San Bartolo Area Program

Program Type

Community Development

Planned Life Cycle

2013 - 2028

Location

Guatemala

Areas of Focus

WASH  | Livelihoods 

Program Timeline

Status: Active

Progress

2,680community members, including children, were trained in disaster risk reduction strategies

Progress

2,300children attended in-school or after-school literacy activities

Progress

1,999people know key child protection risks and how to properly respond or find support

A white jeep driving through a muddy path, featuring a rainbow and trees in the background.

Program Details

Context
Challenges
Education
Far too many children do not get a basic education, and the challenge begins in the earliest years. Few parents know how to stimulate their children to help them develop their physical, mental, and social skills. Some parents can't see the value of early education. In fact, less than 25% of children attend pre-school.

Due to these factors, children begin school without the preparation they need to start formal learning. They struggle academically, and grade repetition is common. 25% of primary school age children are not registered in school.

As children grow older, it becomes even easier to abandon their studies. Some families can't afford to send their children to school, while others do not see the value of education or are unable to give their children the support they need to stay enrolled. For some families to survive, it is necessary for the children to work, often in agriculture or as maids and street peddlers in the town.

There is little hope for these children's future. Without a primary education, boys can expect to be labourers, and girls will become domestic workers. Even for the few that complete middle school, there are few job opportunities. Out of options and out of work, youth spend much of their time on the streets.

Health Care
Children in this community suffer from recurrent bouts of diarrhea and respiratory infections. 98% of the water supplied to San Bartolo is contaminated. There is little sanitation infrastructure, and families lack knowledge about hygiene and safe water and food handling that could reduce the prevalence of diarrheal diseases. Houses that are often damp and do not offer enough protection from the elements, along with smoke inhalation from cooking indoors on an open coal fire, also leave children with respiratory diseases.

Two out of three children are chronically malnourished. For many, the deficiency begins before birth. Pregnant women seldom have enough food, and most do not get prenatal care. A malnourished mother gives birth to a malnourished child. Families do not earn enough to provide food year round. Many do not know the importance of balanced nutrition to the health and development of their children. Farmers do not grow enough, and their crops are traditional grains and beans, which make a diet lacking the nutrients of fruits, vegetables, and proteins.

Economic Development
Most families in San Bartolo simply do not earn enough to provide for their children. Traditional crops are yielding less and less as erosion and global warming continues to impact the environment. Farmers do not have knowledge of agricultural practices that can improve production. For poor families in the town areas, the story is no different. They earn little doing unskilled work, and there are few opportunities for better jobs. Unemployment and underemployment are rampant in both areas.
...
Plans

Education
To ensure children can access and benefit from quality education, World Vision will assist the community to:

  • Helping parents understand the importance of education for their children's future, and the future of the community as a whole.
  • Establish early education centres in the communities, so children can get the stimuli and instruction they need to thrive.
  • Train teachers and guide mothers to operate the centres.
  • Start tutoring programs in primary school subjects to help students who are struggling academically.
  • Establish and equip play and learn corners in schools to better engage and motivate children.
  • Train children and youth in leadership, rights, and responsibilities, and help them to participate in community decision-making.


Health Care
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:

  • Select and train guide mothers in nutrition, hygiene, and other preventive care practices.
  • Work alongside guide mothers to help them pass on their knowledge to other mothers.
  • Help families establish family gardens and raise small animals so children can have a healthy diet.
  • Support pregnant mothers to get pre- and postnatal care, as well as improve their diet.
  • Help mothers see the importance of protecting children's health by breastfeeding, getting children immunized and dewormed, and taking micronutrient supplements.
  • Train health volunteers and mothers in the management of respiratory and diarrheal illnesses.


Economic Development
To ensure parents in San Bartolo can provide for their families, World Vision will partner with the community to:

  • Train families to manage their productive units.
  • Help improve families access to seed funding to start small businesses or improve existing production.
  • Provide training and technical assistance to small business owners.
  • Provide support and training to diversify production based on market needs, commercialize production, find new markets, and improve distribution networks.
  • Improve irrigation systems to increase agricultural production.
  • Organize and train community-based organizations to diagnose problems, formulate, implement, and monitor projects, as well as manage resources to improve the lives of children and families.
  • Train and empower community members and leaders to advocate for support for their community from the government, and participate in decision-making opportunities.
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An image of children sitting on the ground in a classroom, writing in workbooks.

Results

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2022 and September 2023, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.