"More than 60,000 people live in extreme poverty in the Guatemala City garbage dump community.
Measuring more than 40 acres, the Guatemala City dump is one of the largest open-air landfills in Central America.

1 out of every 3 residents in this community have never been to school. Most adults have only a fourth grade education. The average family of six lives on just $4 per day—less than a dollar a day per person. With limited opportunities and training, many adults struggle to make a living in the dump community.

Guatemalan public schools provide only 4 hours of education each day, and many of those hours are spent in rote memorization. Strikes, weather, and other disruptions cause up to 30 cancelled school days per year. Even the most motivated students have a hard time staying engaged and enrolled. This is why, in 2012 Safe Passage decided to operate an independent, full-day school that is accredited by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education."

www.safepassage.org/our-programs

We visited Safe Passage, a charity devoted to helping families and children break the cycle of poverty and find a better life.

AP1045319