Q: What is the GYEP?
Q: Why was the GYEP created?
Q: Who is the GYEP for?
Q: Who are the GYEP partners?
Q: What About local support?
Q: What is the Youth Council?

Q: What is the Guatemala Youth Empowerment Project (GYEP)?

A : The Guatemalan Youth Empowerment Project recognizes youth as the most valuable assets for their communities and the future of Latin America. Operated by a Youth Council and trained caring staff, the program provides a variety of educational, cultural, recreational, and service-oriented opportunities for local youth to get involved.

Q: Why was the GYEP created?

A : After a series of discussions with local youth and adults, all had decided that a youth empowerment organization in Guatemala was both feasible and needed.   The project is based on the Positive Youth Development philosophy.   This means that the local youth are involved at every level of decision-making and running the organization.   This ensures that the youth have ownership and the program reflects their culture, customs, and needs.   There is, after all, no greater expert on Guatemalan youth than the Guatemalan youth themselves!  

Q: What’s the community like?

A : In the future we plan to establish programs in other Guatemalan villages around the city of Chimaltenango that have requested them. We launched the first youth empowerment program in Cerro Alto, a rural, Mayan village nestled in the mountains. There are no paved roads leading through the community of about 1,500 people. Many youth do not have the resources to continue their education after 11 years old. Thereafter, most will follow a familiar route of manual labor in agriculture, or take their chances in the unforgiving cities. The average family income is under $2 a day and youth and children constitute over 60% of the population.  

Q: Who is the GYEP for?

A : The GYEP in the village of Cerro Alto currently serves 60 to 70 youth per week. The program focuses particularly on youth that are at higher risk of making unhealthy decisions or finding fewer positive opportunities due to their economic and social situations.  In the Guatemalan villages surrounding Chimaltenango, virtually all youth have great need of caring support, opportunities, and resources.

Q: Who are the GYEP partners?

A : Like all young people, Guatemalan youth want to be valued, respected, and heard.   In this spirit, the Youth Empowerment Alliance, Inc., the Alliance for International Reforestation, Danya Intl., and U.S. youth advocate Matt Morton have joined forces to provide resources, support, and opportunities for Guatemalan youth. These partners bring incredible assets and resources to make this program work. Learn more about each of them at our “Partners” page.  

Q: What About local support?

A : Though the project will receive volunteer support and resources from abroad, it is important that this project belongs to the Guatemalans to ensure its success.   All hired staff and the Teen Council consist entirely of locals.   We have also partnered with the local authorities for the use of public facilities.

Q: What is the Youth Council?

A: Central to the program is the community Youth Council. The youth named this council “COJDECA”—an acroym that translates into the Youth Council for the Development of Cerro Alto. The Youth Council determins the activities and specific direction of the organization.  The organization provides activities for recreation, sports, philanthropy, leadership training, education, and opportunities to build marketable skills.