Margarita lives with her family in a one-roomed house made of planks and with a palm roof. She is 11 years old and shares the house with her parents and three siblings. The house is primitive, with hammocks or mats on the floor for beds and with no lavatory or running water.
Margarita attends the local school, where she is learning to read and write in Spanish. However, the schooled is staffed by unqualified teachers and the school buildings and equipment are inadequate. There is a very high drop-out rate amongst its scholars; only 68% of Guatamalan children attend school and, of these, only 15% actually complete their education. It is hoped that with the sponsorship Margarita is now receiving, that she will be able to complete her education and look forward to a brighter future.
Guatamala is the third largest country in Central America and is also one of the poorest. Although the country is now at peace, the 36 years of civil war which ended in 1996 have left a terrible legacy of poverty and destruction. Over 50% of the population of Guatamala are living in poverty. The country’s economy depends on agriculture, but most families do not have enough land to sustain them. Infant mortality is high and life expectancy is almost 20% lower than in the UK. 10% of children suffer from malnutrition and 6% of children die before the age of five.
ActionAid is working with local people to bring better healthcare and education to the people of Guatamala, with the hope that this will lead to significant improvements in their everyday lives and provide a positive foundation for the future. |
