Location

Palqui, San Miguel Uspantán, department of El Quiché in Guatemala

Palqui is a small community in the tierra caliente, the humid lowlands south of Uspantán. It doesn't rain much there, but the streams and tributaries flowing through the area can suddenly flood due to heavy rains in the highlands, and gullies and ravines can become raging rivers in seconds. The village of Palqui is divided into two parts by the river Qebrada Palqui, and over half of the children have to cross the river to get to school. Currently, they cross on a rickety plank at the bottom of a steep gully that is washed away almost every time it rains. During much of the rainy season, the river is impassable and students have to walk an hour out of the way to reach the schoolhouse. Teachers say that in times of flooding, attendance drops by half. A suspended footbridge in this beautiful community is a small investment with huge returns for the children of Palqui.

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