UPAVIM (Unidas Para Vivir Mejor) is located in a slum on the outskirts of Guatemala City. Slums arose as squatter settlements during the civil war of the 1980s. Our community, La Esperanza, continues to suffer from many of the social problems that characterize marginalized populations including gang violence, discrimination against women, domestic violence, alcoholism, drug addiction, child abuse, illiteracy, unemployment, malnutrition, insufficient health services, and a lack of suitable schools for our children.

The mission of UPAVIM is to empower women in La Esperanza by providing fair wages to support their families, and access to services that help improve their quality of life. Please find out more at www.upavim.org and shop our crafts at www.upavimcrafts.org. Thank you!