Rome (Fides Service) – This is the balance in the past decade after 36 years of civil war. Children see their parents murdered, children subject to torture and sexual abuse. Children who still today have serious psychological problems in most cases: phobia, nightmares, sleeplessness, panic, violent attitudes.
In favour of Guatemala NGO Intervita, founded in 1999 to improve living conditions of the poorest people in the world, signed an agreement with United Nations Development Programme to promote participation of society in the building of democracy.
In 53 schools of the country, 3,000 minors aged 11-14 years will benefit from education days organised to form young people within a process of peace and development in their country. Formation on the historical reconstruction of the civil war, and on tolerance to facilitate assimilation of values such as respect, democracy, justice, interculture. AP (Fides Service 24/11/2003; lines 20; words 190)