Some information about the history and demographics of Guatemala
Guatemala is a country of 13 million people. Some forty percent of the population are indigenous Amerindians, a larger number than anywhere else in Latin America. Almost all of the rest are Mestizos, or as they're called locally, Ladinos: people of mixed European and Amerindian descent. Among the indigenous people, there are many different ethnic groups and distinct languages, including 21 Mayan languages.

There is a sharp distinction between the Ladinos and the Mayan people: the Ladinos tend to live in urban areas, be far wealthier, speak Spanish as a first language, and lean towards Western influences in culture. The Mayan people tend to live in rural areas, especially in the western highlands and the northern Verapaz area. They tend to be far poorer. They usually learn a Mayan language as their mother tongue, and have preserved their ancestral culture to some degree, notably in dress -- the colors and patterns of the indigenous areas of Guatemala are striking.

Local dress
This dichotomy is both cause and effect of Guatemala's recent 35-year civil war, ended in 1996, in which a succession of military juntas (aligned with wealthier Guatemalans and the US) viciously persecuted indigenous people and clashed with guerilla organizations. The UN Truth Commission that followed the civil war (Comisión para el Esclarecimiento Histórico, or CEH) estimated that over the course of the conflict, 200,000 Guatemalans were killed or disappeared. Of the fully-identified victims, 83% were Mayan, and 56% were “victims of arbitrary execution”. State forces were found responsible for 93% of the documented human rights violations.

The modern-day state of affairs reflects the recent violence and disorder. Political corruption is widespread; the previous president, who was elected on a wealth-redistribution platform, left the country at the end of his term. It was later discovered that he and his staff stole or transferred to the military an amount estimated at $1 billion. Poverty is rampant, along with its associated problems, especially among Mayans. According to the 2001 World Bank Guatemala Poverty Assessment (GUAPA), their malnutrition rate is 58%, life expectancy is 49, and illiteracy is 42%, the worst in Central America. According to the US Department of State, about 80% of the population lives in poverty, and about two-thirds of those live in extreme poverty. (Background: Guatemala, 02/07)

Today, the country is torn but on the path to recovery. Although current economic growth is massively favoring wealthier Guatemalans, daily life is no longer interrupted by violence, labor conditions have improved, and indigenous cultures are no longer actively repressed by the government. The primary economic activity among rural Mayans is still sustenance farming, with some tourism and service sector activity.

That's where Mayan Co-op, and you, come in: we believe that together, we can provide a valuable, scalable, sustainable economic contribution to the Guatemalans that need it. So, with that in mind, thanks a lot for visiting, and we hope you find something you like =)