Opportunities for My Community Project

The project, implemented by USAID and the Inter-American Dialogue, links remittances, education and savings to promote economic and human development in Guatemala. It works to engage the Guatemalan government and the diaspora with the country’s development through resource mobilisation directed toward educational programs within Guatemala. The project has supported diaspora engagement through partnerships with Guatemalan Hometown Associations (HTAs), for example HTAs contacted teachers to teach and then the project trained them, monitored the classes, and provided educational materials. The Project has also collaborated with remittance companies to engage the Guatemalan diaspora in addressing development obstacles. For example, it collaborated with the companies Dolex and Viamericas and delivered about 20,000 informational brochures to Guatemalan remittance senders, raising awareness about the importance of financial literacy in Guatemala. The Ministry of Education works with local schools and diaspora organizations to implement after school education programs funded by the diaspora.