By Nancy Press Ph.D., Child Aid CEO
As other countries in Central America move increasingly toward authoritarian regimes, a miracle may be unfolding in Guatemala.
A little more than a week ago, Guatemalans elected to the presidency Bernardo Arévalo. A political moderate whose strong and vocal opposition to government corruption was a hallmark of his surprising campaign.
This unexpected win by an anti-corruption candidate, who also pledges to reform and improve the public health and educational system, gives me great hope for Child Aid. After years of oppression, the people of Guatemala have courageously turned out in droves and given their full-throated support for a Guatemalan future free from corruption and committed to democracy.Nothing is knowable at this point, and we wait on tenterhooks to see how the power handoff goes, but I am suddenly wondering aloud if this might mean an energized and empowered Ministry of Education. Could it yield opportunities for Child Aid to work in alliance with the Ministry? Might it mean that the entrepreneurial and professional class in Guatemala, stifled for generations, could build a local economy brimming with jobs and economic opportunities that makes investment in education a no-brainer? None of this is knowable, but this election miracle could open new doors and opportunities for our organization. So, we watch this post-election season with cautious optimism.
Nancy