Alzate Tamayo, Luz MaríaSandino Restrepo, María del Carmen2012-05-102012-05-1020041794-4449http://hdl.handle.net/10567/240Introduction: Since 1997, the Engineering Program of Corporación Universitaria Lasallista has been developing a task of social projection, with the “Sanitary Education Program on Food Handling and Social Coexistence” addressed to parents from the 1st and 2nd stratification levels who work, mainly, in school restaurants, street food sales, domestic service work and social programs of community mothers. The program is financially supported by the Rodrigo Arroyave Arango Foundation since 1998. Objective: To measure the impact of this program among its participants. Materials and methods: To collect information, a survey was applied to the participants and an observation guide for the visits to school restaurants, community homes and other places, was used. Results: The program has had a great impact, because it has allowed an increase of the usual food handling practices, diminishing the risk of gastrointestinal diseases among the children from community homes and school restaurants. Further benefits were found, specially those related to self-confidence, the respect to others and tolerance to family and neighbors, increasing the quality of life of the participants and their families. Conclusion: The Corporación Universitaria Lasallista must keep on offering this program, making trough it a contribution to the reconstruction of social tissue in our region.esManipulación de alimentosMadres cabeza de familiaImpacto socialConvivencia socialCorporación Universitaria LasallistaArticle