Guatemala

Like the rest of the world, Guatemala was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic impact on families, especially those who depended on informal labor, was severe. Families faced difficulty getting food and clean water, increasing kids’ malnutrition and illness, and students in rural areas often weren’t able to continue their studies. On top of the pandemic’s challenges, Hurricanes Eta and Iota hit Guatemala in the fall, destroying crops, homes, and infrastructure. Women and children in particular became more vulnerable to exploitation in the wake of the hurricanes’ devastation. Thanks to strong support, many children and families in need got access to the food and hygiene supplies to weather the pandemic. We advocated with the government to promote child protection and spread awareness among families about the risks of exploitation. Youth and entrepreneurs are receiving job training and financial support so they can restart their careers, and children’s faith is being strengthened through groups focused on resilience and emotional health. In the aftermath of the hurricanes, we reached the most affected areas with immediate and ongoing assistance, especially malnutrition treatment for young kids.