Guatemala: programs & priorities

ChildFund Australia's affiliate organisation in Guatemala has been working in the country since 1964 and currently assists almost 700,000 children and their family members.

The fluctuation in world coffee prices continues to cause economic problems in Guatemala, forcing many small and medium-sized farms to go out of business. In addition, when subsidised crops, such as corn are imported from other countries, they often cost less than locally grown crops, putting more farms out of business. This in turn results in lost jobs for migrant workers, putting very poor rural families in dire financial straits.

To counter this economic picture, ChildFund in Guatemala is attempting to expand the agricultural base to strengthen food security at the community and household levels. ChildFund in Guatemala is working with the Nutrition Institute of Central America and Panama (INCAP) to develop a food and nutrition security strategy.

Development in progress

To help improve the financial security of families, ChildFund in Guatemala has instituted a micro-credit program for women. This loan program provides an important safety net for many Guatemalan families.

In addition to health, nutrition, sanitation, micro-enterprise, education and early childhood development programs, ChildFund in Guatemala is also focused on expanding primary healthcare services; alcohol and drug abuse prevention for youth; and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and AIDS.