GREAT OPPORTUNITY OR IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION?

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations”

                                                                                                           - Charles R Swindoll

This is the second of a two-part blog examining the education system in Guatemala. In this part I intend to explore what ensues for those fortunate enough to complete a secondary and tertiary education and the disparity between the cost of a tertiary education in Guatemala and the earning potential in Guatemala. Additionally, I wish to examine the opportunities for those without a tertiary education in Guatemala. Finally, I wish to observe the start-up costs of new business in Guatemala and the potential for entrepreneurship as a career path for those interested in self-employment.

A few things you need to know

• The Guatemalan currency is called the Quetzal (Q), for reference:

Ø      NZ$1 = 6Q

Ø      US$1 = 8Q

Ø      AU$1 = 8Q

• In Guatemala the qualification system is similar to New Zealand, however, the time to obtain each qualification is slightly different:

Ø      A Licenciatura is normally gained after 5 years of study and is more or less equivalent to a Bachelors degree in New Zealand.

Ø      A Maestrado is awarded after a further 1 or 2 years of study and submission of a thesis. A Maestrado is equivavlent to a Masters degree in New Zealand

Ø      A Doctorado is awarded after a further 2 years of study and submission of a thesis. A Doctorado is equivalent to a PhD in New Zealand.

• The cost of living in Guatemala is low, but to put things in perspective with respect to the wages that are quoted in the blog, I live in a share-house with basic facilities and eat very modestly. This costs me 2000Q-2500Q per month. To rent a basic but private one-bedroom apartment and eat modestly would cost in the vicinity of 3500Q per month.

Value for money?

The variation in fees for the 12 major Universities in Guatemala is enormous. The cost starts at a nominal 99Q per annum at the largest public University in Guatemala – Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. The cost increases significantly for private Universities. For the most prestigious Universities in the country (e.g. Universidad Fransisco Marroquin) fees are in the range of 5000Q per month or 60000Q per annum.  In both cases, these fees are solely for tuition; textbooks and extra-curricular tutoring and activities are additional to this. The huge difference in cost between private and public Universities doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of the education, but rather, graduates of more prestigious private Universities are often more highly considered for the most prestigious and well-paying jobs.

One of the crucial issues is not how much a tertiary education in Guatemala costs, but instead, what undertaking said tertiary education gives you the ability to gain in the future. In 2008, a study was completed by the Inter-American Development Bank with a view to reporting on the disparity in wages across gender and ethnicity. It is the most comprehensive study comparing various demographics in Guatemala and their earning potential. From this study a number of realisations can be made.

The average salary in Guatemala for a male holding a Licenciatura degree or higher is 5013Q per month. For a female holding a Licenciatura degree or higher the average salary drops significantly to 3225Q per month. Only with this information is it possible to understand why so many well educated, young people live in their family home with their parents, perhaps their children and other siblings until well into their 30’s. The equation is simply impossible. Subtract the repayment of the significant debt incurred gaining an education at Universidad Fransisco Marroquin and there just isn’t enough money to afford a basic independent living arrangement as described above. The alternative of course is the almost desperation to emigrate to greener pastures (most commonly to the United States of America). For example, in the United States, as a result of immigration of people predominantly from the northern countries in Latin America, one-eighth of the US population speak Spanish in their homes and the US has the second-largest Spanish-speaking population in the world – 33.7 million people.

We don’t need no education

The aptitude examinations to gain entrance to any of the Universities are very stringent. Those that fail to gain acceptance to University, and the large number of primary and secondary-school leavers (as discussed in part one of this blog) face different but significant difficulties also. Generally speaking, opportunities for well-paid jobs in Guatemala are few, but lack of qualifications (tertiary or secondary-school) limits opportunities further.

One of the most common forms of employment for those not holding a tertiary qualification is agriculture. Approximately 50% of the population in Guatemala are employed at some level in this sector. The work here is hard and long. It is not uncommon to hear of 12-hour days in a climate that can only be described as an endless summer – 25-30 °C everyday, and moreover, excruciatingly humid for 6-9 months of the year. The Inter-American Development Bank places average salaries for the rural sector at 1170Q per month for males and 854Q per month for females.

