A thank you from the charities to all the kind donors:

As the Coronavirus crisis reaches it's peak in Guatemala, we are raising funds for the country's Emergency Relief Effort. Our school, Spanish Marks, is based in Guatemala and we are seeing first-hand the devastating consequences the virus is having on already-vulnerable communities.

Before the pandemic, nearly 60% of Guatemala's population lived in poverty and it had one of the highest rates of infant malnutrition in the world. The economic fallout of Coronavirus is worsening this situation with deadly consequences.

All funds raised will go to 3 charities which are providing food and medical essentials to those in need: Asociación IDEI, Entremundos and Asociación Fatima. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, these charities have completely re-focused all their efforts in providing Emergency Relief. Our school has been working closely with these charities over the years and have seen how they are a lifeline for local communities.

WHERE FUNDS WOULD GO:

£5 will buy a family essential PPE, such as hand sanitising gels and face masks.

£10 will provide a family with food for a week.

£20 will provide a family with food and medicine for a week

£50 will help transport essential supplies to remote communities which have been cut off due to the pandemic's restrictions.

WHY HELP IS NEEDED:

The government has put in strict restrictions, including daily curfews, closing of businesses and suspension of public transportation. Whilst this has helped to control the pandemic, it has also resulted in a new humanitarian crisis.

The majority of the population live hand-to-mouth and with no ability to earn a living, widespread hunger is consuming the country. A recent article in The Guardian showed how "Guatemala's white flags indicate pandemic's deadly side-effect: hunger".

Your support is crucial in helping those in need survive this crisis.