What we do
Teacher reading to children in primary school
- survival and development of children and adolescents
- healthy lifestyles and HIV prevention
- water and sanitation, environment and risk management
- learning for life
- child and youth participation
- protection for children and adolescents.
Survival and development of children and adolescents
Over the past 3 years, Plan has agreed with the Ministry of Health to expand the coverage of health services to more communities and for it to gradually assume funding in the areas previously covered by Plan.
This year Plan’s focus is on working with communities to monitor and ensure they receive a quality health service – particularly for pregnant women and children under 5 years.
Healthy lifestyles and HIV prevention
Plan Guatemala works to prevent the growth of HIV and AIDS through community education and raising awareness towards people living with HIV. This year we launched a second film, ’Portrait’, which raises the issue of HIV transmission from mother to child.
In March, a website was launched for consultation on HIV: www.respuestavihgt.info
Plan also participates with other non-governmental organisations in advocating for the rights of people living with HIV.
Water and sanitation, environment and risk management
Plan Guatemala works with communities to improve the quality of water, poor sanitation systems, education and awareness on disaster risk prevention.
Learning for life
Plan Guatemala works to ensure that children receive quality education. We support early stimulation centres for children aged 4 to 6 years and preschools and orientation for mothers or caregivers of children aged 0 to 3 years.
Our primary education initiatives foster conditions to support learning that is practical and useful in the everyday life of children.
Child and youth participation
Plan supports children and adolescents in expressing themselves and taking part in decisions that affect their lives, so that they can actively participate in community and municipal development.
We also work to strengthen good governance capacities in the municipalities with a focus on child-centered community development, which ensures children and communities are involved in identifying and implementing solutions to their problems.
Protection for children and adolescents
Violence is widespread in Guatemala. Plan works to protect children by:
- strengthening the legal framework and promoting its application
- raising awareness of mistreatment and sexual abuse
- establishing an overall model of support for abused children and adolescents
- identifying new areas of action on child protection.