The group left Guatemala City today after learning much about this changing city and country and the people who struggle to live there. They traveled to Chimaltenango, a fairly good size province about 30 miles from Guatemala City, in the Central Highlands (you can see a good map of Chimaltenango using Google maps). The group is visiting very good frineds of Queens, the Heart of the Women community. The Heart of Women community is a group of Maya survivors (mostly Kachiquel) from the civil war (called La Violencia by the Mayans). More than 200,000 people died, most indigenous Maya, and a majority of the men and boys. These women came from all over Guatemala with their remaining family members and worked to rebuild a life together. Their stories are heartrending and inspiring. Their weaving cooperative is a testament to the strength and determination of these amazing people. The Queens group helped build a community center and several homes in past years.
Every year Heart of the Women opens their homes and hearts to visitors and the Queens group is lucky to be able to sleep overnight in several homes. They will all have some amazing (and for the language challenged, some very funny) stories to tell!
No comments:
Post a Comment