For Semana Santa (Easter) my host family had plans to visit other family members in a nearby city. Though I would have been welcome to go with them, I didn’t want to intrude on their time with family. Instead I spent the holiday in Xela with friends. It was very interesting to have the opportunity to participate in the Guatemalan Easter traditions.

My new home in Labor de Falla is about 20 minutes outside of Chimaltenango. This results in roughly an hour bus ride, depending on the driver, if I need to make a trip into the city. On one such trip a woman from my village sat down next to me and began to make small talk. I’m always happy for a chance to practice Spanish and was honoured that she took the initiative.

It turns out that she was close friends with the last Breaking the Silence intern who stayed in Labor de Falla. She told me about how this friendship gave her the courage to leave an abusive relationship. For economic reasons she has since returned and left again a total of three times, a statistic that is not unusual within the realm of domestic violence. Currently, her estranged husband spends most of his time outside of the village, leaving her in peace. However, she told me that she is thinking of leaving again because she knows she should not have to deal with the emotional and mental stress that results from sharing a home with her abuser.

I was taken aback by her willingness to share this very personal story with me, a complete stranger on the bus. I thanked her immensely and told her how brave I thought she was for fighting to provide her children with a better life. I also owe thanks to the previous intern for forming such a strong connection with this woman. Had it not been for their friendship I doubt she would have felt comfortable talking with me in the same way.

This woman’s story is not unique within the community, a fact she made very clear to me. What makes her unique is her determinedness to create change. She hopes to be a role model for other women in similar situations. Yet, she is limited by what she can do on a fruit seller’s salary. She is also limited by a reality wherein there are limited supports in place for women fleeing domestic violence. Guatemala only has two women’s shelters, one in the capital and one in Quetzaltenango, an hour and over three hours from Chimaltenango, respectively. It would be asking quite a lot of this woman, who has already sacrificed plenty in her struggle, to move away from her community, family, friends, and any sort of natural supports.

Within this sobering reality there is a shining beacon of hope: Tabita Levantate. The woman of this organization work everyday to improve the reality of the women in Chimaltenango and surrounding areas. As they provide legal and medical aid, motivational information sessions on topics ranging from health to positive relationships, and a space where woman, children, and men can come to talk, the effects of their work will improve the human’s right situation in the whole country.

Tabita Levantate is also limited by the economic reality of a country whose government spends a limited percentage of the budget on social programming. While this may change under the new government of Otto Perez Molina, the women of Tabitita Levantate are not holding their breath. They also aren’t waiting around. They have big dreams for their site, including the construction of a shelter that could house up to 8 women and their children as they transition into a permanent home free of violence. I know at least one woman who would benefit greatly from this dream becoming a reality.

Welcome to the Sahakarini internship blog. First, by way of introduction, I will begin by telling you a little about myself. I will assume that you are already familiar with the work of Sahakarini and if not I direct you to their home page.

My name is Odessa Sherbaniuk and I am a recent graduate of the University of Alberta, Augustana Campus‘ Global and Development Studies program. Yes, that’s quite a mouthful. To complicate the title even further, I will add that I also have a minor in Economics. I am Sahakarini’s first intern. As a result of this position I have been in Guatemala for the past two months and will be here until the end of June. My primary goals are to be of assistance to the Kaqchikel Presbytery(KP) in whatever way I can, connect with the communities that Sahakarini directly supports in order to increase public engagement with the projects, and pave the way to create a sustainable internship program that will be beneficial to the KP, communities, interns, and Sahakarini.

So what I have been up to for the past two months? It was decided that I would spend approximately 8 weeks prior to meeting with the KP to brush up on my language skills and get to know a bit about Guatemala. Of course, I did plenty of research before I arrived but reading about a place is not quite the same as living there. I spent a total of 5 weeks with Kie Balam Spanish School, which was a great way to fully immerse myself in language and culture. The school connected me with a excellent host family who included me in their family activities and went above and beyond to help me learn about Guatemala. In addition, there were also plenty of cultural activities arranged by the school, including a trip to see the process involved in making traditional clothing, visits to neighbouring rural villages, and potlucks.

