Every day has been unreal. Long days, hard travels to the village 1 1/2 hours each way on terrible roads and it has rained almost the whole time we are here. BUT the days with the villagers have been filled with learning and sharing. Today we had training with the midwives and the health promoters and we had a chance to meet with the area health village committee leaders. The hope is to develop a partnership to support developing sustainable health services that will be available for 6 to 7 area villages serving probably 5000 people.
The midwives training focused on traditional birth, postpartum care and postpartum depression. The trainers shared many skills and techniques they used, but also shared fascinating information on the ways they welcome a baby in to the world. Health promoters learned about taking vital signs, first aid and basic information on a women's ovulation cycles.
Team members under the guidance of Allison had a opportunity to interact in 'therapuetic clowning' which engaged the women in laughter and lighthearted fun and dancing.
Late this afternoon the team shared in the experience of a Temascal (sacred sweat)
Tonight a presentation on the mining situation in Guatemala.
Tomorrow we participate in a Mayan ceremony. Whew !! exhausting, but amazing
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Chuicutama Part II
So I was on about the third paragraph of this blog last night when poof! I hit the wrong button on the computer and it was lost in the cosmos. So I will try to continue....
after returning from Chuicutama we had a little bit of down time. We walked a few blocks to try to resolve the cell phone issue. Also an unsuccessful endeavor I did not realize that the SIM cards expire. Oops.
Anyway we ate dinner Monday evening then headed out to a local bar El Cuartito to hear Cosmovision leader Daniel Matul speak.
The discussion included what contemporary Mayan leaders are saying about 2012, the year that the Mayan millennial calendar seems to mysteriously end, with many predicting great, global change. Sr. Matul is a Mayan Elder renowned throughout the world for his scholarly work, advocacy and activism, empowered by the Mayan council of Elders, Maya International League and other indigenous NGO's to speak for the Mayan people.
We listened to him speak for about an hour and a half (I was translating along with Lupe)about the relationship between humans and the universe. He talked about how important it is to balance ourselves, self-reflection and to practice LOVE! He was inspiring. We also asked him about what happened to the Ancient Mayans (the Great Empire) he responded that they had technology to see that something negative was going to happen so they dispersed so there would not be a concentrated center of all of their knowledge and resources (you can see a short video of a previous presentation on Highland Support Project's web page).
After his presentation we returned to the house it was late and raining and we had a lot to process.
Janett is going to tell you a little bit about Sunday...we skipped right over it! We had the opportunity to visit with Mayan Medicine people. A bone-setter (compone huesos), a Mayan Priest (Sacerdote Maya) and a midwife (comadrona). It was very enlightening.
-Abby Dini
after returning from Chuicutama we had a little bit of down time. We walked a few blocks to try to resolve the cell phone issue. Also an unsuccessful endeavor I did not realize that the SIM cards expire. Oops.
Anyway we ate dinner Monday evening then headed out to a local bar El Cuartito to hear Cosmovision leader Daniel Matul speak.
The discussion included what contemporary Mayan leaders are saying about 2012, the year that the Mayan millennial calendar seems to mysteriously end, with many predicting great, global change. Sr. Matul is a Mayan Elder renowned throughout the world for his scholarly work, advocacy and activism, empowered by the Mayan council of Elders, Maya International League and other indigenous NGO's to speak for the Mayan people.
We listened to him speak for about an hour and a half (I was translating along with Lupe)about the relationship between humans and the universe. He talked about how important it is to balance ourselves, self-reflection and to practice LOVE! He was inspiring. We also asked him about what happened to the Ancient Mayans (the Great Empire) he responded that they had technology to see that something negative was going to happen so they dispersed so there would not be a concentrated center of all of their knowledge and resources (you can see a short video of a previous presentation on Highland Support Project's web page).
After his presentation we returned to the house it was late and raining and we had a lot to process.
Janett is going to tell you a little bit about Sunday...we skipped right over it! We had the opportunity to visit with Mayan Medicine people. A bone-setter (compone huesos), a Mayan Priest (Sacerdote Maya) and a midwife (comadrona). It was very enlightening.
-Abby Dini
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
ACAM midwifery training in Chuicutama
Monday June 28
We are staying at the AMA (Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano) house in Quetzaltenango (referred to as Xela).The house is in an area that allows us to walk around town and explore. We are sleeping dorm room style. This definitely makes for some interesting conversations at bedtime.
Every morning we get up around 6am (5:30 am seems to be the norm in our room)some take showers some don't. We eat a family style breakfast and try to get on the road quickly so we can get back into the city before the rain. We have been unsuccessful thus far. Tropical Depression Alex has been raining down on us since we arrived.
This makes for a precarious ride up the mountain with collective breath holding.
We arrived to a small Mayan village around 10am yesterday We walked what seemed to be about 2 miles up to the center of the village. We convened in the clinic of Chuicutama (a Quiche village). We were joined by midwives and health promoters in training which consisted of all women. Some of these women traveled from villages far up in the mountains for this training. They come down for training every Tuesday which makes sense that they stay for hours since they travel from far away.
After a long introduction since we had to translate from Spanish to Quiche to English, we split up into two training groups, the midwives in training which seemed to consist of the older women and the health promoters which had girls as young as fourteen.
I attended the midwives training where the ACAM midwives (http://www.mayamidwifery-acam-imlusa.org/)are in the process of training the village midwives. Yesterday we focused on how to assess a woman that is unsure if she is pregnant, common first trimester problems and how to treat these issues with plants and herbs found in their communities.
I found it very interesting that the midwives made a comparison between dogs eating grass to soothe their stomachs and how we can also use grass to soothe our stomachs. She meant literally munch on some grass if we have a stomachache.
