US Marines have been deployed to Guatemala to conduct humanitarian civic assistance as part of SOUTHCOM’s Beyond the Horizon exercise. The Marines are working to advance economic opportunity in neighborhoods across Guatemala to help reduce the surge of migrants headed to the US southern border and strengthen US partnerships.

These Marines are tasked with building a trained, educated, and highly competent workforce with local partners like The National Institute of Diversified Education (INED). INED is a vocational school in Los Olivos, Guatemala that provides education to Guatemalan youth to assist them in find employment and strengthen Guatemala’s economy.

The students attending training to become automotive mechanics at INED currently only have textbooks to learn from. They need professional auto mechanic equipment, for hands-on training, to allow them to master the skills required to succeed in the workforce.

With your support, Spirit of America will donate the automotive mechanic equipment the US Marines need to help the Guatemalan students. This effort will build stronger relationships with the Marines and their local partners as they work to provide opportunities and hope for the people of Guatemala.