Indigenous girls in Guatemala work to break the cycle of poverty

Guatemala’s population is one of the youngest, fastest-growing and least educated in Latin America. More than 2 million children in Guatemala do not attend school. Most of them are indigenous girls living in rural areas. Nearly half of the Guatemalan population is indigenous, and more than 20 Mayan groups live in isolated rural areas with limited access to basic services.

Many indigenous girls rarely leave their homes and have almost no contact with the world outside their houses or villages. The isolation, extreme poverty, lack of education and social marginalization makes many indigenous girls effectively invisible.To break this cycle, UNFPA and the Population Council, in collaboration with local and international partners, launched Abriendo Oportunidades in 2004.

Through community-based girls’ clubs, the programme helps girls aged 8 to 18 navigate adolescent transitions. Safe spaces were created in rural communities, where girls and their mothers can come together to gain important life skills.

Sessions cover improving self-esteem, developing aspirations, planning for the future, learning about sexual and reproductive health, and learning how to prevent HIV/AIDS. The clubs, which are run by the girls themselves, also help members develop leadership skills.

The Guatemalan Indigenous Girls Resource and Empowerment Network (GIGREN) was established to serve as a platform for indigenous girls to advocate for their needs and rights at the community and national level.Most of the girl leaders in the programme return to school and extend their educational goals, guiding them to safe and healthy livelihood options. And as the girls learn new skills, their families and communities are strengthened.The programme has reached more than 9,000 indigenous girls in seven Mayan ethnic groups across 40 rural communities – and it continues to expand.

For more information: http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/16944

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