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Guatemala

We started working in Guatemala in 1999, helping the poorest children and families to overcome the impact of the country’s 36-year civil war. Our work in Guatemala focuses on the most vulnerable children and families.

Guatemala has the highest rate of chronic malnutrition in children in all of Latin America, affecting 46% of under-5s, rising to 68% in the Western Highlands where the population is predominantly Indigenous.

We’re helping families protect themselves against economic shocks and providing the tools and training they need for sustainable livelihoods. We’re improving understanding of healthy diets and working to prevent and treat malnutrition.

In education, we’re promoting early years education and supporting reading initiatives.

Guatemala is also vulnerable to natural disasters, such as storms, flooding, earthquakes and drought. We’re running disaster risk reduction programmes to help communities prepare for crises. And when emergencies do hit, we respond immediately with food, shelter, medical care and education.

Page last updated in January 2022.

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