In urban areas unqualified males may expect a salary of 2115Q per month and females 1650Q per month. Although the cost of living in Guatemala is relatively low, at this level of remuneration it is very difficult to maintain even a poor-to-middle standard of living, and there is certainly no room for luxuries.

Take a career path or make a career path?

There is another significant employment opportunity in Guatemala that is just starting to emerge – technology-based business. An interesting article in the New York Times on 16^th November 2011 details a revival of a previously defunct part of Guatemala City – Guatemala’s answer to Silicon Valley. Still in its infancy, Campus Tecnológico aims to attract the best entrepreneurial talent that Guatemala has to offer – the “hip, savvy, successful and young”. With numerous start-ups already populating Campus Tec and some 375 employees across these businesses, it is off to a positive start and for good reason. The cost of starting a business in Guatemala is US$7569 and with such close proximity to the United States there are certainly many positive aspects.

However, there are risks. Political corruption, violence and a relatively unstable economy could easily trigger an exodus of investment in comparable ventures to those already operating at Campus Tec. The optimism of the developers is admirable given the risks of setting-up businesses in Guatemala, particularly when foreign investment is required. Personally, however, I feel that it is a risk worth taking, and those in a position to accept the burden of that risk can be rewarded handsomely in the future. In doing so, improving the general economic environment and creating new employment opportunities for the people of Guatemala.

Good things take time

It seems that the majority of the money in circulation right now is in the hands of a select few. The masses are left with the dregs – as evidence by the severe levels of poverty. It is hard to balance the income vs. expense equation for many people. But, numerous forces are at play in this equation and with just a little better alignment I feel that Guatemala can turn the corner. Young people gaining an education, grasping opportunities and making good sound decisions; savvy entrepreneurs taking on the world’s best; a gradual improvement in working and living conditions in rural areas. These are the things that will help turn that corner.

Guatemala is a great opportunity brilliantly disguised as an impossible situation. The opportunity will be realised, it will just take time. Good things take time.

You can read the first part of this blog here:

http://meditacionesdelmomento.blogspot.com/2011/12/if-you-think-in-terms-of-year-plant.html

And if interested, the NY Times article is here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/world/americas/a-silicon-valley-dream-grows-in-guatemala-city.html?_r=2

And the Inter-American Development Bank working paper where many of the wage figures were drawn from here:

http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=1535077

IF YOU THINK IN TERMS OF A YEAR, PLANT A SEED; IF IN TERMS OF TEN YEARS, PLANT TREES; IF IN TERMS OF 100 YEARS, TEACH THE PEOPLE

"If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people."

                                                           - Confucius (BC 551-BC 479) Chinese philosopher.

This is the first of a two-part blog examining the education system in Guatemala. In the first part I wish to give a general overview of the education system, illustrate the accessibility to and demographic disparities regarding education in Guatemala, and discuss the results of the relatively poor education level of the Guatemalan population. The second of the two-parts intends to explore what ensues for those fortunate enough to complete a secondary and tertiary education and the disparity between the cost of a tertiary education in Guatemala and the earning potential in Guatemala.

Not off to a great start…

The government of Guatemala requires that all children must attend school for a minimum of 6 years – primary school. There are a number of government-funded schools across the country that provide the compulsory, free education that is stipulated. Unfortunately for a number of reasons the reality of the situation is that, while the education is free, the cost of uniforms, books and transport to and from school is beyond the means of many families. The net result is that, in Guatemala, (although some children may actually attend school for longer than 5 years) less than 70% of children starting school in grade/year 1 will achieve completion of grade/year 5.

…And the statistics only get worse

Of the secondary school-aged population in Guatemala only 35% will be enrolled to begin their secondary school education. 8.5% of the tertiary-aged population will enrol to further their education in a University or a tertiary education institute. Exact figures are difficult to find but it is estimated that only ~2% of the tertiary-aged population will continue these studies and graduate with a bachelor’s degree (equivalent or higher).

