devastating part is that the damage can persist even when anemia is medically corrected after age five.

At Multilingual School, we do not wait for anemia to cause damage. Our School Anti-Anemia Program acts from birth – and even during pregnancy, by guiding mothers – and provides continuous nutritional support throughout early childhood. Every day, children receive iron-rich snacks and balanced lunches with highly bioavailable proteins, designed by nutritionists and adapted to the foods available in Andean communities. A constant nutritional follow-up system helps adjust support and detect deficiencies early. In this way, we protect the critical windows of myelination and synaptogenesis that the traditional system – often without the resources for quality school nutrition – leaves unprotected.