Transforming Lives in Guatemala

Guatemala is a beautiful country decorated with mountain peaks, rivers, valleys, volcanoes, beaches and jungles. It is also home to some of the greatest poverty in the world, one of the poorest countries in our hemisphere.  Due to chronic malnutrition and poor health conditions, Guatemala’s children suffer from the third worst childhood growth rate in the world behind Bangladesh and Yemen.

More than half of the population is less than 18 years old.  Nearly 45% of the population is under 14 years old.  In this difficult environment 75% of its people live below the poverty line, many in extreme poverty – a poverty level we find difficult to envision or understand.

With the help of people like you, the future for the children of Guatemala can be brighter and filled with hope and of possibility.

Guatemala is located in Central America. Its borders are shared by Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. The country covers an area slightly smaller than the state of Tennessee.  It’s located in the Central Time Zone.  A number of airlines including Delta Airlines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines fly from the United States into a newly modernized airport in Guatemala City.
Guatemala maintains a tropical climate and is called the “Land of Eternal Spring.” Average year-round temperatures run 75 degrees during the day and 50-60 at night. June through October is the rainy season, while November through May sees the drier conditions.

The country’s population exceeds 14 million, with approximately 4-5 million people living in Guatemala City. An overwhelming majority of the country’s population lives in chronic poverty.  There are very few government-provided services.  The primary language is Spanish, with up to 44 indigenous languages spoken in the remote and rural areas of the country.  English is taught at Shalom School as a required subject for all students.

Guatemala’s culture is a unique product of ancient tribal influence and strong Spanish colonial heritage. Unlike many Latin American countries, Guatemala still has a large indigenous population. Deeply rooted in the rural highlands of Guatemala, many indigenous people speak a Mayan language, follow traditional religious and village customs, and continue a rich tradition in textiles and other crafts. The two cultures have made a complex society that is deeply divided between rich and poor.

The educational system is severely under-funded and lacks enough schools, teachers, buses, desks to serve the children of the country, especially the poor.  Tens of thousands of children have no opportunity to regularly attend school in Guatemala. The school year begins January 15 and ends October 15. School encompasses pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. Graduation occurs each year in November. Students passing their final exams move up to the next grade level. Many families hope for scholarships to private educational institutions like Shalom School.

The political system is operated under a democratic constitutional government. President Alvaro Colom, elected by the people, began his presidency January 15, 2008 and will be president for 4 years. The vice president, Rafael Espada, is a well known heart surgeon who practiced medicine in the United States for many years.

The standard Guatemalan currency is the quetzal. The exchange rate is approximately 7.64: 100 USD = 764 GTQ.  Therefore, $10 US currency is equal to approximately $76.4 quetzals.

Facts About Guatemala

Guatemala is a beautiful country decorated with mountain peaks, rivers, valleys, volcanoes, beaches and jungles but the majority of people live in abject poverty. The country and its people have survived decades of turmoil, of civil war and natural disasters. However, with the help of organizations like Shalom and people like you, the future for the children and people of Guatemala are given hope.

Why Guatemala:

1. Half of the population is under 18 years old.  It is a country of children.
2. 75% of the people live below the poverty line — hundreds of thousands in extreme poverty
3. Due to chronic malnutrition, disease and severe lack of medical services, Guatemala holds the third highest stunting rate in the world.
4. 59% of the population lack access to any healthcare services.
5. Guatemala has the highest child mortality rate in Central America.

Location: Guatemala is located in Central America. Its borders are shared by Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. The country is approximately the size of Tennessee. It is located in the Central Time Zone.  A number of airlines including Delta Airlines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines fly from the United States into a newly modernized airport in Guatemala City.

People: Guatemala’s population is 14.2 million, with approximately 4-5 million living in Guatemala City. An amazing majority of the country’s population is under the age of 18. A great number of these young adults and children struggle in extreme poverty with few government-provided services.  The primary language is Spanish, with up to 44 indigenous languages spoken in the remote and rural areas of the country.

Culture: Guatemala’s culture is a unique product of ancient tribal influence and strong Spanish colonial heritage. Guatemala still has a large indigenous population. Deeply rooted in the rural highlands of Guatemala, many indigenous people speak a Mayan language, follow traditional religious and village customs, and continue a rich tradition in textiles and other crafts. The two cultures have made a complex society that is deeply divided between rich and poor. This division has produced much of the tension that has marked history.

Weather: Guatemala maintains a tropical climate. Year-round temperatures average 75 degrees during the day and 50-60 at night. The rainy season is June through October while November through May sees drier conditions.

Government: The political system is operated under a democratic constitutional government. President Alvaro Colom, elected by the people, began his presidency January 15, 2008 and will serve as president for 4 years. The vice president, Rafael Espada, is a well known heart surgeon who practiced medicine in the United States for many years.

Currency: Guatemala’s currency is the quetzal.

Educational System: Public schools are available, but severely lack resources. The school year begins January 15 and ends October 15. School encompasses pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. Graduation occurs each year in November.