The most vulnerable demographics

The education levels between the indigenous peoples and non-indigenous peoples in Latin America are noticeably different, however, nowhere more so than in Guatemala. In the adult population of Guatemala, the indigenous (Mayan) people have, on average, half the number of years of education as the non-indigenous (Ladino) people – 2.5 years cf. 5.7 years. In the younger demographic the margin is lessening but is still very significant. The school completion rate for indigenous girls is half that of non-indigenous girls and approximately a third that of all boys.

There are also significant gender disparities. Across all cultural groups, female students are the most likely to withdraw from school prematurely. Often the female students are considered more valuable as home-makers; cleaning the family house and caring for younger siblings. Studies have found there is a direct correlation between having a new-born baby in the family and the termination of the education of an (older) daughter living in the parental home. Another study concerning the education system of Guatemala noted, in 2007, that: “parental concerns over allowing adolescent girls to mix with boys overwhelm other reasons for keeping girls at home”. These concerns probably stem from another major issue here; the extremely high fertility rate in Guatemala.

As you would expect the impoverished also suffer heavily. Often those living in severe poverty are the less educated population and thus in many cases the parents don’t understand the value of a high school and tertiary education for their children. Frequently the parents will allow or even encourage their children to leave school to work in similarly low-skilled and poorly-paid jobs as they themselves hold. Furthermore, by definition these families can barely cover the costs of living; let alone the burden of school uniforms, books, transport etc. Sadly for many children that fall into this demographic, school is simply not a reality.

The cost to the country

The illiteracy rate of Guatemala sits significantly below the majority of Latin America with a meagre 69.1% of people over the age of 15 literate. This is a major contributing factor to the incredibly high poverty rate (greater than 50% of the population live in poverty) as a vast percentage of the population simply don’t have the fundamental basics of reading and writing. Consequently, many people are forced into low-skilled and poorly-paid employment. This lack of basic education costs the country dearly in terms of GDP. A study in 2008 suggested that, as a direct result of premature secondary school leaving, the benefit to society forgone annually is 58.8% of GDP.

When considering the GDP per person of Guatemala, the education level is severely disproportionate. Aside from Haiti, Guatemala performs the worst in nearly every education statistic when compared to the remainder of Latin America regardless of GDP or other prosperity indexes.

Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today

While many of the statistics discussed above are alarming it should be noted that they are significantly better now than 20, 10 even 5 years ago. Guatemala is improving slowly with gradual advances in education level and quality. Much of this improvement is on the back of foreign-aid and the tireless work of non-governmental organisations. It is my belief that although the Guatemalan government is currently investing very little money in the education system there will be a time in the near future where they will have no option. As the population generally becomes more educated they will demand stronger emphasis on education and greater investment in education by the Government.

Guatemala is taking a step in the right direction. For now it is not important how the education comes about but rather that the people become empowered. With an educated population comes educated decision-making and in turn a future to look forward to. Guatemala is heading for that future…albeit slowly.

While I cannot speak from first-hand experience, I have lived with a number of great 100-year-thinkers who volunteer at Niños de Guatemala (one of many education-based non governmental organisations in Guatemala). If you are interested to see the change that these friends have helped make to some of Guatemala’s most underprivileged, follow the link below. And if you want to help make a difference, even better!

http://www.ninosdeguatemala.org/

THE DECISIONS THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE MADE

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending"

                                                                                                     - Maria Robinson

Eeny meeny miney mo
Too many live under this roof, and one of you must go

The decision is complicated, but we must live with one less
With no money, no clothes, no food; our life is a mess

We are sorry Santos; there is nothing you can do
We've made a decision; there's no place here for you

Now what to do? The street is no place for a boy with 5 years
You're a tough kid, a brave kid; but still hold many fears

I know of a place where the demons of your past can no longer haunt you
And with the love and care you need, a new ending will greet you

"Sign here and here", pronounces Casa Jackson's attorney
"We will find Santos a new home, new hope, a new journey"

The pen scribes the paper; this is the start of a new end
We will never forget your smile, your laugh, your being our friend

Well I guess this is it, look after yourself
Adios mi amor, and good luck in life…

Santos David, given up by his parents as they struggle to support his 7 other siblings. He faces an uncertain and difficult journey but the team at Casa Jackson are giving him the affection, care and support he so desperately needs during this most vulnerable time.

These are the decisions that should never have to be made, and the new endings that should never have to be lived out alone.

