Why do we work in the “RED ZONES” of Guatemala City?
Garbage Dump in Guatemala City
You’re from Zone 10? You must be well off. This thriving community boasts the city’s most expensive hotels, posh restaurants and ritzy bars.
Now imagine introducing yourself as living in Zone 3 or Zone 5. These are among the city’s red zones, or zonas rojas. Here people live in destitute poverty and life-threatening fear, the latter due to violent gangs that rule the neighborhoods. Even the police rarely venture into these communities.
Yet the red zones are where Hope Renewed serves. We strive to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus Christ by offering tangible skills – education and job training – to the thousands of men, women and children who want passionately, and hope patiently for the chance at a better life.
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39.7
Guatemala City classifies its citizens by the zones where they live
Here’s a little more about the two RED ZONES where we work. As you read we ask you PRAY and if possible, help us deliver the HOPE they are waiting for.
ZONE 3 AND THE DUMP
The primary features of Zone 3 are the city cemetery and the basurero (Garbage Dump). The Dump spans over 40 acres and houses one-third of the country’s waste, including rotting food and biohazardous materials like used medical syringes. When traveling to The Dump, you’re likely to smell the putrid decay and toxic gases before you see it.
Yet this is where about 6,000s Guatemalans work each day. They dig, waste-deep through trash, salvaging and re-selling anything of value to buy food. Some say Zone 3 is the land of the forgotten people of Guatemala, nearly one-third of them school-aged children.
HOPE FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Even now, during the coronavirus pandemic, more than 30 preschoolers from The Dump are getting instruction remotely by Hope Renewed Preschool's teachers. The students learn reading and writing as well as life skills like teamwork, creativity and problem-solving.
By giving young children a foundational education, Hope Renewed Preschool is making a difference! Since its inception in 2012, more than 500 students have graduated and gone on to attend primary and secondary school.
As the pandemic continues our young students need your help more than ever. Food, paper, crayons, medical supplies – everything is scarce. Your donation is needed now!
ZONE 5 AND LALIMONADA
La Limonada is built on a steep, wooded one-mile ravine that most people would consider uninhabitable. Located in Zone 5, and also considered a dangerous “red zone”, La Limonada is Central America’s largest slum.
Between 60,000 and 100,000 people live along the congested ravine, most without access to running water or electricity. Additionally, the majority of the children never reach high school with 41 percent of all teenagers (13–18 years) not receiving any type of schooling after 6th grade.
Lack of education and the stigma of living in La Limonada means young adults have few, if any, job opportunities. Violence is a way of life, with boys recruited as young as 13 into gangs that make their living by robbing people and selling drugs.
Young men who don’t want this life may try to migrate to Mexico, but the risks are high. Just this January, 13 young Guatemalans left the small town of Comitancillo to find work. Their badly burned bodies turned up in northeast Mexico, victims of horrific violence.
HOPE FOR STUDENTS
Through the Hope Renewed Scholarship Program, 21 students are currently receiving partial or full tuition to attend school (from primary to university) and 25 additional students are getting much-needed school supplies.
Education is critical to securing good-paying jobs and breaking the cycle of poverty. But students in Guatemala must pay tuition for education, as well as for books, uniforms, supplies, transportation and more. That’s why educational scholarships are essential. And why we need your help now.
HOPE FOR SINGLE MOMS
In La Limonada, many families are headed by single women. These women must work to feed themselves and their children. But the little work available requires long hours (impossible for those with small children) and does not pay a livable wage. Without access to childcare, moms work at jobs where they can find them – sweeping streets, washing laundry – but the wages are barely enough to buy beans and rice.
God put it into our hearts to build the Hope Center in La Limonada. The Hope Center will house the Dorothy S. Farnet Centro de Costura (DFS Sewing Center). Guatemala is known for its beautiful woven textiles, which are highly sought by tourists and local people alike. Students here will learn to create and alter garments, a highly marketable skill in this region.
Praise God! Despite the pandemic, our Hope Center building is nearly complete. We’re ready to hire teachers, buy sewing machines and create training materials. Our students are excited and ready to learn! Your donation is desperately needed to help single moms build a better life.