Spring Break Re-cap

We are back! After three weeks of spring break groups, we had the final week of March off due to Easter. It was a well-timed break, because even though the spring break groups were incredibly enjoyable, they were also extremely exhausting. Ja and I were able to escape to a small island off the coast of Panama for the majority of the week; it was so peaceful and rejuvenating- basically exactly what we needed. But enough about the week we had off; I should probably do a little summary of spring break!

We had spring break groups from four different universities, and they were all so amazing. All the spring break groups were special in their own right and brought a crazy amount of enthusiasm with them to Chaq! We were able to accomplish all the planned projects, mostly without a hitch. Of course, being in Guatemala, we dealt with some logistical issues. But our volunteers took all of this in stride. Here is what we were able to accomplish in just three short weeks: 

                                 construct a fence around a community garden,

                        paint the interior and exterior of the Central school,

 do recycled art projects with students of Cooperativa and Central,

 administer fluoride to grades 3-6 and most of the teachers at all four schools, 

give dental talks to all four schools,

as well as give nutrition talks to both Cooperativa and Central schools, and distribute toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to all four schools. 

I put together videos from the Vanderbilt and UGA/UNC spring break trips so far. UAB is on its way though! Check out the two finished ones by clicking on the links below:

Vanderbilt Spring Break Video

UGA/UNC Spring Break Video

Now that we are back, Sarah and I are starting to plan for the arrival of summer volunteers. The first batch arrives in just over a month, so we are knee-deep in schedule, budgets, orientation planning, and more preparing for their arrival. We are expecting about eight volunteers per 4-week session, so the site will be packed with volunteers. All these volunteers will be helpful in the new programs that we are planning to offer, hopefully within the upcoming weeks! Possibilities include computer classes for adults and art classes for students at Cooperativa and Central.

Julie 

Switching it Up

In an organization based around collaborative community development, who should have the power?

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Monday marked the beginning of a new school year in Chaquijyá and a big change for the Manna Guatemala team. After several discussions, we have decided to pull out of teaching in school classes in Central and switch to an after school format that we already use in Cooperativa across the street.

There are some very real benefits to after school English. For starters, after school classes allow us, as teachers, more liberty and control over the curriculum. We will be using our time more efficiently by mixing 3rd - 6th graders in only two classes instead of individually entering seven separate classrooms during the school day. Furthermore, because the classes are now optional they will be filled with kids that are motivated and sincerely want to learn English.

Teaching 4th grade English in school

Of course we cannot ignore the drawbacks to this change. The community, from the beginning, has voiced their desire for us to teach English in schools. Our announcement of the changing format was therefore met with some resistance by the principal and the teachers who will now have to resume teaching English themselves. While this may be concerning, I think we have to be realistic and realize that we do not have the manpower to be teaching 20 individualized classes a week in one school and still managing to teach 6 classes a week in another school. Our organization’s mission is not to teach English; it’s much more holistic than that. Manna is about collaborative, community-based development. Although it was never one of our original plans, we have run in-school English for a year and a half because the community asked for it. At this point, I think we have earned the right to tweak a program that is neither sustainable nor efficient.

We have learned from experience that new ideas and change are often met with resistance. Both summer camp and the bottle school project were unpopular when first suggested, but the tides have since changed and the community has shown their support by paying for their children to attend summer camp and helping to collect bottles for the school. 

A 6-year-old's take on English greetings

During our development talks, the issue has often come up whether we are forcing our ideas upon Chaquijyá. At this point the answer is frankly, yes, sometimes we do.  This is obviously dangerous because we are assuming we know what’s best for this community. On the other hand without us pushing, new opportunities would rarely arise. In the ideal situation, community members would be the ones coming up with new ideas and we would be there to help implement them. It’s a delicate balance and one that we certainly don’t enter into lightly. For me, the distinction comes with the question, why? Why are people resistant? Sometimes the answer is that they just need a better explanation and a clearer understanding of the proposed project. Sometimes people need to see a program in action before they can realize its benefits. However, when a program that has been fully explained and maybe even put through a trial period is still met with resistance, then it’s time to admit that this program is perhaps flawed and not well-suited for the community. 

