Upavim Community Development Foundation

UPAVIM (Unidas Para Vivir Mejor) is located in a slum on the outskirts of Guatemala City, in what is designated as a ‘red zone’ by the government. The term ‘red zone’ signifies a high level of violence and threat from gang activity in a particular area. Slums arose as squatter settlements during the civil war of the 1980s when thousands of people fled from persecution in the countryside and crowded the city. Our community, La Esperanza, continues to suffer from many of the social problems that characterize marginalized populations including gang violence, discrimination against women, domestic violence, alcoholism, drug addiction, child abuse, illiteracy, unemployment, malnutrition, insufficient health services, and a lack of suitable schools for our children.

The mission of UPAVIM is to empower women in La Esperanza by providing fair wages to support their families, and access to services that help improve their quality of life. Over the past 25 years, UPAVIM has grown from a small baby-weighing program to a women’s cooperative employing over 100 local women and making handmade fair-trade crafts sold around the world. The proceeds from these crafts pay the women’s salaries, fund UPAVIM’s community health clinic, and fund UPAVIM’s school, which includes a daycare, pre-school, and elementary school (K-6th). In addition, UPAVIM manages the first public library in the neighborhood, offers free English classes and tutoring for all ages, and runs a bakery and soy factory to provide fresh and affordable goods to the community.