Louis Vuitton for UNICEF: Follow the LV Reporters in Guatemala
Since 2016, Louis Vuitton has been committed to working alongside UNICEF to promote and protect children’s rights around the world. Through the sale of the Silver Lockit collection and the involvement of its employees, the House has raised over €24 million to help the most vulnerable children and their families.
In the fall of 2024, six LV Reporters were selected from employees worldwide to meet the beneficiaries of UNICEF-supported programs in Guatemala. Linda, CK, Mena, Jorge, Danni, and Benoit became ambassadors and spokespersons for the Louis Vuitton for UNICEF partnership.
On the first day, the visit to the village of San Juan Ermita, in the Chiquimula region, gave our LV Reporters the opportunity to discover the achievements and impact of WASH programs dedicated to water, hygiene, and sanitation in rural areas. In Guatemala, 41% of households do not have access to running water, a situation particularly prevalent in rural areas like San Juan Ermita. Through a presentation of the initiatives implemented in this community, the LV Reporters learned how the methodology established has supported the municipality and fostered collaboration with the private sector to develop essential sanitation programs. These concerted efforts have led to a major advancement: every home in the village now has access to running water, significantly improving the health and daily well-being of its inhabitants.
On the second day, our LV Reporters visited the border between Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador to observe how the Children on the Move program provides essential assistance to families in transit, in a situation of extreme precariousness and vulnerability. Guatemala, a key transit point on the migration route between South America and North America, faces complex challenges. In the first half of 2024, 40% of migrants identified at the southern border were children, averaging 403 children per day. These children and their families face significant risks, including crime, violence, exploitation, and lack of access to essential services.
As part of the Children on the Move program, UNICEF has deployed a mobile health unit near the border, where doctors and psychologists provide primary medical care, distribute hygiene kits, ensure access to clean water, and offer psychosocial support. These units play a critical role in addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of these highly vulnerable populations, with whom the LV Reporters had the opportunity to engage.
The day continued with a visit to the Esquipulas Health Center, which addresses the health needs of the local population and people in transit, and concluded at the Casa del Migrante San José, supported by UNICEF, which provides shelter, showers, meals, and medical services to families on the move.
On the final day, our LV Reporters visited a community center in Camotán to discover the early childhood development programs supported by UNICEF. They observed activities aimed at supporting the psychomotor development of children and interacted with them through play. This visit allowed the Reporters to better understand how UNICEF supports the Guatemalan government in strengthening policies and systems dedicated to early childhood, particularly by providing essential training to parents.
This field experience left a deep impression on the LV Reporters, who witnessed the resilience of the children and families they met, as well as the role and crucial impact of UNICEF. Since their return, Linda, CK, Mena, Jorge, Danni, and Benoit have been sharing their stories to mobilize the Louis Vuitton community and raise awareness about UNICEF’s mission and the support of Louis Vuitton. Like them, join Louis Vuitton in turning your convictions into action.