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Updated: March 2009

Guatemala

Overview | World Vision's history in Guatemala | World Vision in Guatemala

Overview

Located in Central America, the Republic of Guatemala is bordered by Mexico to the north and west, Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast, and Belize to the northeast. An environmentally diverse country, Guatemala contains more than 1,200 animal species and nearly 8,700 species of plant. While the northern half of the country consists of sparsely populated lowlands, the south is predominantly mountainous and heavily forested. The country’s location on the Caribbean and Pacific makes it highly susceptible to hurricanes and subsequent flooding and mudslides. In general, the climate is hot and humid in the lowlands and cooler in the higher elevations. Natural resources include petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, and hydropower.

Approximately 60 percent of Guatemala’s population is either Mestizo, a mixture of Amerindian and Spanish, or European—primarily of Spanish descent. The indigenous Amerindians make up the remainder of the population, including the K’iche, Kaqchikel, Mam, and Q’eqchi. There are also groups of Koreans, Chinese, Lebanese, and Germans living in the country, but their numbers are small. Spanish is the official language of the country, but among indigenous peoples, there are 23 recognized languages, consisting of Quiché, Kekchi, Cakchiquel, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca.

Guatemala declared independence in September 1821 after nearly 300 years of Spanish rule. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the country enjoyed relative stability under a series of dictators. In 1944, a group known as the October Revolutionaries instituted several reforms popular with rural indigenous peoples. Carlos Castillo Armas led a coup in 1954 and began dismantling the reforms. By 1960, most indigenous groups were angered by perceived social and economic discrimination from the government. A group of armed insurrectionists revolted, beginning what would be the longest civil war in Latin American history—lasting for 36 years. The government signed a peace agreement in 1996 formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and nearly 1 million people displaced.		Guatemala map




 
Country statistics 
Population13 million
Land mass42,042 square miles
People per square mile311
Life expectancy70 years
Under age 5 mortality rate41/1,000
Literacy rate69%
Access to safe water95%
Average annual incomeUS$2,640
Religion
Christian99%
Indigenous beliefs 1%
 
 
A collapse in coffee prices in 1998 deflated the country’s leading export sector and made a severe impact on rural farmers. Today, 56 percent of Guatemalans live below the poverty line and 32 percent live on less than $2 a day. In rural areas, 78 percent of indigenous children under the age of 18 live in poverty. Guatemala has one of the highest income inequities in the world. The wealthiest 20 percent of the population receives 61 percent of the nation’s income, while the poorest 20 percent receives only 4 percent.

Children from families belonging to the wealthiest 20 percent are 42 percent more likely to attend secondary school than children from the poorest 20 percent of families. Public education is free, but parents are responsible for books, uniforms, supplies, and transportation, making it difficult for poorer families to afford to send their children to school. As a result, Guatemala has the highest illiteracy rate in Central America, and only 23 percent of children are enrolled in secondary school—a decrease of 55 percent from primary school.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 20 percent of Guatemalans—consisting mostly of the indigenous population—lack regular access to health services. Stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition affects nearly half of children under the age of five—the highest rate in Latin America and more than three times the average for the region. Infant mortality rates have decreased significantly in the past 15 years, but they are still among the highest in the Western Hemisphere.

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World Vision's history in Guatemala

World Vision became involved with the people of Guatemala during a pastors conference in 1962. While World Vision’s presence was modest during the 1960s, children and families benefitted through the provision of a school bus allowing children to attend classes and an outreach program that paired North American and Guatemalan businessmen for a weeklong conference.

During the 1970s, World Vision implemented development, health-care, and agricultural programs. Child sponsorship began in 1975. Projects during that time provided food, nutritional information, and education to needy families. After a 1976 earthquake, relief funds were channeled through the Latin American Mission and other Christian groups. Rehabilitation and development projects followed, including agricultural training on more efficient farming techniques. In 1977, a World Vision office was opened in the capital of Guatemala City.

World Vision’s presence in Guatemala grew in the 1980s. Relief projects assisted thousands affected by flooding and drought. Pastor’s conferences were held in 1981 and 1982. Representatives from 22 countries attended a Christian conference in 1983 that focused on the topic of responsibility for others. The Escalon Project benefited the community through agricultural and health-care improvements. Women were taught how to raise poultry to improve the family diet, farmers were trained in soil improvement, and 50 latrines were built to improve sanitation. By the end of 1989, there were more than 23,100 sponsored children cared for in nearly 200 communities.

From 1990 to 1998, the number of sponsored children increased to 35,642 in 78 different projects. Financial and administrative training, holistic development, health care, and nutrition education were emphasized in each project. People who had been receiving help found themselves in a position to provide relief to others. Projects during the1990s included:
  • The Cerro Alto Project enabled 70 percent of children to attend classes through the provision of school supplies and teachers’ salaries. Materials were provided to upgrade the houses of 24 families. Electricity was installed, potable water supplies increased, and health care was improved.
  • The Los Diamantes Project sought to decrease the child mortality rate by improving the health of villagers, increasing family incomes through productive programs, raising the level of education, and promoting community organization and administration.
  • The Artistic Center for Youth Project provided music, dance, literature, and singing lessons to boys and girls from under-reached communities (Canalitos, Chimaltenango, and San Juan Sacatepéquez) near Guatemala City. Instruments, materials, and instruction from trained artists and musicians were offered to help the children discover their vocational aptitudes as well as preserve tradition as well as music, dance, and visual arts.
Projects in the 21st century have focused on economic improvement, artistic development for children, HIV and AIDS prevention, and assistance for families living in Guatemala City’s landfill.

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World Vision in Guatemala today

World Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Guatemala to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. Currently, 92,168 children are registered in the World Vision sponsorship program.

Several times this number of children and other family members benefit from World Vision activities. Of these registered children, many have World Vision sponsors in other countries. U.S. donors sponsor 22,322 girls and boys. In addition, World Vision operates 38 development programs, 11 of which are supported by U.S. donors. A highlight of these efforts includes the following:
  • The Guatemalan Association for Development (AGUDESA) is an independent financial institution established by World Vision in 1994 to administer loans to willing entrepreneurs. AGUDESA is operational in the states of Chimaltenango, Solola, and Sacatepequez and is expanding to all areas where World Vision has a presence in Guatemala. In addition to loans, the group provides credit consultation, training, and technical assistance. In 2008, AGUDESA reported more than $1.5 million in outstanding loans invested in nearly 5,000 clients, 71 percent of whom are women. The average loan size is $611 with a near 100 percent repayment rate.
For more information on World Vision’s programs in Guatemala, please contact the United States office.

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