GYI’s Mission
GYI’s Mission is to reduce unplanned teen pregnancy, promote gender equality, and empower young mothers in extremely marginalized communities near the Guatemala City landfill that struggle with high levels of violence, crime, and poverty.
GYI’s Vision
Our vision is to see youth improving their own wellbeing and reaching their full potencial because they were able to exercise their sexual and reproductive health rights and make informed decisions about family planning and parenting.
Our goals
Board of Directors
Scotney Young
Board Chair
Greg Lowden
President
Pablo Callejas
Vice President
Felix Pinado
Treasurer
Susana Media
Hannah Corado
John Sweeney
Mayda Paiz
Our Story
Guatemala Youth Initiative (GYI) worked alongside several partner organizations from 2014 to 2017 to implement youth development programs in Guatemala City, including education, youth mentorship, family counseling, and child care services. In an effort to concentrate the organization’s resources, GYI conducted a study in 2017 to identify gaps in youth development services and focus on fulfilling unmet needs. Teen pregnancy stood out as the biggest issue facing youth-at-risk. Even some of our scholars experienced an unplanned teen pregnancy as we conducted the study. One of them, Karol, spoke out about the need for youth to receive comprehensive sexual education and access contraception. Over half the adolescent population in marginalized communities near the Guatemala City landfill become teen parents. There are virtually no services available for sexual education, contraception or maternal education in these communities.
In 2018, GYI opened its very own youth center near the Guatemala City landfill to reduce unplanned teen pregnancy and support teen mothers with early childhood development. The organization uses a multifaceted approach with programs for comprehensive sexual education, youth leadership, contraception, and maternal education.
In 2019, GYI partnered with over a dozen schools to provide comprehensive sexual education to 1,200 students. The clinic provided over 500 consultations for short-acting contraception and information about sexual and reproductive health. The maternal education program reached over 50 young women through maternal education workshops, support groups, and early childhood stimulation classes.
In 2020, GYI expanded its contraceptive services by partnering with Women’s International Network for Guatemalan Solutions (WINGS) to operate the clinic, providing free access to both short-acting and long-acting reversible contraceptive methods.
From 2021-2023, the organization has expanded services to two other regions of the city that surround the landfill, which our home to roughly 160,000 people living in marginalized communities. The organization’s programs currently reach around 2,000 youth annually.