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Winter Bulletin 2009/2010
Vol. 25 No.4 |
Plenty in Guatemala
Guatemala City’s Urban Poor Scavenge to Survive
by Lisa Wartinger and Chuck Haren
The largest landfill in Central America is the Guatemala City Dump, with forty acres of trash heaped into a 300-ft deep ravine.
Thousands of recyclers eke out a living here, foraging though the garbage for food and digging up, dragging out, and selling wood, plastic, metal, and whatever else might have small value.
Before her passing in July 2009, Plenty’s board chair, Karen Heikkala, expressed a wish that Plenty would do something to help these desperate people. |
The largest landfill in Central America, Guatemala City's dump |
Jorge Gonzalez, our friend from the early days of Plenty in Guatemala, is working with residents living at or next to the Dump, who are newly organized with the intention to provide nutritious food and social services for families in this area.
In addition, a squatters’ settlement of approximately 700 adults and children has recently taken control of land directly across from the Dump’s entrance. |
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These families are living in makeshift plastic, wood, and metal structures without running water, electricity, or any form of sanitation facilities. They too would benefit from the proposed project. The local organizers want to make this a self-sustaining effort by producing and selling enough soy, corn, and bakery products to provide an income for those people making food for the children, and pay for all material and operating costs. Jorge’s friend Padre Paulino is donating use of a church building where food processing, distribution, and nutrition education activities can be based. This building is within one hundred yards of the Dump’s main entrance.
Our team returned home with eyes opened wide to the harsh reality thousands of children and families live with each day while trying to make a living in that area of Guatemala City. We also returned determined to help. Plenty is asking for your support to ensure better nutrition for children and vital services for families living at the Dump. We have set a target of $50,000, to implement a food supplementation, education, and job development project in cooperation with the local organizers.
Please help us honor Karen’s wish and make this project a reality.
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