CARE Guatemala is the Guatemala country office of CARE USA, the global humanitarian and development organization founded in 1945 and active in more than 120 countries. With more than five decades of continuous work in Guatemala, CARE has built strong partnerships with public institutions, community organizations, and women’s networks to advance gender equality and address the structural drivers of poverty, exclusion, and violence. Across its work, the organization focuses on creating pathways for young people and communities to build safer, more equitable, and economically secure futures.

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With support from the Citi Foundation, CARE is implementing Creating Opportunities for Youth, a regional initiative in Guatemala and El Salvador designed to expand economic opportunities for young people ages 14 to 24 through formal employment and entrepreneurship pathways. The program will support 2,550 young people through technical, financial, and digital skills training developed in partnership with the private sector. In El Salvador, CARE is collaborating with industry partners to deliver Industry 4.0-aligned technical training and paid internships in the plastics sector, helping young people transition into formal employment. In Guatemala, the program focuses on youth entrepreneurship and self-employment through innovative business incubation and 21st-century skills development. Across both countries, the initiative also strengthens financial education and digital inclusion to help young people build long-term economic stability and more sustainable livelihoods.

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