Bottle school under construction.. after much debate

Chaquijyá has not reached the ideal situation, honestly we wouldn’t be here if it had. But, we are working toward that goal. The awesome part is that our pushing appears to be working. I can see the community starting to reach towards their full potential instead of settling for the status quo.  One of the clearest examples is how quickly the community has taken ownership of the bottle school addition. Six months ago we still had a lot of skeptics and now they are the ones pushing us to continue moving forward with construction.

Back to the topic at hand, my goals for the after school English program are to give motivated kids a strong foundation in English and spark their interest in continuing their education. The success and future of the program will be measured by attendance and performance. I hope that the community sees the benefits of this different approach. At the same time, I’m prepared to scrap the changes if they prove unsuccessful because, in the end, I don’t know best.

-Emily

Tell Me What You Really Think

I attend general assembly meetings in Chaquijyá monthly to share with interested attendees MPI's current happenings and ask for suggestions and/or questions. Generally I get polite nods and blank stares, followed by an applause as I exit the stage. Today there are about 200 people, men, women and children, and most of them are talking all at once in everything from a whisper to a shriek. Yes, the meeting has started, but you wouldn't know it. I always wish I spoke/understood Kaqchikel, but now more than ever (although I'm sitting on stage wearing a shirt that says "peanut butter jelly time," so yes, I'm still thankful for the language barrier). Finally, the woman sitting next to me explains that they're fighting about a bridge that's being built. She tells me that two sectors--Saloj and Julajuj--do not want to support the project.

So it appears Chaquijyá is split into teams by last names, like color war at summer camp. In fact, in Chaquijyá, you have a team even before you have a first name. If it were real color war, the teams would go something like: green Gonzalez, silver Saloj, yellow Yumil, purple Palax... but I digress.

Blue team huddle

People are speaking on behalf of their own clan, and following each speech, ardent supporters yell "aye!" as I imagine people did when writing the Declaration of Independence. Then come the wave of "nays" as if we're talking about reinstating Prohibition. 

What I've realized sitting here is that I want this. I want to talk about summer camp and hear a commotion brewing, I want to be berated with questions and concerns when I talk about teaching English, I want people to shout and scream, to aye and nay, to voice their opinion whatever it may be, because mainly I want people to care. Positive or negative, input means people care about the outcome, but it's easier said than done. You can't assemble a group of people and ask them to care, people need to choose to care on their own. So I will happily sit through these four hour meetings, understanding nothing, but happy hoping that with time they will yell at me, question me, and boo something I suggest... I'll also take positive feedback.

Dana

Do you have questions, concerns or feedback for us? Leave a comment!

Further Reading:
The Second Principle of Community-Based International Development: Process Matters
Effecting Change Starts with the Community by Noah Marwil
Spotting Community Ownership
Listening to People on the Receiving End of Aid

In Search of a "Better Life"

If you've been following this blog for awhile, you're probably aware that MPIG is in a period of transition: our year-one PDs have been despedida-ed (some of them more than once!), and year two is in full swing. My name is Kelsey, and I'm pleased to bring you the first post from MPIG team 2011-2012 (read about the new team here).

Last month, the New York Times published this article by Damien Cave. In it, Cave explores the recent decline in illegal immigration to the US from Mexico, which is currently the lowest it’s been since the 1950s. Many Mexicans living in the States have started returning (of their own volition) to their native country. This fact, combined with the sharp decline in illegal traffic to the US, indicates that net traffic may even be negative.

Cave attributes the phenomenon to the fact that those living in Mexico now have access to “better lives” than ever before. But what constitutes this “better life”? The term is a general one—fittingly so. The idea of a “better life” simplifies development theory into what we all know and understand. In Mexico, that change has occurred over the past half-century. The nation has metamorphosed into a more prosperous and economically stable country. Today, Mexican people enjoy rapidly developing educational opportunities, increases in per capita GDP, and expanding job markets. Overlook the drug wars (which are, depending on who you talk to, somewhat contained), and Mexico is a pretty great place to be at the moment.

I like to imagine that Guatemala may be on the same path as Mexico—just a few decades behind. Like many of the world’s struggling countries, Guatemala suffers from a combination of illiteracy and unemployment that plagued Mexico just a few decades ago. And while economic and educational opportunities have contributed to Mexico’s progress, Cave identifies an important cultural change as well: declining birth rates. Smaller families don’t experience the financial burden that comes with feeding ten (or more) children. This is a notoriously difficult issue in Guatemala, where conservative values dominate indigenous culture, regardless of religious affiliation. This weekend I spoke with a cab driver in Guatemala City who attributed much of his country’s current struggles to the fact that, outside the city, discussing sexual health or family planning was tantamount to un pecado: a sin.

