Duchess of Edinburgh visits Guatemala, 15–16 Nov

Across 15–16 November 2025, the Duchess of Edinburgh visited Guatemala to meet child-protection groups and to see conservation work linked to the Maya Forest. We’ve pulled together the key stops and ideas you can use in class this week. The British Embassy in Guatemala City says the visit focused on environmental conservation, human rights and the empowerment of women and young people.

At La Alianza Guatemala (ALA), the Duchess met girls receiving specialist support after trafficking, sexual violence, forced migration and early pregnancy. Staff explained how a rights‑based model shapes safeguarding, therapy and education. What this means: when we say “rights‑based”, we mean services designed around a child’s safety, consent and long‑term independence.

She then visited Street Kids Direct (SKD) in Guatemala City, a project helping children on the streets or at high risk of homelessness. Founder Duncan Dyason MBE and local mentors use outreach, one‑to‑one mentoring, family support and education sponsorship; the arts workshops she saw are a simple way to rebuild confidence and routine. Classroom angle: talk about “protective factors” and how a trusted adult can improve attendance and wellbeing.

Over lunch with Guatemalan women leaders, conversations covered progress and the barriers that still block women’s leadership. If you’re teaching citizenship or PSHE, ask students to map what helps or holds back participation-childcare access, safety online and offline, and fair pay are good starting points.

Later, meetings with President Bernardo Arévalo and Vice‑President Karin Herrera underlined the UK–Guatemala relationship, including biodiversity conservation, human development and good governance. In plain English, “bilateral” simply means two countries agreeing how to work together-on climate data, justice reforms or scholarships. You could ask: what would you put top of the agenda?

The day closed with a reception at Guatemala’s National Museum of History, used to celebrate ties between the UK and Guatemala. These receptions bring together people who may collaborate later-NGOs, scientists, educators and officials-so they can share projects and make plans.

On Sunday the visit moved north to Tikal National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects both a major Maya city and a tropical forest rich in wildlife. What this means: UNESCO status brings international recognition and protection standards that help fund research, conservation and education.

Near Tikal, Uaxactún’s community manages an 83,558‑hectare forest concession and sells carefully selected timber plus non‑timber products such as xate palm, gum, allspice and copal. The stop highlighted how community forestry supports incomes and climate resilience; the area also benefits from the UK‑funded Biodiverse Landscapes Fund working across northern Mesoamerica. Try a geography task on sustainable supply chains.

For lesson planning, you can connect geography (tropical forests and World Heritage), history (Maya civilisations) and citizenship (child protection and leadership). Media literacy tip: always check primary sources for dates and venues-the British Embassy’s release was published on 17 November 2025, and the Royal Household set out the wider trip schedule the week before.