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Guatemala
FH Canada walks with a community for 10 years on their unique journey from stuck to thriving. Sometimes they graduate early! Other times, however, it becomes necessary to extend a graduation date to ensure the self-sustainability of the community. This has become the case for three partner communities in Guatemala. To provide time for leaders to meet their community goals, overcome unforeseen disasters like hurricanes Eta and Iota, and grapple with catastrophes like the COVID-19 global pandemic, FH has committed a few extra years to support our friends as they courageously tackle unforeseen challenges and fight back poverty.
COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
Tucked away in the remote valleys of north-central and north-western Guatemala lies the region of Ixil, home to the highest indigenous population of Mayan origin. Preserving traditions that date back over a thousand years, this area is considered non-Hispanized.
Nebaj, Chajul, and San Juan Cotzal are three of the municipalities in the department of Quiché, spread over 2,314 square kilometres that make up an area known as Ixil. The people live in lush, tropical forests on the northern slope of the Cuchumatanes mountain range that runs across a large portion of Guatemala.
Here, a cluster of 12 FH Canada partner communities make their home. The Ixil families express their ancient culture through intricately woven clothing, love of traditional music, spicy foods laden with chiles, and various dialects of a distinct language, Ixil, that sounds completely different to the national language of Spanish. Traditional crops such as maize and beans dominate the agricultural landscape, however, without the incorporation of more vegetables many families experience chronic malnutrition. Access to basic services is limited and concentrated in the larger towns.
COMMUNITY GOALS
Food for the Hungry walks alongside communities and leaders in the beautiful Ixil region to help them overcome their challenges and establish sustainable thriving. Together, they annually create four primary goals to address their biggest obstacles. This year, their goals are:
Education: Improve the academic development opportunities of families
Health: Contribute to the recovery of the state of health and nutritional status of vulnerable groups
Livelihoods: Improve food security for the most vulnerable families and improve the economic security of families
Leadership Development: Involve leaders and communities in improving living conditions of families, children, and young people
WHERE RESOURCES GO
FH believes that communities know best where to focus their development efforts. Together with FH Guatemala staff, local leaders conduct an annual audit to determine where time, energy, and resources will be allocated. As a result, this pie chart shifts every year to respond to the community’s greatest needs!
*Pie chart represents the breakdown of Child Focused Community Transformation (CFCT) programming for Fiscal Year 2023 and excludes standalone projects
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