Please follow the link below for more information about Santos and a picture of our handsome wee man.

http://www.godschild.org/santos-david/

WE ALWAYS WANT THE BEST MAN TO WIN AN ELECTION. UNFORTUNATELY, HE NEVER RUNS.

"We always want the best man to win an election. Unfortunately, he never runs."

                                                                                                                 - Will Rogers

Dirty politics; a popular phrase come election time, but what are dirty politics and how dirty can they get?

Enter: The Guatemalan Presidential Race 2011…

The first round of voting – 11 September 2011, saw 10 presidential candidates reduced to 2 candidates as no candidate managed to obtain the 50% + 1 vote required to become President elect. I am writing this blog on the eve of the second round of voting – 6th November 2011, whereby the top 2 candidates (Otto Pérez Molina and Manuel Baldizón) from the first round go head to head to become President elect.

The Candidates: 

The leading candidate for the 2011 election - Otto Pérez Molina has somewhat of a chequered past. With a campaign slogan of "Mano dura, cabeza y corazón" ("firm hand, head and heart"), Molina is promoting a hard-line approach to reducing Guatemala’s spiralling violence, particularly in the northern regions of Guatemala that play a significant role in the transit of drugs from South America to the United States. Molina is no-stranger to violence; He was the head of military intelligence in the concluding stages of the civil war in Guatemala that lasted some 36 years – from 1960 to 1996. In June 2011, Molina was accused of genocide and torture by an indigenous organisation and a letter outlining these accusations was presented to the United Nations – the result is pending. The fear among the educated masses is that the reintroduction of a military presence to combat the drug cartels ascendancy will lead to escalating violence and disorder in Guatemala, similar to that seen in Mexico following President Felipe Calderon proclaiming war on the cartels in 2007. More than 40,000 people have died in Mexico since this declaration. Similarly devastating consequences may be observed in Guatemala if a military presence is used to combat the gangs and drug cartels in Guatemala’s north.

Manuel Baldizón is no angel either. A multi-millionaire and devote Christian, his campaign centred around increasing the use of the death penalty and televising executions, and leading the Guatemalan national football team to the World Cup. His campaign however, has been marred by controversy. Baldizón appears to have the support of the outgoing President Álvaro Colom with evidence suggesting that Colom government officials have been handing out vouchers for food and roofing supplies in return for a pro-Baldizón vote. Possibly Baldizón's biggest shortcoming is his apparent marriage (both financially and politically) with the very gangs who are instilling fear in the northern region of Gautemala. Baldizón has also been slated for switching from extreme political left to right to contest this election.

Another Violent Election Campaign Period:

As of 6 November 2011 - the date of the second round of voting, the number of political murders since campaigning began in May 2011 had reached 43. Most of these victims’ lives were claimed by ‘unidentified gunmen’. These murders of candidates and their families, party support staff and activists have occurred predominantly in the northern region of Guatemala as the gangs and cartels attempt to win influence over political candidates and protect their business interests in this major transit route for drugs from South America to the United States. It is alleged that the ‘desirable candidates’ (in the eyes of the gangs and drug cartels) are being paid huge sums of money in return for future political favours.

Money; Money; Filthy, Dirty Money:

While a Supreme Election Tribunal has been charged with overseeing and investigating both the means of campaign funding and the level of spending on each campaign, it appears that the tribunal has failed on both accounts. There is a major lack of transparency surrounding campaign funding, particularly third party and private donations. Both Molina and Baldizón have been accused of receiving large sums of campaign funding from gangs and drug cartels. Furthermore, the Guatemalan Presidential Race 2011 has been one of the costliest elections in history. There is a spending cap of US$6million for each party’s campaign, however, with the lack of funding transparency, both presidential candidates are assumed to have overspent. In particular Molina – whose campaign is estimated to have cost double (or more) of the allowed limit – will likely significantly influence the polling outcome.

The Peoples’ Voice:

In my best beginners Spanish I was having a conversation the other day with someone about the upcoming elections.

I said to them:

Para las elecciones del domingo…
So, the elections are on Sunday…

To which they replied:

Usted lo está pronunciando incorrectamente! 

