Of the approximately 16 million inhabitants in Guatemala, more than 33 percent are between 13 and 29 years old. Of these, 54 percent live in poverty. Unemployment, lack of prospects and violence shape the lives of many young people. Their active participation in society is low.
Together with our partner organizations, we support young people in demanding their rights and in standing up for their interests. We train youth representatives, strengthen youth organizations and provide information on safe migration.
Central America • Guatemala • Honduras
Education and solidarity for safe migration in Honduras and Guatemala
Every hour, 8 Hondurans flee the country in search of a better future. In 2022, more than 30,000 people were deported to Honduras from the US.
OCDIH seeks to reduce the negative effects of migration in Honduras with education on rights and safe migration routes. In cooperation with ACOMUMSAM in northern Guatemala, volunteer families offer refuge to those who undertake this dangerous journey.
The Municipal District of Ixcán in Guatemala is inhabited mostly by indigenous peoples and is characterized by high rates of both moderate and extreme poverty. For many of its residents, migration is the only solution.
Since 2013, we have been working together with ACCSS in the care of migrants and returnees in Ixcán, and in the promotion of alternatives to migration. This project will end in 2024.
Strengthening rights for a population marked by emigration
Each day, many inhabitants of Chimaltenango and Huehuetenango leave their place of origin in search of better prospects, venturing to one of the most dangerous routes in the world to Mexico or the United States.
Together with ECAP, we work in the promotion of rights and the empowerment of its inhabitants to change a reality that has been going on for more than 50 years.
INCLUSIVE DISASTER PREVENTION MANAGEMENT IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Due to their geographical location, the inhabitants of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua are at constant risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and droughts. In this context, people with disabilities are one of the least visible and most vulnerable social groups in terms of possible evacuation and disaster prevention plans.
Together with the German organizations ASB - Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund and CBM - Christoffel Blindenmission, we work to strengthen institutional and community response capacity through effective prevention activities to protect people with disabilities.
In Guatemala, together with our partner organisation ACCSS, we educate potential migrants about safe migration, provide psychosocial support for family members and returnees, and work with youth organisations to promote alternatives to labour migration.
Every day, 350 Guatemalans go on one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world to Mexico or the USA. Together with its project partner ECAP, AWO International explains the migration routes and rights of migrants and provides psychosocial support for returnees and family members in their communities of origin.
People with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to extreme natural events - especially children and young people are defenceless against the consequences of a natural disaster. AWO International, in cooperation with the ACOPEDIS network and its member organizations, is supporting a project for inclusive disaster prevention in Guatemala.
On 3 June 2018, the Fuego volcano erupted in Guatemala. According to official figures, 178 people died and 250 are still missing. Together with our partner organisation ECAP, we continue to support those affected on the ground even after the emergency aid has ended.
AWO International e.V. uses cookies to ensure the smooth functioning of our platform (technically necessary cookies). In addition, we ask for your consent to the use of cookies for analysis purposes and improvement of the platform (statistical cookies).