Diana Pastor<\/b><\/p>\n
Manuel, 14, from Santa Maria Chiquimula used to work every day shining shoes in a park in Quetzaltenango.\u00a0 Evening came and with a lot of sacrifice, he searched for something to eat after a day in which earnings vs. efforts were unfair.\u00a0 His life was difficult before the pandemic, but when Covid-19 began, his income was reduced.\u00a0 Many no longer went out to work in person and others didn\u2019t want a shoe shine to avoid close contact and prevent infection.\u00a0 Manuel had to stay for a while in Santa Maria Chiquimula, because he could no longer afford to pay for the room he rented together with two other young people in Quetzaltenango.<\/span><\/p>\n By the end of the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, people knew that the economy for the working class was in trouble.\u00a0 The virus seriously impacted the community: many businesses recorded huge losses from temporary or permanent closures, numerous families incurred expenses for health emergencies or changes in their daily activities.\u00a0 Due to transportation restrictions, there were disruptions in the markets and in the supply of products, local shortages, and higher food prices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For people like Manuel, who work in the \u201cinformal\u201d sector, the situation was worse.\u00a0 With the drastic reduction in demand for his services, he quit shining shoes because it was no longer viable.\u00a0 He began selling face masks and it was better for him, but even still, it was difficult to survive because the cost of transportation and food was rising.\u00a0 In February of 2021, consumer prices reached the highest peak, but later, beginning in March, they started to decrease gradually.\u00a0 It seemed that the situation was returning to normal and the country started to breathe a bit easier, but no one imagined what would come a year later.<\/span><\/p>\n One afternoon in February 2022, Manuel stopped for a moment to watch television through a display case in an appliance store.\u00a0 He found out from the news about a war that had exploded between two distant countries.\u00a0 Neither Manuel nor many of us imagined the enormous importance of that war for our economy, not knowing the role that Russia as well as Ukraine have in the distribution of essential products.\u00a0 In the case of Ukraine: cereals (especially wheat), oil and metals.\u00a0 In the case of Russia: gas, fertilizers and petroleum.<\/span><\/p>\n Globalization would show us, (like a tsunami wave), how much our pockets would be affected.\u00a0 The price increase today is in almost everything; however, some of the most expensive products are fuel and food, especially corn, beans, oil and eggs.\u00a0 These are an important part of the basic diet of Guatemalans.<\/span><\/p>\n The Inflation or price increase from 2021 to 2022 in transportation rose by 11.5%, and with food, 10.65%.\u00a0 Comparing prices from 2021 with those of 2022 worldwide, the increase is 29.8%<\/span><\/p>\n Manuel struggles, without help from anyone, to survive and eat.\u00a0 Although the government promised to support families in need, the results from programs from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) are not very encouraging.\u00a0 The food provision program has been developed by 37.85%; the garden and agricultural promotion program has executed 27.82% of a budget and the food vulnerability assistance program reports progress of only 2.82%.\u00a0 Although the government subsidies for gas and gasoline have supported sectors of the population, these are unsustainable and temporary, and don\u2019t benefit those in extreme poverty, who usually cook with firewood and lack a vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n Under this inability of the government to support the poorest, there is an enormous risk of famine in already vulnerable regions, like Huehuetenango, Chiquimula, Alta Verapaz, Quich\u00e9 and Totonicap\u00e1n, where Manuel is from.\u00a0 While the interruptions in the supply chains of goods and raw materials continue, and political uncertainty worldwide because of the war continues, the threat approaches every day.\u00a0 Not only toward the poorest; but even toward those who had never considered living under poverty, but that now, are feeling closer and closer to it.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Diana Pastor Manuel, 14, from Santa Maria Chiquimula used to work every day shining shoes in a park in Quetzaltenango.\u00a0 Evening came and with a lot of sacrifice, he searched for something to eat after a day in which earnings vs. efforts were unfair.\u00a0 His life was difficult before the pandemic, but when Covid-19 began, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10120,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[425,426,410,453,457,424,422,438],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-action-en-2","category-corruption","category-economy","category-frontpage-en","category-migration-en","category-politics","category-women","category-youth"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/img_2354.jpg?fit=628%2C441&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7ljt7-2Dg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9024,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/environment\/megaprojects-en\/bicentennial-parks-culture-sport-and-recreation\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":10122,"position":0},"title":"Bicentennial Parks: Culture, sport, and recreation?","author":"EntreMundos","date":"1 septiembre, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By EntreMundos Badges, recognition plaques, promotional bracelets, decorative figures, stickers\u2026 these are just some of the costs planned or already spent by the Government of Guatemala through the Ministry for Culture and Sports, the Guatemalan Social Security Institution, and the Guatemalan Olympic Committee to celebrate the bicentennial of independence. However,\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00abCorruption\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"Corruption","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/category\/politics\/corruption\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bicentenario-de-guatemala-represion.jpg?fit=1200%2C927&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bicentenario-de-guatemala-represion.jpg?fit=1200%2C927&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bicentenario-de-guatemala-represion.jpg?fit=1200%2C927&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bicentenario-de-guatemala-represion.jpg?fit=1200%2C927&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bicentenario-de-guatemala-represion.jpg?fit=1200%2C927&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8159,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/culture\/los-altos-railway-the-altenses-dream-that-became-a-reality\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":10122,"position":1},"title":"\u201cLOS ALTOS RAILWAY\u201d The Altenses dream that became a reality","author":"Majo Recinos","date":"6 enero, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"For Christian D\u00edaz History\u00a0 In 1902 two major natural events happened in the City of Los Altos, the eruption of Santa Mar\u00eda Volcano(1) and the San Perfecto Earthquake that left the city with severe disasters and human and material losses.