You are pronouncing it incorrectly!

I am just a beginner so replied:

Como es eso?
How so?

They replied:

No son la eleccione, es la corrupción… 

It is not election, it is corruption…

Sidenote:

The outcome of the 2011 election has been declared with Molina emerging the winner with approximately 55% of the vote. Perhaps the most telling outcome of this election was the turnout at the polls. The second round of voting to choose between Molina and Baldizón saw only 45% of eligible voters turn out at the polls (compare this to say New Zealand, where voter participation sits around 80% of the eligible population).

The people of Guatemala have voted with their feet, and that vote is a vote of no confidence in either candidate.

JUST A BOY

“Infants are the most vulnerable victims of poverty. Children come into the world ready to thrive and grow. When they are denied proper and sufficient nutrition in their diets, their systems are ill-equipped to prepare for it and the consequences can be permanent. Casa Jackson for malnourished Infants is rejuvenating the most defenseless victims of Guatemala: malnourished infants. In addition to professionally treating these young children, it is a safe haven for them, providing them with love and affection.” 

           - Luke Armstrong, Director of Social Service Programs for La Asociación Nuestros Ahijados

Timid watchful eyes follow me across the room. As I approach, a fragile hand clutches my finger the other grasping my scrub top. Out of the crib, and into the communal area. A temperature check, some medicine and we are ready to play – of sorts. Julian is one of the many children that make up the 43% of the population under 5 years of age in Guatemala that are chronically malnourished. With such severe malnutrition Julian is at higher risk of significant mental and physical development problems. For many children, like Julian, it is not so much play time as lay time.

Julian is severely ill. He is a patient at Nuestros Ahijados’ malnutrition hospital Casa Jackson in San Felipe, Guatemala. Chronically underweight Julian will live at Casa Jackson for an indefinite time. I guess you could say Julian is one of the lucky few identified by this and similar organisations for the remedial treatment, love and affection that he desperately needs.

Ironically I have written above that Julian will reside at Casa Jackson for an “indefinite time” – never have truer words been spoken. Sadly, halfway through writing this blog Julian’s circumstances changed significantly. 4 days after Julian underwent several blood transfusions and received the treatment he required for a crippling parasitic infection his parents arrived at Casa Jackson. Unexplainably they demanded that Julian be discharged. Although he had received the treatment, Julian was still dangerously underweight. Casa Jackson aspire to help malnourished children and will firmly stand by this aspiration, however they will not force families to admit their children and nor will they keep them against the wishes of the family. Needless to say Julian wasn’t at Casa Jackson during my next shift, merely 12 hours after tucking him into his crib for the night.

It is staggering that even a great service such as that provided by Casa Jackson can be unequivocally rejected by the parents of a child whom is clearly in need. This situation begs the question: At what point does lack of education become ignorance? And in this case, neglect? 

Julian is just a boy…and now I wonder if he will grow to be a man.

To learn more about volunteering at Casa Jackson and what else you can do to help please click here:

http://www.godschild.org/casajackson/

ONE DAY IT STARTED RAINING, AND IT DIDN'T QUIT FOR FOUR MONTHS...

“We've been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stinging rain...and big old fat rain.
Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath. Shoot, it even rained at night.”

                                                                                                                - Forrest Gump

So maybe it didn’t rain for 4 months, but it was the most significant rain event in Guatemala since, well, last year. Unfortunately Central America and particularly Guatemala has been battered in consecutive years by once-in-a-decade – maybe once-in-a-lifetime – hurricane storms. Guatemala has a rainy season; the people here are familiar with rain, but not this kind of rain.

I have lived a reasonably sheltered life, and for that I was grateful, for I needed all my sheltering experience to keep warm and dry during this hurricane. At the end of two weeks, when cabin fever was really starting to kick in; the newsfeed started firing. Hurricane Jova has left 10 Dead, 20 dead, 30 dead said the reports. Eventually when all was told, the death toll stood at 81 across the Central America region with Guatemala and El Salvador the most significantly affected.

