GYI Annual Report 2024 by Iniciativa Guatemala

REPORT ANNUAL 2024

OUR MISSION

Guatemala Youth Initiative (GYI) aims to reduce unplanned teen pregnancy, promote gender equality, and empower young mothers in extremely marginalized communities near the Guatemala City landfill. These neighborhoods experience some of the highest levels of violence, poverty, and social exclusion in the country. Our programs create access to knowledge, services, and support systems so youth can thrive.

A MESSAGE FROM A

TEEN MOM

“If I hadn’t found Iniciativa Guatemala, I would have stayed at home, alone. I would have raised my son the way my mother raised me. This program is a breath of fresh air for me and Abdiel. It helps me feel supported in motherhood.”

- Elena, young mother in Zona 3 -

IMPACT STORY

Sexual & Reproductive Health

Mónica*, 17 years old, is choosing a different path.

At age 17, Mónica has the responsibility of looking after her 14-year-old sister and younger half-sister. Living in a marginalized neighborhood without either of their parents has made adolescence particularly hard. Their family was marked by brokenness and early pregnancies, and Mónica didn’t want to follow the same path. Her boyfriend had learned about sexual & reproductive health from GYI’s sexuality education workshops.

After discovering GYI’s Youth-Friendly Space, Mónica met with a counselor and chose a 3-month contraceptive injection. It gave her peace of mind, control over her body, and the freedom to keep studying while helping her family.

The counseling session opened Mónica’s eyes to the idea that she deserved to make informed decisions about her future. “Nobody had ever talked to me about my rights like that before,” she said. She left feeling empowered, not only because she had a method that worked for her, but because she had someone who listened and gave her the opportunity to make an informed decision.

Mónica later scheduled an appointment for her 14-year-old sister, who is also sexually active. “I want her to have the same information and support,” she said. “So she can make her own decisions too.” With both sisters now connected to services, Mónica has become an advocate in her own family, breaking cycles of silence and misinformation.

* Pseudonym used to protect identity

SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

GYI focused on launching its successful youthfriendly space inside of schools near the Guatemala City trash dump, allowing the team to quadruple the number of teens who receive one-on-one consultations. This private space allows students – who also receive workshops on comprehensive sexuality education – to resolve their questions and needs surrounding sexual & reproductive health with ease while attending school. The program also links seamlessly with contraceptive services provided at nearby locations in their neighborhood. This triangulation between our SRH services is giving youth access to the services they need.

SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

SERVICES

Unplanned Pregnancies Prevented

Family Planning Consultations

Women Reached

Youth - Friendly Consultations

YOUTH IMPACTED BY SRH PROGRAMS

Total Youth Reached via SRH

Students Taught

IMPACT STORY

Teen Moms

“If I hadn’t found Iniciativa Guatemala, I would have stayed at home, alone. I would have raised my daughter the way my mom raised me.”

— Carmen*, 15, mother of Lilian

Carmen was 14 when she realized she was pregnant. Concerned and overwhelmed, her mother contacted a local clinic, which happens to be partnered with Iniciativa Guatemala, where a social worker referred them to our team.

From her first maternity workshop, Carmen felt grounded. “It was the best decision. I live with my dad and my partner — I needed this support.” The sessions brought her emotional stability and practical knowledge. “My mom raised us the old-fashioned way. Now I’m raising my daughter differently — with confidence and calm.”

When baby Lilian was born, she spent a week in the hospital with sepsis. Carmen struggled to breastfeed but refused to give up. “Even when she cried and my partner told me to use formula, I insisted on trying to breastfeed,” she said. “The educator helped me every step of the way. Without Iniciativa Guatemala, I wouldn’t have had a successful breastfeeding experience.”

She began attending early childhood development classes — with her partner and baby. Together, they asked questions after each class, learned about parenting, emotional development, respectful discipline, and even contraception. Carmen eventually chose a subdermal implant to prevent another pregnancy. “It was a relief. I could focus on Lilian and feel in control of my future.”

In 2023, Carmen volunteered for seven months in Iniciativa Guatemala’s early childhood programs. “Living the experience from the inside was beautiful,” she says. “I became more creative at home, and now I want to support other girls like me.”

“If I hadn’t found Iniciativa Guatemala,” she adds, “everything would have been so much harder.”

* Pseudonym used to protect identity

TEEN MOMS

GYI’s Maternity Program expanded to new communities and reached more pregnant teens than ever before, virtually doubling the number of young mothers and children supported in 2024 compared to the previous year. Many nonprofit organizations, churches, and government workers approached GYI requesting help for the teen mothers in their community, which paved the way for GYI to replicate its program in new communities and quickly reach more young mothers. The ever-growing demand for our Maternity Program is an indicator of how prevalent teen pregnancy is in marginalized communities, and how few services are available to young mothers.

YOUNG MOTHERS SUPPORTED FROM PREGNANCY THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD PERIOD

Maternity Workshops Given

Early Childhood Classes Given

Teen Moms Reached

Children Educated

WHAT’S NEW IN 2024

BREAKING BARRIERS

Teen mother support in more communities

If services are too far, it becomes impractical for pregnant teens to attend workshops about maternity and for young mothers to engage in early childhood development classes with their child. GYI is continually looking to expand this program to new neighborhoods so more adolescent mothers and their children can benefit. In 2024, the program expanded toddler education to Verbena and early stimulation to 4 de Febrero, two very marginalized communities.

Youth-friendly space in schools

For many adolescents, sexual & reproductive health requires more than a classroom lecture about anatomy. GYI wanted to complement comprehensive sexuality education with individualized support to help youth navigate topics like contraception, intimate partner communication, consent, and STIs to ensure teenagers are taking proactive steps towards their sexual & reproductive health. One-on-one consultations are now being provided at local schools.

Contraception at local churches

Guatemala is generally considered a conservative country where religion plays a significant role in public life and policy. GYI has found that churches, particularly in marginalized communities, recognize the issue of teen pregnancy in their neighborhood and are willing to take proactive measures. In 2024, GYI was able to partner with local churches and provide young women with contraception by using the church as a local pop-up clinic for women in the community.

Reaching young fathers

Supporting teen mothers through maternity and fostering early childhood development have always been focal points of GYI’s efforts in Guatemala, but the team also knows it is equally important to reach young fathers. In 2024, GYI made a concentrated effort to engage young fathers in their child’s early childhood development and through couples’ classes aimed to promote shared responsibility and equitable decision-making in relationships.

EXPANDING COVERAGE

OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS

2024

Sexuality Education

Contraceptive Services

Early Childhood Development

Maternity Education

Youth-friendly SRH Space

Toddler’s Education

2021

Sexuality Education

Contraceptive Services

Early Childhood Development

Maternity Education

Ravine connected to trash dump

The previous map shows an area of Guatemala City that is 16 square miles, and home to roughly 250,000 people who live around the ravine system where the Guatemala City trash dump is located – GYI’s geographic focus under the current strategic plan. Over the past four years, the team has worked hard to expand coverage so that more communities can access GYI’s programs.