\u00a0 For that reason, in that city came up with an\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00abCulture\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/category\/culture\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ferrocarril-3.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ferrocarril-3.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ferrocarril-3.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ferrocarril-3.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5571,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/uncategorized\/obstacles-and-challenges-of-political-participation-of-women-in-guatemala\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":10122,"position":2},"title":"Obstacles and Challenges of Political Participation of Women in Guatemala","author":"EntreMundos","date":"29 mayo, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By: Mar\u00eda Recinos and Diana Pastor According to data from the National Registry of Persons in Guatemala (RENAP) in the year 2018,\u00a0women represented 49.94% of the 19,658,562 people living in Guatemala. However, this rate is not reflected in the number of women running for public office at the national, regional\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00abElections Guatemala\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"Elections Guatemala","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/tag\/elections-guatemala\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/10070963753_4a78c3fab8_o.jpg?fit=1200%2C924&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/10070963753_4a78c3fab8_o.jpg?fit=1200%2C924&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/10070963753_4a78c3fab8_o.jpg?fit=1200%2C924&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/10070963753_4a78c3fab8_o.jpg?fit=1200%2C924&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/10070963753_4a78c3fab8_o.jpg?fit=1200%2C924&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7710,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/environment\/health-and-nutrition-of-the-chorti-maya-people-and-the-imminent-threat-in-the-face-of-a-lack-of-water\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":10122,"position":3},"title":"Health and nutrition of the Ch\u2019orti\u2019 Maya people and the imminent threat in the face of a lack of water","author":"EntreMundos","date":"15 noviembre, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"By Norma Sancir \u201cWhen I was growing up with my mother and siblings, we would carry water in tecomates. Back then, the water was nice and healthy. The sources of water were very close to our homes.\u201d Francisco Ram\u00edrez, Ch\u2019orti\u2019 Maya Indigenous Authority from Olopa, Chiquimula. Guatemala is a pluricultural\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00abClimate Change\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"Climate Change","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/category\/environment\/climate-change\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/foto-portada-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/foto-portada-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/foto-portada-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/foto-portada-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/foto-portada-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9421,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/uncategorized\/in-our-20th-anniversary-meet-the-entremundos-team\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":10122,"position":4},"title":"In our 20th Anniversary, meet the EntreMundos team","author":"EntreMundos","date":"14 diciembre, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We would like to introduce you to each of the members of the EntreMundos family, their Yessica Pastor - Director Yessica has a degree in Local Environmental Management from the Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala and studied Regional Development at FLACSO. She has worked with development and human rights organizations\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00ab20 ANNIVERSARY OF ENTREMUNDOS\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"20 ANNIVERSARY OF ENTREMUNDOS","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/tag\/20-anniversary-of-entremundos\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/definitivo.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/definitivo.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/definitivo.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/definitivo.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/definitivo.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9033,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/politics\/changing-revolutionary-and-independent-faces\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":10122,"position":5},"title":"Changing revolutionary and independent faces","author":"EntreMundos","date":"31 julio, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By Diana Pastor Anyone who has gone through the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala -USAC-, knows that part of the philosophy is to share ideals of revolutionary times, sometimes romanticized. Several are the names that are exalted and remembered as martyrs or leaders, among them some Guatemalans (almost always\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00abFrontPage\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"FrontPage","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/category\/frontpage-en\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pag.-5-dibujo-por-eduardo-gularte.jpg?fit=808%2C963&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pag.-5-dibujo-por-eduardo-gularte.jpg?fit=808%2C963&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pag.-5-dibujo-por-eduardo-gularte.jpg?fit=808%2C963&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pag.-5-dibujo-por-eduardo-gularte.jpg?fit=808%2C963&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10122"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10123,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10122\/revisions\/10123"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}