Guatemala Aid Fund
Why Guatemala
Why Guatemala?
The natural beauty of the land and the vibrant indigenous communities and historic culture stand in contrast to the widespread poverty suffered by much of its population, especially indigenous communities.
Poverty in Guatemala is far below what we would consider Poverty in the United States, with families often living in dirt floor shacks with no access to water or opportunities to change their situation. It is estimated that
estimated 49 percent of indigenous children suffering from chronic malnutrition.
With rural families sometimes making less than $2 a day, many Guatemalan families struggle to provide the basic needs of their families and commonly cannot afford the expenses associated with school. Lack of access to education further diminishes opportunities for children to move up and out of poverty. Thus, the cycle continues. The lack of access to clean water results in intestinal diseases that contribute to the rampant malnutrition and the inability of children to focus on school and succeed in their studies.
Guatemala continues to struggle with hte discrimination of indigenous peoples even though the civil war ended in 1996. There is an ongoing lack of social and educational support, especially in the rural areas, and this results in a lack of opportunities for jobs beyond the extremely poorly paid field work.