Tearfund has been working in Guatemala since 1976, when the country was hit by a devastating earthquake which killed an estimated 23,000 people and left thousands homeless. We are currently supporting three organisations which are developing community health programmes among marginalised indigenous villages in the mountainous centre of the country.
With a vision to be instruments of God in the ‘integral transformation’ of Guatemala’s poorest people, AMI (Acción Médica Integral) San Lucas is empowering and building the confidence of communities to improve their circumstances and local environments through initiatives in the areas of community health, disaster risk reduction and protection of children at high risk.
Aiming to promote organisation and solidarity among Mayan indigenous communities, Asociación Vida runs sexual education, HIV, community health and medical aid programmes. Tearfund supports its church mobilisation and advocacy work in such areas as raising indigenous people’s access to healthcare and addressing corruption in hospitals, where medicines are often in short supply.
Meanwhile, Centro Nehemías provides pastoral and leadership training in integral mission. The training includes elements not usually featured in theological seminars, such as the biblical mandate for churches to transform their communities and tackle social, political and environmental problems as part of their service to God.
Please pray:
- for people living in poverty in Guatemala.
- for our Guatemalan partners as they seek to help others.
- for Guatemala: for justice, peace, good health and hope for everyone.