Over the past 4 years, ACD Guatemala has built strong connections with children, parents, and community leaders in the Pacaja community of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. We’ve supported year-round up to 100 kids, and their families, with educational, emotional, and spiritual support, with the goal to reduce the trend of irregular migration and involvement in criminal or gang activities. In the larger community, our medical clinic, migration education, efficient wood-burning stove installations, and water purification outreaches with hundreds of people has demonstrated our commitment to walk alongside our community to discover a new path of life and to pursue new opportunities in the face of economic and social hurdles. As families have shared their stories, we’ve come to know more and more the challenges they face, but also witnessed great resilience and determination. As we continue to journey TOGETHER with our community, we continue to create and implement new development strategies and outreach. The arrival of COVID-19 changed many dynamics around the world, including making the daily challenges of our families even more difficult. 3 out of 4 families have been unable to work or earn much money for over 3 months due to restrictions which have closed businesses, shut down schools, and led to increased violence and abuse at home. While we celebrate that Guatemala saw a slow growth in infections and deaths, numbers have recently increased, even with the restrictions in place. The toll on families and their ability to pay bills and put food on the table has been extensive. Only very limited local and national support have addressed basic needs, and some promises of help have been slow to materialize. While ACD’s facility has been closed since early March, we are continuing to stay in contact with families and community leaders, supporting kids in continuing their education, and delivering medicines to our diabetic and hypertensive patients. Our new outreach the past 2 months has been to PROVIDE SUSTAINING FOOD BAGS to some of our most vulnerable community members: SINGLE PARENTS and THEIR KIDS, OLDER ADULTS, and FAMILIES UNABLE TO WORK.
