ActionAid began operating in Guatemala in 1996, at the end of a three decade civil war. Our projects help indigenous people access essential services, such as health and education.

Guatemala is one of the ten poorest countries in Latin America, with more than half of people there living below the poverty line. Communities and families are working hard to rebuild their country after the civil war.

Child sponsorship in Guatemala

Lucrecia Floricelda Xol Tox (aged 6, pictured right), or 'Lucky' as she is affectionately known, is sponsored through ActionAid. The money from her sponsorship is helping to fund projects like Education For All and Youth Leadership programmes so she, and children like her, can look forward to developing their communities together.

In Guatemala illiteracy, infant mortality and malnutrition are among the highest in the Americas. Life expectancy is among the lowest and the country is one of the most violent in the Americas. That's why we're also supporting Guatemalans to reform their education system and develop a peasants' movement so they have more of a voice in the decisions that affect them.

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Equality and development in Guatemala

We lobby the government and other decision-makers for changes to the policies and practices that affect Mayan life. And we work through local organisations to ensure that change is appropriate and long lasting. Key focus areas are health, education, water and livelihoods. An important element of every project is helping communities to organise groups and to plan and implement their own development projects.

Guatemala is emerging from many years of civil war in which thousands of people lost their lives, and schools, health facilities, homes and entire communities were destroyed. Peace accords signed at the end of 1996 paved the way for a more peaceful, democratic and just society which recognises the basic rights of the majority of the population - the indigenous people, who are the poorest in the country.

How you can help

When you sponsor a child in Guatemala, you'll be providing the resources for real, long-term change. You'll get two letters a year from the child you sponsor, and updates from the country programme to tell you how the money you are spending is changing the community your child lives in.

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