San Miguel Dueñas sits beneath a volcano in Guatemala. It is a village of tiny corrugated tin homes amid macadamia nut and coffee bean fields.
CIA’s World Facts reports that 54% of Guatemala lives in poverty--6% living in extreme poverty--while an elite 2% owns 72% of the agricultural land and cattle ranches. Persistent problems exist for high rates of child and mother mortality and malnutrition, as well as low rates of literacy and contraceptive awareness. Approximately 50% of the population is under the age of 19.
The Coyan family represents these hard truths about Guatemala’s struggle with poverty. A large family, living in a small space, without enough resources, they also grapple with a child with cancer.
La Asociación Nuestros Ahijados (with whom I traveled) operates in the village to provide medical care, education, and better shelters. This past year, La Asociación built 100 homes in the area—the concrete floors of those 12x16 foot structures decrease stomach parasites by 60%. The organization also helped the Coyan family with medical costs to ensure 9-year-old Mabelin receives cancer treatments.