For many here it was a mere inconvenience – a disruptive force – during their annual vacation from the United States. But for the people of this region the effects will be felt much more heavily and for a prolonged period of time. Jova destroyed what little infrastructure these countries had – flooded rivers washed out bridges, mudslides destroyed roads in and out of towns, and significantly many crops, ready for harvest, have spent 2 weeks submerged in water.

The roads will be rebuilt and the bridges will once again connect the landscape. Immediately the concern is food and water. The variety of produce will diminish and the prices will rise, and those (read more than 50% of Guatemala’s population) that were already struggling to make ends meet will be challenged further to stretch what meagre income they have.

Truth be told the death toll will rise significantly over the coming months as families fail to stretch that meagre income far enough. Parents and children alike will go hungry and suffer health problems from inadequate diets and lack of water. The corrugated tin shanty that was washed away by the swollen river or that slid down the mountain with 10 tonnes of mud will seem like a mansion compared to their habitation for the next few months. But Jova won’t be the flavour of the month in December or January coming – the media, and the world, will have moved on.

For the people of Central America – Guatemala and El Salvador –  there is no choice. Hurricane Jova will still be flavour of the month in January coming, and all they will have is hope for a better tomorrow.

BETTER PEOPLE

“What I have could be a message or just some words from my heart.

My respect to the ones making changes, for other lives they’ll give their own.

Well our world it keeps spinning, round and round it goes, human nature keeps spreading its disease.

And our children keep growing up with what they know from what we teach and what they see.

And it’s only a question of the time we have, and the lives that our children will lead.

They can only keep growing up with what they know from what we teach and what they see.”

                                                                                               Better People – Xavier Rudd

By all accounts Guatemala is a beautiful place – beautiful people, beautiful scenery, beautiful culture – a beautiful place. But unfortunately there is an opposing image, possibly the representation that most people have when considering Guatemala. For me this was the image that persuaded me to travel here.

Guatemala is desperately poor. 43% of all children under five are considered chronically malnourished. More than half the population live below the national poverty line and 15% live in extreme poverty, in indigenous groups the figures are significantly worse. It is hard to comprehend these statistics until you see the situation first hand. Families of 10 or more living in single room, dirt floor, corrugated tin shanties are not uncommon even in the more affluent areas of the country.

Perhaps one of the most alarming statistics is the age structure of the population of Guatemala. The median age in Guatemala is 20 years across males and females. Compared to New Zealand (37 years), Australia (37.7 years) or Sweden (41.7 years) there is huge disparity. In 1950, Guatemala had a population of 2.9 million people. That figure has now quintupled to an estimated 14.5 million. Led by an extremely high fertility rate (4.1 – one of the highest in Latin America), the current population level is expected to again double in the next 30 years. This is worrying for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the resource base of Guatemala. As the population grows at such an alarming rate there is tremendous pressure on the already fragile infrastructure and resources available to Guatemalan nationals to establish their life in this country.

Thankfully, Guatemala is rich in volunteer participation. Guatemala’s proximity to the United States of America (particularly) and the stereotypical image that is Guatemala both contribute to such a high availability of volunteers. For me, Guatemala provided the perfect opportunity to undertake a personal mission to create change through volunteering.

There are a huge number of organisations that have a core focus of changing futures here. At its most simple level, volunteering in Guatemala is about being that someone to be there, that someone to care, that someone to give love; but most of all, that someone to give belief. These people need belief – belief in themselves. Belief that they can break the cycle of poverty, belief that their future is more than shining shoes in a park or sifting through garbage at the dump looking for recyclables, belief that prostitution starting at the age of 12, or sadly younger, is their only future.

There are ups and downs in this world, and sadly, Guatemala – for all its beauty, has a disproportionate level of downs. But there is hope. Maybe you want to volunteer, maybe you want to donate money or maybe you want to just be aware. For whatever reason, I would encourage anyone to follow in the footsteps of many others before them and be part of the change, because for me, I now understand what it is to be a better person. That better person isn’t me, it’s the person that was given love and care and now believes in themselves and their future. One by one we CAN make change; we CAN build a country with a prosperous future – a country of better people.

If you are interested in more information on ways you can make change, check out these links:

http://www.godschild.org/guatemala/

http://www.safepassage.org/

http://www.ninosdeguatemala.org/

http://www.habitatguate.org/