International Projects

Project Partners: Guatemala

CURRENT PROJECTS

HURRICANE STAN RELIEF
PARTNER: AMMID (Association for Mayan Mam Research and Development) & CCDA (Comite Campesino del Altiplano) in Somola and San Marcos, Comitancillo department

Beneficiaries: 417 families who lost their homes are direct beneficiaries (between Guatemala and El Salvador)

The project works with families who lost their homes and their crops in Hurricane Stan and who have since been living in emergency relief camps. The project works to provide medium term relief in the form of support for the re-initiation of agricultural production, income generation for women (purchase and distribution of traditionally woven clothing), repairs to water systems and purchase and distribution of tools and materials for home repair and reconstruction as well as basic human needs (food, water, clothing and shelter).

BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION IN COMITANCILLO, GUATEMALA
Partners: The Association of Mayan-Mam Research and Development (AMMID)

AMMID was founded in 1992 and runs programming in four areas: agroecology, women’s programs, health, and education. The organization functions as a centre for training, research, and community programs to promote development of the municipality of Comitanciallo, San Marcos. In the community of La Vega in the Comitancillo area of Guatemala’s western highlands – home to the Maya Mam indigenous people- only three out of every ten children have access to formal education. The children that have the opportunity to attend classes struggle with a curriculum that excludes their indigenous culture and language.

CFCA has been working with AMMID for approximately 10 years, supporting their work with indigenous communities (and women and children in particular) in Comitancillo.

Two schools have been built so far, a third has just been approved by Wild Rose Foundation. The schools in Comitancillo are built in communities that do not have their own school (or, since Hurricane Stan, where the schools have been destroyed). They enable children who were previously walking great distances to attend school or who were simply not attending to go to school in their communities. They are 4 classroom schools where instruction is offered in Spanish as well as in the local indigenous language. The indigenous communities of Comitancillo have low levels of literacy and high rates of school drop out, therefore, offering schooling within their communities and in their own language is important to addressing the educational needs of these communities.

PAST PROJECTS

IMPROVEMENT OF TEXTILE PRODUCTION IN COMITANCILLO, GUATEMALA

This project supported five women’s groups (over 100 women) to expand their productive capacity in traditional Guatemalan textiles and in the marketing of these products. The project provided funds for the purchase of machinery, the construction of the production center and training. Over one hundred women and young girls were provided with a vocation and subsequent stable income as a result of this project. Change for Children recognizes CIDA for their support of this project.