Guatemala is one of the most unequal countries in the world, comparing the income share of the richest 20% to that of the poorest 20% of the population.
Indigenous groups such as the Maya Mam and Maya K’iche make up approximately 40% of the population and are among the most marginalised, both by endemic discrimination and by their rural location.
In the wake of Guatemala's devastating civil war, they face problems caused by chronic poverty, including unemployment and low income, which often leads children to work to help their families survive.
- Children aged 5 to 17 years make up 65% of Guatemala’s rural population
- A quarter of them (almost 1 million) work
- 42% of them are below the legal working age of 14
- They are exposed to health risks and miss out on vital education
Health Poverty Action aims to improve the life chances of working children in Guatemala by helping child workers access appropriate education, understand their health rights and have a voice in local public policy.