The internship officially began this past week with me meeting the team at the KP office and starting my orientation. The executive director of Sahakarini and I visited many of the communities that participate in the microcredit and stoves and filters projects. We also had the opportunity to visit the company that makes the stoves. The same company provides the filters, which are imported from Europe. Our final visit was to Tabita Levantate where the KP has partnered with another local organization that assists women who have experienced family violence or who have been involved in the sex trade. Tabita Levantate has been steadily helping more and more women and children since they opened their doors 4 years ago.

The first week of the internship was busy and there was a lot of information to take in. Despite the challenges of the long days it was a positive experience and I feel more prepared to engage with the communities.

So now you know what I have been up to. I look forward to hearing your questions and comments!

A few days ago I came home to find that my host mother had exciting news. She promptly took me over to the cooking area and showed me a box full of chicks. Recently she had decided to start her own business as a chicken vender. For her, these little balls of fluff represent a lot more than a potential source of income. The reason she is so excited about them, she said, is because she wants to prove to herself that she can be successful in this endeavour.

What makes living with this family so interesting is that Brenda, also known as my host-mum, is 22 years old just like me. Obviously, our 22 years of life have been very different. I personally can’t really imagine what it would be like to be responsible for managing a farm and raising a 6 month old baby at this point in my life. Her husband works in shifts, 72 hours on and 2 days off, an hour away. This frequently leaves her on her own to deal with whatever challenges may arise. Anyone who has lived on a farm knows that challenges pop up rather often.

She is a person with an irrepressible spirit. Every morning she wakes up and sings a song of thanksgiving to the baby because she wants him to grow up to appreciate his blessings. Rarely does she walk anywhere since she is constantly running from task to task. I think that her zest for life and energy will take her far in the chicken business. Likely, there will be hardships- chicks may die or prices may drop. Still, I am confident that she will be successful. I am happy for the opportunity to get to know this inspiring woman and share a moment in her life.

Because a picture is worth a thousand words, here’s what has happened the past few weeks, told through photos:

Welcome to the Sahakarini internship blog. First, by way of introduction, I will begin by telling you a little about myself. I will assume that you are already familiar with the work of Sahakarini and if not I direct you to their home page.

My name is Odessa Sherbaniuk and I am a recent graduate of the University of Alberta, Augustana Campus‘ Global and Development Studies program. Yes, that’s quite a mouthful. To complicate the title even further, I will add that I also have a minor in Economics. I am Sahakarini’s first intern. As a result of this position I have been in Guatemala for the past two months and will be here until the end of June. My primary goals are to be of assistance to the Kaqchikel Presbytery(KP) in whatever way I can, connect with the communities that Sahakarini directly supports in order to increase public engagement with the projects, and pave the way to create a sustainable internship program that will be beneficial to the KP, communities, interns, and Sahakarini.

So what I have been up to for the past two months? It was decided that I would spend approximately 8 weeks prior to meeting with the KP to brush up on my language skills and get to know a bit about Guatemala. Of course, I did plenty of research before I arrived but reading about a place is not quite the same as living there. I spent a total of 5 weeks with Kie Balam Spanish School, which was a great way to fully immerse myself in language and culture. The school connected me with a excellent host family who included me in their family activities and went above and beyond to help me learn about Guatemala. In addition, there were also plenty of cultural activities arranged by the school, including a trip to see the process involved in making traditional clothing, visits to neighbouring rural villages, and potlucks.

The internship officially began this past week with me meeting the team at the KP office and starting my orientation. The executive director of Sahakarini and I visited many of the communities that participate in the microcredit and stoves and filters projects.  We also had the opportunity to visit the company that makes the stoves. The same company provides the filters, which are imported from Europe. Our final visit was to Tabita Levantate where the KP has partnered with another local organization that assists women who have experienced family violence or who have been involved in the sex trade. Tabita Levantate has been steadily helping more and more women and children since they opened their doors 4 years ago.

The first week of the internship was busy and there was a lot of information to take in. Despite the challenges of the long days it was a positive experience and I feel more prepared to engage with the communities.

So now you know what I have been up to. I look forward to hearing your questions and comments!

Together with partners, Sahakarini is able to provide needed stoves.

