Present-day Guatemala has its roots in the traditional Mayan Empire of Central America. More than 50 percent of the population is ethnically Indigenous, which means that the Mayan culture is still alive today.
For Guatemala, the road to independence and transparent democracy has not been without its fair share of problems. After ten years of successful social reforms and democracy, Guatemala fell into turmoil after a U.S.-backed coup in 1954. The civil war that ensued left 36 years of conflict and over 200,000 dead. Peace finally came in 1996 and Guatemala is making political strides to end the violence, corruption, and poverty that has so affected the lives of its people.
CRWRC has been working in Guatemala since 1976. Today, CRWRC works through the Presbyterian church in three regions: Kanjobal, Peten, and Kekchi. These programs are aimed at helping communities develop more productive and conservation-minded agriculture, preventative health care, and education. Through its work, CRWRC hopes to help a country with a troubled recent past and rich cultural heritage experience opportunities and hope through Christ.
Fast Facts
Population: 12,728,111 (July 2007 est.)
Area Comparative: slightly smaller than Tennessee
Literacy rate: 69.1%
Life expectancy: 69.69 years
Population below poverty line: 56.2% (2004 est.)
Gross Domestic Product per capita: $5,000 (2006 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Languages: Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)
(From the World Factbook. Click here for more information on Guatemala.)
Presbyterian Christian Service Committee of Kanjobal (Kanjobal)
CRWRC works with Kanjobal to address the needs of rural families living near the Mexico border on one of the most famous and highest chains of mountains in Guatemala, the Cuchumatanes. Kanjobal work with poor communities to help them improve their agricultural production, prevent childhood diseases, and increase adult literacy.
Kanjobal is well-known and respected by the people and government in the region. Thanks to CRWRC support, Kanjobal has helped people learn to conserve land, prevent erosion, and use appropriate fertilizers to grow and harvest land on the mountainside. They have also halted malnutrition in children, and have helped adults gain an elementary school level of education.
Presbyterian Christian Service Committee of Peten (Peten)
CRWRC works with Peten to address the needs of poor families in several counties in the Peten region. The region of Peten is frequently visited by tourists because it is home to the Mayan ruins of Tikal. Unfortunately, despite this rich history and attraction, many people of Peten live in poverty. This is due, in part, to hot weather that can hinder the growth of food crops.
Through the partner Peten, CRWRC is working on wholistic community development which includes agricultural training, preventative health programs for children, and adult education. By encouraging farmers to plant new crops that can withstand high heat, and by teaching nutrition, hygiene, and nutrition, communities in Peten are making great strides for the future.
Presbyterian Christian Service Committee of Kekchi
The region of Kekchi is in the northeastern part of the country. Because it is hard to access, the region has had a long history of being under-developed and abandoned by many government programs. As a result, it has the highest level of illiteracy in the country. Its people also live in poverty.
Through this partner, CRWRC is helping communities improve their agricultural production, prevent childhood disease, and increase adult education. Adult education programs start with basic literacy, but also include elementary, secondary, and diploma-level possibilities.
Hermandad Presbiteriana Maya (Mayan Presbyterian Brotherhood)
CRWRC completed a R&D program with Hermandad Presbiteriana Maya to develop gender equality within the indigenous presbyteries in the country. They hope to focus future attention on people infected with HIV/AIDS.
Vid & Pampanos (Vine & Branches)
Vid y Pampanos is the diaconal ministry of the Reformed Confessional Presbytery in the Quetzaltenango region.
CRWRC is helping Vid & Pompanos with their literacy work in four of the poorest rural communities of the region. In the next year they hope to also include preventive health and reproduction education.
Moises Colop (national)
Moisés Colop works fulltime in Guatemala. He is based in the city of Quetzaltenango, in the west of Guatemala. Moisés has been working with CRWRC since 1978, when he was hired to assist in the transition of CRWRC's earthquake recovery program to a more holistic development program. Since that time he has worked in a variety of roles. Most currently, he serves as CRWRC's Country Consultant for Guatemala. Moisés has formal training in education and theology, and is a pastor of the National Presbyterian Church of Guatemala. Because of this background, the programs in Guatelma are well-grounded with church ministry and the partner agencies have a healthy understanding of the importance of a Biblical worldview in all program areas.
EMAIL: moisescolop@yahoo.com
