The community served by this project is the mostly Maya indigenous community in the cantons surrounding Concepción Chiquirichapa in the Mam speaking area of the western highlands of Guatemala, a population of about 50,000. (Area Maps)   This area suffered greatly during the 36-year civil war that ended in 1996, and has never fully recovered.  The whole social fabric was disrupted and entire communities still suffer from the trauma of the violence.  Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in the western Hemisphere with one half the population living below the poverty level and nearly 50% of children under the age of five suffering from growth stunting malnutrition.  Life expectancy is one of the lowest in the region.  This poverty is concentrated in the rural areas occupied by indigenous people. There the percentages are much higher than the national average. 87% of Maya women are illiterate. Only 1% have attended secondary school, although universal primary education is now the norm.

The primary income is derived from weaving and agriculture.  Girls and women weave on back-strap looms the intricate patterns that have been passed down for generations and indicate the area in which they live.  Men and boys work on large farms owned by agribusinesses that raise food for export. The poorer land is left for subsistence farming for the local consumption.  Synthetic fertilizers have been introduced. Pesticides are used widely to the detriment of the health of the people and the land.  Protective clothing is not provided and directions for safe use, if available, cannot be read. Young boys can be seen walking through the streets with dripping pesticide cans on their backs.  Backbreaking work, heavy pesticide use, air pollution, and malnutrition contribute to high infant mortality and morbidity and low life expectancy  in the region.
Since the Peace Accords ending the war in 1996 little has been done to restore confidence, safety or hope for the Mayan population.  Health and education reforms have not been forthcoming.  Maternal and infant mortality rates are still among the highest in central and Latin America. 

While health care is available through the Ministry of Health and “Centros de Salud” it has often not been offered in linguistically and culturally appropriate ways.  There has been no attempt to integrate the highly developed traditional healing practices and herbal medicine into the care provided. The Peace Accords concerning the identity of indigenous people and the rights of women have not yet been implemented.
 

The medical care that does exist costs so much it is out of the reach of most of the population.    The nearest public hospital is 30 minutes away in Quetzaltenango. Beyond cost, people fear the treatment they receive in the hospital especially around childbirth and being in a situation where it is impossible to communicate because of language. Basically, lack of transport, distance from the hospital, reluctance to go to the hospital, and lack of trained and/or well equipped local providers are significant factors in the high maternal and infant mortality rates.

Learn more history