After the training sessions we met in the clinic again and shared a lunch of fava bean soup and plantains. We decided that we should get on with our trip back to the house in Xela since it was raining.
We started down the mountain and it was quite nerve-wracking. We made it back to the house and ran some errands.....
More later since we have to get going back up to Chuicutama. Today's topic is going to be fetal positions and I am going to share the group prenatal concept and some pregnancy exercises with the women.
Hasta luego!
We are staying at the AMA (Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano) house in Quetzaltenango (referred to as Xela).The house is in an area that allows us to walk around town and explore. We are sleeping dorm room style. This definitely makes for some interesting conversations at bedtime.
Every morning we get up around 6am (5:30 am seems to be the norm in our room)some take showers some don't. We eat a family style breakfast and try to get on the road quickly so we can get back into the city before the rain. We have been unsuccessful thus far. Tropical Depression Alex has been raining down on us since we arrived.
This makes for a precarious ride up the mountain with collective breath holding.
We arrived to a small Mayan village around 10am yesterday We walked what seemed to be about 2 miles up to the center of the village. We convened in the clinic of Chuicutama (a Quiche village). We were joined by midwives and health promoters in training which consisted of all women. Some of these women traveled from villages far up in the mountains for this training. They come down for training every Tuesday which makes sense that they stay for hours since they travel from far away.
After a long introduction since we had to translate from Spanish to Quiche to English, we split up into two training groups, the midwives in training which seemed to consist of the older women and the health promoters which had girls as young as fourteen.
I attended the midwives training where the ACAM midwives (http://www.mayamidwifery-acam-imlusa.org/)are in the process of training the village midwives. Yesterday we focused on how to assess a woman that is unsure if she is pregnant, common first trimester problems and how to treat these issues with plants and herbs found in their communities.
I found it very interesting that the midwives made a comparison between dogs eating grass to soothe their stomachs and how we can also use grass to soothe our stomachs. She meant literally munch on some grass if we have a stomachache.
After the training sessions we met in the clinic again and shared a lunch of fava bean soup and plantains. We decided that we should get on with our trip back to the house in Xela since it was raining.
We started down the mountain and it was quite nerve-wracking. We made it back to the house and ran some errands.....
More later since we have to get going back up to Chuicutama. Today's topic is going to be fetal positions and I am going to share the group prenatal concept and some pregnancy exercises with the women.
Hasta luego!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
AMA Association of Highland Women
The Association of Highland Women is a growing network of women's circles in Guatemala that HSP supports from North America. The 120 Mayan women that currently participate are dedicated to improving the lives of the Mayan people, one woman at a time. AMA’s mission is to:
1) Organize women into networks of mutual support that foster transformation, and
2) Help better the lives of women by creating environments of hope and dignity.
AMA works to awaken women’s dormant strengths, adaptability, creativity, responsibility and collaborative abilities. We believe that discovering intrinsic strength results from possessing the freedom to confront individual as well as collective adversity. Each week, AMA organizes educational meetings that focus on a range of topics. Specific examples include basic and communal health, self-esteem, education, small business development and civic participation. The meetings function within an atmosphere of mutual support and group consolidation.
The Association of Highland Women (AMA) in Guatemala, has developed an innovative and pragmatic methodology to counter dependency processes that is replicable, scalable, participatory, and sustainable. The model utilizes small group dynamics and popular education techniques to empower women and girls with the time, confidence, and tools to solve problems and take advantage of opportunities
Website:
Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano
http://www.amaguate.org/ama_en_index.html
1) Organize women into networks of mutual support that foster transformation, and
2) Help better the lives of women by creating environments of hope and dignity.
AMA works to awaken women’s dormant strengths, adaptability, creativity, responsibility and collaborative abilities. We believe that discovering intrinsic strength results from possessing the freedom to confront individual as well as collective adversity. Each week, AMA organizes educational meetings that focus on a range of topics. Specific examples include basic and communal health, self-esteem, education, small business development and civic participation. The meetings function within an atmosphere of mutual support and group consolidation.
The Association of Highland Women (AMA) in Guatemala, has developed an innovative and pragmatic methodology to counter dependency processes that is replicable, scalable, participatory, and sustainable. The model utilizes small group dynamics and popular education techniques to empower women and girls with the time, confidence, and tools to solve problems and take advantage of opportunities
Website:
Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano
http://www.amaguate.org/ama_en_index.html
From the US to Lake Atitlan
SATURDAY, June 26:
Arrive in Guatemala City. Since no visas are necessary, the team will have little to take care of upon our arrival. HSP staff will meet us there with a packed lunch for the team.
Begin the ascent to the Western Highlands, traveling first to the village of Panajachel. Pana, as it’s commonly known, sits on the shore of Lake Atitlan and has the feel of a small beach town. Lake Atitlan was formed by a volcanic eruption 85,000 years ago and is surrounded by four active volcanoes. Lake Atitlan is the highest lake in the Americas, surrounded by four active volcanoes.
Check-in to our bungalow-style hotel El Aguacatal
6:00 pm - Dinner together
7:00 Team meeting - come together for sharing and information on AMA
Arrive in Guatemala City. Since no visas are necessary, the team will have little to take care of upon our arrival. HSP staff will meet us there with a packed lunch for the team.
Begin the ascent to the Western Highlands, traveling first to the village of Panajachel. Pana, as it’s commonly known, sits on the shore of Lake Atitlan and has the feel of a small beach town. Lake Atitlan was formed by a volcanic eruption 85,000 years ago and is surrounded by four active volcanoes. Lake Atitlan is the highest lake in the Americas, surrounded by four active volcanoes.
Check-in to our bungalow-style hotel El Aguacatal
6:00 pm - Dinner together
7:00 Team meeting - come together for sharing and information on AMA
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