Dear John,

Health Poverty Action has been working with communities in Guatemala since 1995. In a new article published on our website, our team in Guatemala tell us about their country, the challenges that people face and the ways we are contributing to improving lives. Below, we share a few highlights from that conversation.

In a world where charity fundraising appeals and sensationalist media reports often shape people’s views of Africa, Asia and Latin America, we feel it is important to present a more rounded view of the countries where we work. Over the coming months, we will be asking our local teams to tell us more about their home countries.

As well-respected members of the communities we work with in Guatemala, our team was eager to provide some insight into the country, their communities and our work.

Teresa Fuentes, our National Administrator in Guatemala, tells us: “Guatemala is a very touristic, beautiful country with lots of interesting places to visit and plenty of Indigenous Maya communities [primarily consisting of the K’iche’ and Mam peoples]. People are warm and friendly to visitors, especially when they want to visit places like Tikal [the ruins of an ancient Maya city].

Olga de León, one of our former K’iche’ Community Facilitators, shares a little more about the country, its people and their history: “Guatemala is known as the ‘Country of Eternal Spring’. Historically, the population belonged to the Maya culture, great astronomers and mathematicians. In the sixteenth century, the Spanish invaded, and stole our country’s wealth. Since then, we have been divided, and the indigenous population discriminated against by the Mestizo (mixed) population.”

The conversation settles on the country’s geography and its significance to people’s livelihoods, with Olga explaining: “Climate depends on region, with lowlands very hot, including jungle, and highlands, where HPA works, very cold. Our communities are in the west of the country, and largely Maya K’iche’ and Maya Mam. The majority are subsistence farmers, with most producing maize and black beans.

Expanding further, Teresa tells us: “The coast is more industrialised, there are more big landowners and higher rainfall. Crops grown include bananas, mango, cacao, pineapple, rubber, coffee, cotton, sesame, cardamom and sugar cane.

Traditionally, people migrate from the highlands to the coast at harvest time, often with their whole families. This is less common now, as coffee and cardamom prices have fallen in recent years.”

As the team begins to discuss the impact of the initiatives they support, Consuelo, our previous Project Coordinator, explains: “By working with Ministry of Health staff we’ve been able to ensure that Indigenous Maya people receive respectful, culturally appropriate healthcare.

Together, we’ve improved access to antenatal services for pregnant women and now see them engaging more readily with health facilities. Also, health workers now cooperate with Traditional Birth Attendants from Indigenous Maya communities. Maternal mortality rates are steadily decreasing.”

Lastly, Administrative Assistant Clara Ambrocio, adds: “We are truly grateful to all our supporters for helping us undertake this important work.”

Alongside health workers, community leaders and activists, Health Poverty Action is helping people find ways to address critical issues such maternal and child health, poor nutrition, ethnic discrimination and the marginalisation of women. 

Over the coming weeks and months, we will be sharing more about the exciting work we are doing along with our partners in Guatemala to help people build healthier, more prosperous communities. 

You can read the full version of this article here. 

Please give whatever you can to our Guatemala in Focus appeal and support these kinds of initiatives globally.

Warm regards,

Siaffa Bunduka,

Supporter Engagement Manager