Guatemala

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Sponsors have helped Guatemalan children since 1976, when Compassion teamed up with churches in Guatemala to fight poverty.

Central America

sports: soccer, futsal (like soccer with different rules)

foods: Kak'ik (a tomato-based stew), tostadas, chuchitos (small tamales)

celebrations: Semana Santa (Holy Week), Cobán Folkloric Festival, Christmas, Day of the Dead

was the main home of the ancient Mayan people

quetzal birds, tapirs, monkeys, ocelots, jaguars

Poverty Pitfalls


Giving birth is dangerous for women who can't afford doctors or medicine.	Compassion helps pregnant women give birth safely.
Babies who don't get enough healthy food can die before age 5.	Compassion gives vitamins, food and medicine to babies.
Many poor people have never learned to read and write.	Sponsored kids learn to read and write at their schools and Compassion centers.

Printable: Discover Guatemala Download Print

a little smaller than Pennsylvania

money: quetzal

has many volcanoes, mountains and beaches

The country's name comes from a Mayan word meaning "Land of Trees."

known for its delicious coffee, which is enjoyed around the world

Tourists love to visit Tikal, a city built by Maya up to 600 years before Christ's life on Earth.

home to the colorful quetzal bird, which the ancient Maya believed was a god

In February 2018, scientists used lasers to find more than 60,000 ancient Maya structures (homes, tombs, palaces) hidden under the jungle.

Stats	Guatemala	United States 🇺🇸
Population	17,980,803	339,665,118
People Living in Poverty	59.3%	15.1%
Languages	Spanish, Mayan languages like K'iche and Q'eqchi	English, Spanish, Chinese, other
Religions	Roman Catholic 41.7%, Evangelical 38.8%, none 13.8%, unspecified for other 5.7%	Protestant 46.5%, none/other 26.1%, Roman Catholic 20.8%, Jewish 1.9%, Mormon 1.6%, Muslim 0.9%, Jehovah’s Witness 0.8%, Buddhist 0.7%, Hindu 0.7%
Typical Family Income	$9,590 per year	$63,700 per year