And as large families divide farmable land among multiple children (in accordance with traditional inheritance practices), new generations have less and less resources with which to feed their children. A family of twelve may be forced to feed itself using only a fifth of the land with which the previous generation accomplished the same task. Recent government programs have attempted to address the issue by distributing bolsas, bags of food staples like eggs and beans, to families in need. But these programs fluctuate as administrations change, and food often does not end up in the mouths of the children who struggle most to fend off chronic malnutrition. The alternative? Seek income elsewhere. Many Guatemalans do so by cooperating with drug cartels. Or they immigrate to the United States.

As Americans, we often ignore the fact that immigration is a global, international issue. We tend to isolate the issue from the other social and economic issues in other nations to which it is inextricably tied. But if Cave’s analysis of the transformation in Mexico is correct, then immigration is part of a broader picture: the multifaceted process by which struggling nations develop. Cave’s article provides a macro example of what Manna Project’s small-scale models are based on: holistic development. No one change in a culture or economy can catapult a community—or a nation—into prosperity.

Reflections and Retreats

One of my favorite perks about being a Program Director is the retreats that MPI requires all PD’s to take each quarter, once every 3 months. Financed by the organization, these retreats not only allow PD’s to get to know another part of their host country, but they also provide a space away from work in which PD’s can further bond as a team and develop their group dynamic and vision.

Last Monday, my coworkers and I returned from our second retreat, in which we spent six days in the tropical climate of Guatemala’s Caribbean coast. The trip began with a lengthy, yet luxurious charter bus ride to the port town of Puerto Barrios from where we snagged a water taxi bound for Livingston. We then spent two days in Livingston listening to reggae, relaxing at postcard beaches, and venturing into the jungle where they filmed the original Tarzan movie. Following these excursions, we boated up the Rio Dulce to Lake Izabal, the largest lake in Guatemala, and to our pleasant surprise, both the river and the lake exceeded the guidebook descriptions

Picture a tranquil, brilliant blue river narrowly enclosed in a steep canyon whose walls are masked by cascading green plants and flowers. Innumerable white herons are nesting in the nearby shrubbery, cormorants are disappearing and emerging amidst the gentle waves, and flocks of prowling pelicans are diving into the water in search of fish. Eventually, the river opens into a lake so immense that you cannot see the mountains encasing the far shore. Now, picture yourself on a small boat amidst this nirvana. Let me tell you, it is nearly impossible not to ponder the world and your life, when you are surrounded by such an idyllic environment.

Following this reflective voyage up the river, we kayaked and tanned for one day at the isolated Denny’s Beach Resort on Lake Izabal, then stayed the remainder of the retreat in Rio Dulce town at a rustic hostel nestled into the jungle. The capstone of the trip, on the last day, we visited Finca Paraiso, the world’s only hot water waterfall. Though we all left the falls drenched in the rotten-egg smell imparted by the sulfur, it was worth every scent to be able to stand in a cool stream while simultaneously being showered by hot water. Dana and Jared, brave souls, even jumped off of the falls into the pool below.

Possibly due to my love of Bob Marley, or my passion for all things aquatic, or maybe even my weird obsession with humidity, I found the coast to be an ideal retreat location. More than eight hours away from our home and comfort zones in Sololá, my coworkers and I were able to explore unfamiliar locations together and come together as a team. Amidst the rewarding chaos of directing programs, fulfilling organizational roles, and maintaining relationships with community members and other expat volunteers, we sometimes forget to spend time together as a group. Immersed in our relationships as coworkers, we sometimes overlook our relationships as friends. I am so grateful for the retreat, as it reminded us of the importance of these friendships.

While our time with MPIG offers us a unique professional experience in the field of international development, the position of Program Director also allows us to form lifelong relationships both with community members and with our coworkers/housemates. As our time with the organization draws to a close, we must remember to cherish and cultivate these friendships. 25 years later, we may or may not remember the details of a 6^th English lesson plan, yet I am certain we will recall the memories we make together as friends. Our work will always be a priority and will shape us into our future selves. However, every person we meet, every friendship we form will also become a part of us and we must remember to treasure those relationships and each other.

