Guatemala

The Central American country of Guatemala has an extraordinarily rich cultural heritage. Twenty-one Mayan languages are spoken here, as well as Xinca, Garifuna and Spanish. Despite the fact that indigenous groups represent over 50 percent of the country’s total population, they are largely excluded from numerous spheres of life. Many of them live in poverty and destitution. Privileged members of society, mainly whites or people of mixed-race, tend to perceive a gap between themselves and indigenous communities, espousing the deeply rooted opinion that indigenous people are backward. Against this background, strengthening interculturality and cultural identity are focal points in our work in Guatemala.

Important encounters between different cultures

A sensitisation campaign was designed in order to facilitate concrete encounters between different population groups. One part of the campaign consists of an exhibition highlighting the diversity of Guatemala’s ethnic and linguistic groups and showing how they live together. Another important aspect is the sensitisation of teachers and the integration of subjects such as inter-ethnic relations and peaceful cohabitation into the curriculum. The Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation supports these efforts by providing an educational tool kit for primary and secondary schools.

Our second project, in collaboration with our local partner organisation Prodessa, pursues similar objectives. It too works towards introducing intercultural curricula in secondary schools and in teacher training institutes in order to support young people's intercultural identity and implementation of rights. Both aspects provide a good basis for intercultural exchange between different Mayan cultures.