By Alexander Castillo / Translated by Emma Porter This article analyzes the crucial role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and migration in the Guatemalan economy. Based on current data, more than 90% of the businesses in the country are small or medium-sized and that remittances represents about 20% of the GDP. Nevertheless, 70% of… Continue reading SMEs, Migration, and the Challenge of Informality in Guatemala: An Economy that Resists from Below
Tag: youth
The Courage to Choose Our Dreams
By Teresa Lucas /Translated by Jonathan Lott There are terms in economics and finance that, although technical, hold profoundly human truths. One of them is opportunity cost. This concept refers to everything we give up doing, receiving, or enjoying when we make a certain decision. In other words, every time we choose one path, we… Continue reading The Courage to Choose Our Dreams
Young People Raise their Voices to Promote Inclusion and Citizen Participation
BY LUISA RUANO / TRASLATED JON LOTT In Guatemala, young people between 13 and 30 years old represent more than a third of the population (35.6%), with those over 18 years old making up the majority of the youth population (61.9%), according to the United Nations Population Fund. Currently, young people face several challenges to… Continue reading Young People Raise their Voices to Promote Inclusion and Citizen Participation
SERES: Inspiring a new generation of leaders
BY LUCÍA SOLORZANO/TRANSLATED BY GEOFF WATSON By 2022, the population aged between 10 and 29 comprised 39.6% of the population in Guatemala, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Being the vast majority, it is necessary to pay attention to achieve comprehensive development. Several organizations work in the country, with different approaches, to address… Continue reading SERES: Inspiring a new generation of leaders
Wacha: outstanding singer
POR PATRICIA MIRALBÉS TRANSLATED BY EMMA PORTER He’s not a morning person due to the frequent bouts of insomnia he often suffers from. His day starts late, and the first thing he does upon waking up is drink a cup of black coffee since, as he says, a good day is always accompanied by a… Continue reading Wacha: outstanding singer
Thinking and feeling the return to our lands
BY Anny. V, Lilia. P, Radio. M, Erick. H, Karolina. L, Esther. G, Helem. A, Andréa. I. TRANSLATED BY THOMAS LANG Borders have been imposed. People return to the earth through the spirituality of plants and animals, tracing ancestral paths. Our paths, like those of indigenous peoples, come from generations ago. We are the continuity… Continue reading Thinking and feeling the return to our lands
The reality of indigenous youths in Guatemala
BY GERARDO GUARQUEZ TRANSLATED BY THOMAS LANG Studies on Guatemala’s youth are a relatively recent phenomenon, beginning after the democratization of the State in the mid ‘80s. With the Peace Accords in the late ‘90s, conditions arose favoring the epistemological study of young people. In the beginning, “youth” was seen as a homogenous, unidimensional group: urban youth… Continue reading The reality of indigenous youths in Guatemala
STRENGTHENING LEADERSHIP AND EMPOWERING YOUTH | The Work of the Mojomayas in Alta Verapaz and Quiche Departments
The Mojomaya are a group of young adults who make up part of the National Organization of Guatemalan widows–CONAVIGUA. It is a social group of young indigenous people who make an impact locally, nationally and regionally in defense of individual and group rights of indigenous peoples, i.e. for girls, boys, teens, women, men and young… Continue reading STRENGTHENING LEADERSHIP AND EMPOWERING YOUTH | The Work of the Mojomayas in Alta Verapaz and Quiche Departments
Preparing to be Leaders and Professionals with a Purpose
By María Aguja Maulhardt In my years as a young person, I have seen how the media has captured the minds of our youth, limiting their creative capacities and conditioning them to follow the masses and not speak independently, which is sad. I have seen parents working and making an effort to provide their children… Continue reading Preparing to be Leaders and Professionals with a Purpose
Causes and effects of Guatemala’s poor education system
Young people could make a lot of change. Why aren’t they? A young teacher explains the precarious situation of the Guatemalan education system. By Glenda Marisol Xulú – Primary school teacher and bilingual and intercultural education specialist. In Guatemala around 70% of the population is under 30 years old. This means that there is a… Continue reading Causes and effects of Guatemala’s poor education system