In the spotlight: San Marcos

As some of you may know, the programs in San Marcos were recently featured in MCC's magazine A Common Place.  This was an exciting opportunity to highlight the positive things that are happening there; things many of you have played a role in shaping in either big or small ways.*  We encourage you to take the time to read the stories and reconnect to this part of the world as expressed in A Common Place Spring edition!

The issue of gold mining is something that is easily associated with San Marcos, and again, something that many of you have been able to learn about first hand during your visits here.  News reports of the conflict that exists around these types of mega-projects abound in both Guatemala and other parts of the world (see here and here).  I was recently given a book entitled "Damned Nations" which I would highly recommend reading if you are interested in digging even deeper into these issues; see here for an analysis of this book by Canadian author Samantha Nutt.

It is our hope that as participants in Connecting Peoples service learning experiences, you continue to stay connected to your experience here once you return home.  It is always encouraging to read reflections like this one from Enlace 2011 participant, Emma Nussli, which serves as a reminder of  the long-term impact of these types of experiences.  One of the CP program goals for this year is to put together an advocacy tool-kit that will provide you with concrete information and tips on how to advocate around the complicated issues you were exposed to while here; please stay tuned for more on that in the coming months.  Also, in our desire to support friends' projects, another way you could stay connected to Guatemala and San Marcos is to consider returning for a longer visit and possibly studying Spanish at El Migrante Spanish School, a new language school right in the heart of San Marcos.  And, for one final reflection on San Marcos and the work of MCCer Nate Howard, watch "Guatemala:  Assisting farmers, empowering communities".

MCC photo Melissa Engle

http://acommonplace.mcc.org/acp/2012/04_06/cover_story.html

*The recent University of Saskatchewan group was the very first group to spend a night in the tourist cabaña in La Vega del Volcan, something many of you have supported the construction of.  Pictures coming soon of this exciting moment in the La Vega co-op's history!  Likewise, the local tourism management board in Sibinal, San Marcos has started a campaign to attract more tourist to the area, promoting visits to La Vega and the projects there.  Their website is under construction but is yet another sign of the positive development happening in the area.