WHy GUatemala?

Guatemala is one of the most poverty stricken countries in Latin America with a poverty rate over 55%. Guatemala has the second highest poverty rate in all of the Americas. Additionally Guatemalas malnutrition rate is among the 10 highest in the world. 

 79% of indigenous Guatemalans live in poverty and have limited access to basic programs and infrastructure such as education. During Guatemalas civil war, over 200,000 Guatemalans were killed or forcibly disappeared from 1960-1996. Of those victims identified in the U.N, 83% were indigenous Maya. 93% of these human rights violations were carried out by government forces.

90% of Guatemalans living in poverty never graduate from high school. This adds up to about 50% of the Guatemalan population. Many kids drop out of school prematurely in order to generate an income for their family. Many education systems in Guatemala are not at levels that can teach valuable education to its students which can also lead to high drop out rates. 

Guatemala has been struggling with corruption within their government systems for decades. With the combination between corruption and impacts of the devastating civil war it has taken a huge toll on infrastructure, economic growth, and individual communities as well.