The Garífuna of Guatemala: on Migration, HIV and Communities in Resistance

Ingrid Gamboa is a human rights advocate for Garinagu men and women living with HIV aids. For thirty-three years she has served as Statistics and Medical Registers Manager at Livingston’s Medical Center, in eastern Guatemala. Ingrid is also the founder of Hábitat for Humanity of Livingston and the Asociación de Mujeres Garífunas Viviendo con VIH y Sida (Garífuna Women Association Living with HIV and Aids). Through these organizations, she has assisted families from the rural and urban regions obtain housing assistance. Her role as president and legal representative of the Garífuna Women Association Living with HIV and Aids, allows her to educate and offer preventative programs that have slowed-down HIV/Aids cases currently affecting the Garífuna community of Izabal. Ingrid’s labor expands to other countries in Central America like Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua, and Panamá. At present, Ingrid is also the Vice President of ONECA (Organización Negra Centroamericana/ Black Central American Organization). She advocates for protecting Garinagu rights of land, political, cultural, economic, and human rights of the Afro-descendent communities of Central America, North America, and the Caribbean