Why Guatemala?
The natural beauty of the land and the vibrant indigenous communities and historic culture stand in contrast to the widespread poverty suffered by much of its population, especially indigenous communities. Poverty in Guatemala is far below what we would consider Poverty in the United States, with families often living in dirt floor shacks with no access to water or opportunities to change their situation. It is estimated that estimated 49 percent of indigenous children suffering from chronic malnutrition.
With rural families sometimes making less than $2 a day, many Guatemalan families struggle to provide the basic needs of their families and commonly cannot afford the expenses associated with school. Lack of access to education further diminishes opportunities for children to move up and out of poverty. Thus, the cycle continues. The lack of access to clean water results in intestinal diseases that contribute to the rampant malnutrition and the inability of children to focus on school and succeed in their studies. Guatemala continues to struggle with hte discrimination of indigenous peoples even though the civil war ended in 1996. There is an ongoing lack of social and educational support, especially in the rural areas, and this results in a lack of opportunities for jobs beyond the extremely poorly paid field work.
The natural beauty of the land and the vibrant indigenous communities and historic culture stand in contrast to the widespread poverty suffered by much of its population, especially indigenous communities. Poverty in Guatemala is far below what we would consider Poverty in the United States, with families often living in dirt floor shacks with no access to water or opportunities to change their situation. It is estimated that estimated 49 percent of indigenous children suffering from chronic malnutrition.
With rural families sometimes making less than $2 a day, many Guatemalan families struggle to provide the basic needs of their families and commonly cannot afford the expenses associated with school. Lack of access to education further diminishes opportunities for children to move up and out of poverty. Thus, the cycle continues. The lack of access to clean water results in intestinal diseases that contribute to the rampant malnutrition and the inability of children to focus on school and succeed in their studies. Guatemala continues to struggle with hte discrimination of indigenous peoples even though the civil war ended in 1996. There is an ongoing lack of social and educational support, especially in the rural areas, and this results in a lack of opportunities for jobs beyond the extremely poorly paid field work.
Why Donate through the Guatemala Aid Fund?
If you are like us at the 100% Volunteer GAF Organization, we feel that we have been blessed with a life that includes a home, access to school, clean water and opportunities for work and a self supporting future. We have seen firsthand in Guatemala that most if not all of these things are out of reach for much of the indigenous and general population in Guatemala. Being one of the poorest countries in the Americas, with severe malnutrition of the indigenous children and minimal opportunities for education and employment, Guatemalans are fleeing their country. Most do NOT want to leave their families, and the land they love, but they do not have free high school, or meal support or food stamps, and many cannot provide adequately for themselves or their families. They want an education, they want jobs, they want to stay. We at GAF have chosen to support the Guatemalan fun Associtation to Eradicate Poverty and the Fatima Children's Home child protection, education, and family support and outreach programs. Their incredible programs incorporate counseling, job training, education and medical support for parents as well as children with amazing success at breaking age old cycles of poverty. Not only to they provide care when needed for abused and abandoned children until they can be reunified with family or adopted, they are committed to supporting long term education for children and family strengthening to keep families together in the rural areas where many children in their care come from. They invest in not only the child's basic needs, but also include psychological and medical support, extended family support and parental training courses. The Sololá Community Center project includes an organic farm, cultural-social tourism trips for sustainable income sources, as well as a plan to purchase and preserve native land including two indigenous religious ceremonial sites, native wildlife and forest habitat. We look at your donations as investments in futures for Guatemalans, as well as protection of their land, culture and people. Just like a scholarship you are passing your great fortune on to others that need funding to help secure a future in their own country. See the multi-phase project and existing successful programs on our webpage www.guatemalaaidfund.org
Thank you for considering these Guatemalan Run programs for your Charitable Giving!
Thank you for considering these Guatemalan Run programs for your Charitable Giving!
