Creating Jobs and Opportunities in Guatemala
When 17 Rotary clubs tackle poverty in one of Guatemala’s poorest regions, amazing things can happen.
The Rotary Club of Mission Viejo is among the clubs joining forces on “Thrive at Home: Keeping Families Together Through Living-Wage Employment,” a Rotary Global Grant serving Indigenous communities in the remote western highlands of Guatemala. The $362,000 initiative aims to create jobs, boost local economies and help families stay together among Guatemala’s Mam people, descendants of the ancient Maya.
The goal is ambitious: Create 500 living-wage jobs over the next three years, initially benefiting about 2,500 people. Over five years, the project hopes to generate 2,000 jobs and expand affordable healthcare access to 10,000 people.
Earning Money from Existing Skills
The need is equally big. More than 35,000 Indigenous Mam people live across 62 villages in the region, where project organizers say nearly 80% of adults are unemployed or underemployed. The lack of economic opportunity has contributed to malnutrition, illiteracy and limited access to basic services, while prompting many young people to leave home in search of work.
Guatemala Thrive offers mentoring and microloans to young entrepreneurs, professional training for in-demand jobs and assistance to local farmers looking to make their operations more profitable. The program also teaches basic computer skills and helps residents generate income from existing skills like weaving and garment-making.
Since the August 1 launch, the team has hired a small-business development coordinator and agricultural consultants, identified dozens of internship opportunities and selected 30 families for an in-home food-production project.
Rotarians have also visited a successful cooperative in El Salvador to explore ideas for future growth.
The Mission Viejo Connection
For Jay Minor, president of the Rotary Club of Mission Viejo, the project hits close to home. He spent 25 years as a pastor overseeing benevolent efforts in Central America.
“I know how rare it is to find an organization that pairs real compassion with this kind of creative, sustainable problem-solving,” Jay said. “We’re so proud to support the team at Thrive!”
For the Mission Viejo Rotarians involved, it’s a pretty good example of the organization’s motto: Service Above Self.