In Guatemala, a leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age is respiratory disease. This is due in large measure to carbon monoxide exposure from the indoor fire pits traditionally used for cooking. There is also a huge risk that children will be burned. Environmentally, the practice of indoor pit fires requires plenty of fire wood, and contributes significantly to the rapid deforestation of the countryside.

The solution our parnter has identified is a safer, more fuel-efficient and affordable stove. ONIL stoves, produced and assembled in the area, raise the fire off the ground, enclose it, and pipe smoke out of the house. They are inexpensive, easy to assemble, and easy to maintain and repair.

Clean, Safe, reliable water sources can also be a problem in the Chimaltenango area. Water-borne illnesses are common. In response to this our partners offer a home-based water filter. Relying on gravity, these simple 2-bucket systems will provide 10 gallons of clean water per day.

For both the stoves and water filters, Sahakarini provides 80% of the purchase price. Recipients pay the rest, and participate in training sessions on the use and maintenance of these tools. in 2010-2011, the Kaqchikel Presbytery plans to distribute 150 stoves and filters.

Guatemalan Women working with the vegetables grown through their micro-credit funded small business

In Guatemala we are providing loans to 53 rural women in three villages to help them with small businesses that will earn them better incomes. Some will grow and sell vegetables, raise chickens, sell eggs and milk; some will make and sell aloe shampoo; and some will make and sell crafts such as baskets and weaving. The money they earn will help their families and especially the children whom they will be able to afford to send to school. As the women pay back the loans, they can borrow again or others can borrow enough to get started.

As one of the women told us, “Our children will change the world.” The resilience, strength and hopefulness of these women who have suffered unspeakably during the civil war and are continuing to experience uncertainty even today, is remarkable and inspiring.

Our partner on this project is the Kaqchikel Presbytery, an indigenous church organization. It has as its goal that the communities it works with will reach better levels of organization, sustainable human development, consciousness, and participation in society without discrimination, and that this be an expression of the values and principles of the kingdom of God.

Little boy looking on

In Sierra Leone we have been involved for three years with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee helping farmers get re-established and develop a reliable food supply using work oxen. A long civil war in Sierra Leone destroyed most of the work animals and many of the crops. Farmers, some men and some women, are divided into groups of 10 and one person is chosen to be responsible for a team of oxen. The handlers are trained and seed rice is supplied. The farmers attend workshops and agree to repay the loan for the rice as well as to put some rice aside as seed for the following year.

With the third phase underway, 90 farmers are planting rice on expanded acreage using oxen.  Following the pattern of the first two phases, from July 1/06 to Mar 31/07, 30 new farmers (21 men and 9 women and their families) were registered; 3 farmers’ committees were formed; workshops were held; animals, implements and seed were procured. Unfortunately, yields in some areas were poor because of a lack of adequate rain for the rice crops. Nonetheless, all the loans from the phase 1 and 2 farmers were paid in full with interest except for the group which had the poorest crops. We hope for better rain and crops this year.

Rock Chipper at work

On the outskirts of Hyderabad, large numbers of Dalit and Tribal people have settled in hutments without benefit of water, sanitation, and other services. The adults have a 5% literacy rate and cannot get steady work. Most work as day labourers mainly as cleaners or rock chippers when work is available earning the equivalent of less than $600 per year.

The HOPE and Change Hutment Project, undertaken with partner organization, SERVE, an Indian non-governmental organization, will seek official recognition of these communities including ration or identity cards for the residents and where possible, title to small pieces of land so that they can establish permanent homes no longer fearful of eviction.

There are four main aspects to the project:

1) Community development to empower the residents to understand their situation and begin to solve problems effectively

2) Vocational training to help break the cycle of poverty. Residents will have the opportunity to take courses in practical nursing, sewing, driver/mechanics, and plumbing so that men and women can earn better livings for their families and begin to provide for education and health care.

3) Basic health care There are no government sponsored health facilities in these communities and private clinics are prohibitively expensive for these people both from the standpoint of fees, transportation, and lost work time for appointments, testing and treatment. There is a need for education about nutrition, sanitation, common diseases, and STDs including HIV/AIDS. The plan is to work toward better provision of services from outside while at the same time tending to the present needs.

4) Bridge support for HOPE School

Embedded in all aspects will be measures for giving women voice and choice they have not had before.