Guatemala in Central America was ruled for many years by military regimes, during which 200,000 people lost their lives. The country is now ruled by a civilian government; however, crime and violence are still widespread. Approximately half of the Guatemalan population lives in poverty and 13.7% of them live in extreme poverty.

Paso de Caballos is a rural village on the southeast corner of Guatemala’s largest protected area. The indigenous village is home to approximately 1,500 inhabitants, all of whom are migrant Q’eqchi families. They rely on subsistence agriculture and seasonal labor on coffee and maize farms to survive.