CAMINOS Update - March 2007

  The highpoint of the CAMINOS 10 th anniversary delegation to Guatemala were the two days spent in El Tesorito—the community that DJPC accompanied during its war-time displacement in the mountains through its hurricane-induced displacement in the lowlands to this home in the coastal region.

  Delegation members who have known the community over the years experienced a new found feeling of “hope” among the residents. In spite of the government having disempowered the Maya by splitting up the various Communities of Populations in Resistance and removing them from their ancestral homes, the people were strong and resilient. To those of us meeting them for the first time, the people exhibited pride in their accomplishments, strength, determination and purpose.

  Their graciousness was abundant. We were not there as observers, we were there as friends. We were welcomed into their homes where we ate together, shared stories, laughed and tried to sleep—amid a nocturnal animal chorus! We were delighted by the constant presence of the children—their interest, their aliveness, their happiness, their fresh promise of hope.

  All were struck by the level of accomplishment within the community. In seven years, houses, schools, a health clinic, a dental clinic, and a community center have been built. There is electricity (and 23 TV's!) and “running” water by hose hookup. There are tenditas (small shops with snacks and the basics) and a church and a bus to the main highway. The recent addition of a basico , a middle school, is a major achievement that will increase opportunities for the youth and the community as a whole.

  For the last two years, DJPC/CAMINOS has helped to sponsor the Promesa Partnership , supporting the work and training of community health promoters. We were impressed at seeing how medical needs are being met due to community initiative. El Tesorito is divided into sectors with one health promoter for every 30 families. The clinics are stocked with medicines and basic instruments.

  This is not to say that El Tesorito is without its challenges. There is no running water in either of the clinics. The government has not taken responsibility for the schools, so the community must secure its own funding sources. The water is not potable. While no one shows signs of desperate hunger, food security is a concern. Many children have chronic coughs. Small plots of land have been given to community members but they are not large enough to sustain a living. The men, the wage-earners, have no choice but to go to haciendas or the city for work, resulting in long separations from their families.

  El Tesorito's “progress” invariably raises questions. What does it mean for the continuation of Mayan culture? For now, the language has been preserved but what will happen with the next generation? For sure, the kids will embrace new conveniences, but how will these changes affect the social fabric of the community? We came away conflicted, although knowing that as outsiders, it is not for us to judge but to celebrate with the community of El Tesorito all that they are.

For a more detailed account of CAMINOS' work and the current situation in Guatemala, please visit www.denjustpeace.org/publications .