Guatemala


Bridges to Prosperity USA

The Guatemala program began in January 2010, concentrating on the highland department of Quiché, in particular rural communities in the municipality of Uspantán. Quiché is the homeland of the K'iche and Uspanteko indigenous peoples, direct descendants of the Mayans.

The Quiché department, and in particular the very remote Zona Reyna region of Uspantán, is one of the poorest, most underdeveloped, and least accessible areas of Central America, with some villages within the municipality of Uspantán lying up to eight hours away from the town itself. Uspantán is also the birthplace of Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú Tum, who has dedicated her life to publicizing the plight of Guatemala's indigenous peoples during and after the Guatemalan Civil War. Uspantán has been the site of much violence committed during the war, and the emotional, economic, and cultural scars still remain. The town has been experiencing a revival in recent years, with a progressive and well-respected mayor in office who is actively encouraging and facilitating development work in Uspantán's poorest areas. The K'iche people continue to hold on to their Mayan traditions and their language, which vary subtly from village to village. The Uspanteko population is fast diminishing with an increasing number of young people leaving the area to find work, neglecting to wear the traditional dress and learn the Uspanteko language.

The geographic boundaries of mountains and rivers further isolate communities, and access to medical care, normally a full day's trip from the furthest villages, can become impossible during the heaviest rains. With the introduction of safe and reliable bridges, the K'iche and Uspantekos will gain the security of being able to overcome their geographic boundaries during times of emergency, and the confidence of having uninterrupted access to their crops and schools.

Bridges To Prosperity also explored a series of prototype suspension bridge projects, sponsored by Flatiron Construction Corporation. The first pilot bridge was constructed in the highlands in the community of La Tana, Guatemala. A second suspension bridge was constructed right over the Honduran border in the Copan Ruinas.

Click on any project link below to view more details and see photos of the project and people involved. Click on the Google Earth™ logo to see a satellite view of the bridge site. Get a free copy of Google Earth™ here.