What is Global Family??? That is what I was wondering myself when I heard that an MCC group wanted to visit Global Family programs in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. What I found out is that Global Family is an exciting program that is helping make education possible for individuals and communities in countries all over the world. What fun I had working with this inter-generational group of 10 for a quick, six days in September. We visited various Global Family sponsored programs in the area of Altaverapaz (featured in the post "What's Happening in Altaverapaz) and I think I can say, that we all learned a lot! Thanks to the new SALTER's, Luke Penner and Paige Reuber, for joining us on the trip!
Taken from the Global Family website
http://www.mcc.org/globalfamily/
"Through Global Family, MCC's education sponsorship program, you help make creative, community-based education available to children and young adults. For more than 70 million children, going to school remains a dream, just out of reach. Their days are filled with working for survival or with domestic chores. Students who achieve education gain confidence and skills that enable them to improve their lives and their communities. As a sponsor, you receive two updates annually, including stories and photos of the program you're supporting. Will you join Global Family in making the dream of education come true?"
Walking down (and up!) to the community of Santo Tomas Xacalta, where we heard the following meaningful testimony to the value of education:
Maria Caal, 35, lives in Santo Tomas Xacalta, a rural Kekchi community located two hours away from Coban, the capital of the Alta Verapaz Department in Guatemala.She has been part of one of the 6 literacy groups that Fundameno is running and that are supported by MCC’s Global Family project.During a recent group visit, Maria shared the following:“Before, we indigenous women used to stay at home the whole day cleaning house, cooking, and taking care of our children.Our world was so small and our voices were soundless.But when we started to study and to learn how to read and write first in Kekchi and then in Spanish, our world became bigger. Now we are taking on other roles and we are aware of the needs of our families and the whole community.We have a say and our perspectives are being heard.We are able to participate in discussions and proposals in order to address the different needs in our families and communities; this is how education is transforming my life."
"intentional time to recognize that the world is not just" "working daily on your perceptions of what you have"
"shaping opinions, ideas, direction"
students at one of the children's centers we visited; each welcomed us with colorful signs and a song
In late August, I had the pleasure of meeting the MCC Meat Canner guys and spending a week traveling with them in El Salvador. We had a whirlind tour that included visiting four different chidren's programs, ANADES, MCC's partner organization, the communities of Torola and San Juan Cureñas, and the monument of the massacre that took place at El Mozote. We met and heard the stories of many individuals, adults and children alike, who have received the canned meat and other forms of MCC relief. It was a great opportunity for the group and myself to learn about the work of MCC in El Salvador and how this work has impacted families and communities.
children eating pupusas made with the canned meat
new friends in La Torola
lunch with community in San Jose Cureñas
greenhouse we helped work on that will benefit health center and community in La Torola
THE SOUNDS OF MOURNING Outside the sounds of mourning awake to the awkward daylight.
Amidst the fog and early movement a chorus of stray dogs bark with industrial timing;
biting and snarling at the violence and distrust of humanity which is engraved in the very bones they knaw.
The rapid rhythm of the corn mill erupts in the damp air as if the stone of the mountain still holds the echoes of gunfire in its sad memory.
A rooster crows, marking like Peter, the universal cold shoulder of denial which left this innocent country abandoned and betrayed. Yet, somewhere, a country baseline is heard, pulsing up and down across the fertile countryside resembling the eternal heart of Guatemala,
beating despite the ache and trauma of it past, present, and future. -John Wideman (Enlace 2009 leader) August 11th 2009
host brothers Akul, Nebaj
art activity with children in Panabaj, Santiago Atitlan
weaving day Akul, Nebaj
working on greenhouse for youth committee in Akul, Nebaj
recuerdos being challenged by Hector story session with John and Ghost Runner discussion with youth at Mennonite church getting ripped with Brendon Margarita and her profound comments being attacked by braiding children working on the greenhouse Don Pedro's stories in the cemetary "buen provecho" from Tomas at least 3 times a day you're safe and sound with me trout and mushrooms futbol in San Marcos Juan Pablo and his amazing songs crazy hiking day swimming in Atitlan with Diego and Juan Jose carrying soccer posts through the town the walk of our lives: carrying 20 tress on our backs up a mountain Addy's devotional dancing and singing together at the bonfire
working together on a weaving project with new friends from Akul, Nebaj
Jenny and the puppies
more art in Panabaj
LOVE YOU ENLACE 2009!!
Enlace is a program sponsored by MCC Ontario (http://www.mcc.org/ontario/enlace/). The 8 high school participants and two leaders, spent almost 5 weeks in Guatemala from July to August, studying Spanish and learning about the history and context of the country, followed by time spent living and working with communities in Nebaj, San Marcos, and Santiago Atitlan. To read more about their experience here, please check out the group's own blog: http://enlace2009.blogspot.com/
