GUATEMALA

HABAN, DANG
LATIZA, CYREL MALLIE
 GEOGRAPHY
• Guatemala, except for the coastal areas, is a
mountainous country of rolling hills, plateaus,
deep river valleys, and numerous volcanoes -
some active. 
• Despite Guatemala's tropical location, the
country's mountains alter the weather. While
parts of Guatemala have a climate typical of a
tropical country, other areas actually see
temperatures below freezing.
• Meteorologists divide the country into three
climate zones: tropical, temperate and cool.
• Guatemala essentially has only two distinct
seasons: a rainy season and a dry season. 
 PEOPLE
Guatemalans are people identified with Guatemala, a multiethnic country in
Central America. Guatemalans are mainly of Mestizos (mixed European and
Amerindian heritage), indigenous people or Amerindians and descendants from
European people.

In 2020, Guatemala’s population is estimated at 17,915,568 people at mid year

according to UN data. Guatemala population is equivalent to 0.23% of the total
world population.
 CULTURE & Religion
The culture of Guatemala reflects strong Mayan and Spanish influences and
continues to be defined as a contrast between poor Mayan villagers in the rural
highlands, and the urbanized and relatively wealthy mestizos population (known
in Guatemala as ladinos) who occupy the cities and surrounding agricultural
plains.

About seventy percent of the Guatemalan population is religious. When broken

down, it contains Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Mayan religions.
 GOVERNMENT
Politics of Guatemala takes place in a framework of a presidential 
representative democratic republic, where by the President of Guatemala is
both head of state, head of government, and of a multi-party system which is
elected to a single four-year term.

The President of Guatemala is Alejandro Giammattei,

since 14 January 2020.
 ECONOMY
The economy of Guatemala is a less-developed economy that is dependent
on traditional crops such as coffee, sugar, and bananas. 

Main industries in Guatemala include production of coffee; production of

textiles, paper industries, petroleum, pharmaceutical products, and rubber
processing; and tourism.

Guatemala is a strange choice for a “safe third country.” With an estimated

59 percent of its population living in poverty, it is one of the world's most
unequal countries.

Guatemala’s Currency: Guatemalan quetzal

 Issues and problems
•Public Security, Corruption, and Criminal Justice. Violence and extortion by
powerful criminal organizations remain serious problems in Guatemala.

•Accountability for Past Human Rights Violations

•Violence Against Journalists

•Children's Rights

•Sexual and Reproductive Health

•Poverty
 Poverty
The poverty rate in Guatemala is very high. According to the World Bank,
59.3 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. In addition, 23
percent live in extreme poverty. In fact, 79 percent of them live in poverty,
while 40 percent of them live in extreme poverty.

With the largest population in Central America, approximately 50% of all

children under 5 are chronically malnourished. Currently this is the worst
level of malnutrition in the Western Hemisphere. 

The causes for poverty in Guatemala include civil war, social inequality, and

forced labor. The civil war was fought between the Guatemalan government
and the indigenous people, who make up a large percent of the rural poor
living in the country.
 Cicm in guatemala
The first CICM missionaries arrived in Guatemala on April 13, 1955 and settled in
the parishes of Palin, Tiquisate, Puerto San José and La Democracia
(Department of Escuintla). Gradually more missionaries arrived which made it
possible that at the end of 1956, the Congregation accepted pastoral
responsibility for the total Department of Escuintla.

In 1958 the presence extended to Las Verapaces. Here, the missionaries

struggled to learn the Q´eqchi´ and the Poqomchi´ languages in order to
announce the Gospel to the inhabitants in their own language and encourage
them to live with pride their ethnic and cultural identity.

In 1961 the presence extended to the Department of Santa Rosa. In 1962 CICM
accepted the parish of El Buen Pastor  in Zona 12 of the Capital City.
 Cicm Missions in guatemala
The presence in the Capital City was extended to marginal areas, inhabited mostly by
indigenous people who fled the internal armed conflict.

The Emmaus Centre was built in 1966. One of its objectives was to provide young people and
adults, with the possibility of learning more about their faith and of raising their awareness of
social issues. Another goal was to be a place of dialogue and collaboration for ecclesial
renewal.

With many neighborhoods suffering from poverty, hunger, marginalization and violence,
missionaries remain actively present among the marginalized people to evangelize and be
evangelized by the poorest of society. Although dangerous work, the sisters engage in street
ministry to truly encounter the Guatemalan people. In urban areas ravaged not just by
poverty but constant violence, missionaries evangelize by walking alongside the poorest of
the poor in every conceivable way
 Cicm in guatemala At present

Currently, eight CICM members work in two dioceses of Guatemala: the

Archdiocese of Guatemala and Diocese of Las Verapaces. The missionary
priorities are two: The presence among the Maya people and the work in
the isolated areas of Guatemala City.