Peace,
     Ginny

Think Fast

Approximately 1 billion people currently experience hunger. According to World Vision International, about 1 in 4 of the world’s children suffer from malnourishment, and about 5 million children will die this year from hunger-related causes.  

This year, in order to further our understanding of global hunger, the Program Directors at all three MPI sites participated in the 30-hour fast organized by World Vision International. Though allowed to consume fruit juice, we were highly encouraged not to consume solid foods or coffee (eek!).  In addition to the fast, PD’s also participated in service activities organized through their respective sites, and related developmental discussions. In Guatemala, we began our fast with an hour of service at a local feeding program and then conducted dialogues in house and with the Ecuador PDs via Skype. The fast was both physically and emotionally taxing, but we all persevered.

To be honest, when I first learned about the fast, I was not crazy about it for numerous reasons. Primarily, any given day, I probably spend more time eating than not, and I was not sold on the idea of forgoing food for an entire 30 hours. Additionally, I felt several moral qualms on the matter. Who were we to expect that a mere day-long fast would allow us to empathize with the suffering and turmoil of hunger victims? Watching movies on laptops, drinking clean water, and cozily sitting in our warm beds, we would be surrounded by luxuries and in case of emergency, we would have a kitchen stocked with food. Not to mention, we would begin the fast knowing that in 30 hours we would consume copious amounts of food thus, never suffering through the anxiety of wondering the source of our next meal.

The fast also did not touch me initially on a personal level, as our physical experience of hunger would not resemble the experiences of the hungry in Chaquijyá, where many residents do suffer from chronic hunger. While many of them may only eat one meal a day, they do eat. Our experience would more closely resemble the hunger of victims of natural disasters or war, whose food sources are cut off very suddenly. Like I said, there were numerous reasons, so I was hesitant to believe that the fast would affect my perspectives on working in Chaquijyá.

Having successfully completed the fast, I cannot say if the experience will affect how I make my lesson plans or teach my classes, but I can say that the fast did prove to be more enlightening than I had expected. Namely, even if the fast did not radically change my thoughts on world hunger, the experience did make me think. Though the fast was not “authentic” per say, hunger dominated my thoughts for 30 hours and compelled me to ask more profound questions about myself and the larger issue. I realized that it is impossible for me to fathom the experience of chronic hunger. This realization excited in me both a rush of gratitude for the numerous blessings I am fortunate to enjoy, and also a larger appreciation for the resilience of people suffering from hunger. All over the world, people survive on minimal food and still work, struggling to support their families. 

I am so grateful for the smack-in-face, out-of-the-comfort-zone experience that was the fast. Sometimes I need a shock to my system to make me open my eyes and see the world around me more clearly.

Peace, Ginny

Why Expertise Isn't Enough

Last year at Vanderbilt I lived off-campus, in a house about seven blocks from school.  There was one slow stoplight between class and home, and over the months I came to know the duration and frequency of this light exactly.  That's why, every time there was traffic, I knew the cause and exactly how many cars would make it through each cycle.

But what if someone who had never been to Nashville was stuck in the same traffic?  They might reasonably assume there was an accident, a parade, or another impediment to normal traffic flow.  If they determined the problem was a slow light, even if they were a stoplight technician, they still couldn’t know as well as I could how long the traffic would last.  That's the thing; in that case, my familiarity trumped any level of broader expertise.  Take me off that route though, and I bring very little to a traffic light discussion.

That distinction between expertise and familiarity is an important one for us in Guatemala.  While not experts in development or education, we offer a skill-set and knowledge base not commonly available where we work.  That’s an asset we bring to the table, yet it does little to make up for our lack of familiarity.

That's why we concentrate in one area; we hope to amass a measure of familiarity and rapport over time.  With each year in Guatemala we build confidence with the community and understanding about where we work, making us more effective over time.

More importantly, that’s why we emphasize working alongside partner organizations.  Our effectiveness depends on working alongside locals familiar with the community.  No matter how important malnutrition or economic development are, if we can’t find a partner to help us implement our ideas, then our work is better spent in areas where we know local actors can direct and benefit from our cooperation.  For us, collaborative development is the best way we know to help expand opportunity.

Glad to be Back,
  Hud and the Manna Team