Corazón de Hierro was founded in 2025 by Anabella Dyer following her three-year struggle with iron-deficiency anemia, an experience that revealed a broader and urgent reality affecting thousands of children across Peru. What began as a personal health challenge evolved into a deeper understanding of how anemia can silently limit cognitive development, academic performance, and long-term opportunity.
Recognizing that her recovery was made possible through consistent access to iron-rich nutrition, Anabella transformed her experience into a mission to extend that same opportunity to others. Corazón de Hierro was created not as a temporary initiative, but as a sustained, community-driven response to a widespread public health issue.
The project operates on a simple but intentional model. Instead of requesting monetary donations, it mobilizes communities to contribute lentils, a culturally accessible and nutritionally rich source of iron. From her home, Anabella organizes these contributions into carefully designed family kits that make nutrition both practical and sustainable within daily life.
Each kit includes:
– 1 kilogram of lentils
– 1 standardized measuring cup to guide portions
– 1 red ribbon symbolizing anemia awareness
To date, Corazón de Hierro has collected over 300 kilograms of lentils, enabling multiple rounds of distribution while continuing to expand its reach. On March 1, aligned with the start of the academic year in Peru, the initiative will carry out its first official distribution in Cañete, Lima, supporting more than 180 children and their families.
