ChildFund has been working in Guatemala since 1964, working to improve living standards and opportunities for children, youth and indigenous families in rural communities.
People in Guatemala are still recovering from a 36-year-long civil war, which ended in 1996 and caused widespread poverty. The initial conflict in 1960 claimed over 200,000 lives and forced a million people from their homes. During the next 36 years, a series of military-dominated governments fought against guerrilla groups representing the disenfranchised in Guatemala.
Guatemala is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for children. It has one of the highest rates of child murder in the world.
Many families did not have access to clean water because the storm damaged their water supplies. We provided household water filtration kits and gave families emergency-related hygiene advice, which minimised the spread of disease.
Around one in five children in Guatemala is not in school. Many children are forced to work to provide for their families and risk being recruited by violent gangs.
ChildFund Australia recognises the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land; and recognise their continuing connection to the land, water and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures; and to Elders past and present.
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