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PRESBYTERIAN WORLD SERVICE & DEVELOPMENT
Impressions from Guatemala
38
PRESBYTERIAN
SUMMER 2023
presbyterian.ca
By Donna Wilkinson, PWS&D committee member from Regina, Sask.
From March 13 to 25, I had the privilege of travelling to visit PWS&D’s par tners and projects in Guatemala. I would love to share
The candle circle used by Maya Mam people to show interconnectedness and care for the earth.
some impressions of my trip.
The first thing that struck me is that Guatemala is a country that knows the gift of hospitality. It’s something I think we in Canada could learn from. I was amazed by how I was welcomed—how people, especially women, were willing to share their lives with me, a total stranger, and how happy they were that we took the
time to come and visit them.
I was impressed with our part- ners and the work they under- take, with support from Presby- terians, which positively affects individuals’ lives, especially the lives of Indigenous women. The projects that we support help to ensure that Indigenous women learn about their rights, as well as about healthy and nutritious
plants. Through workshops led by our partners, women have learned how nutrient-rich native plants can be grown on small plots of land, which means that family garden plots are helping to improve the nutrition of their chil- dren, while also enabling them to earn a small income.
One of the memories that stays with me occurred when we were meeting with one of the Indig- enous women’s groups. We had learned from them about the work that was happening in their com- munity, and one of the women, named Shanty, came up to me as we were leaving. She asked for a hug and said, “Thank you. That is the first time I have ever spoken up at a meeting.”
I also found the customs of the
Indigenous people meaningful. In several meetings with PWS&D’s partner AMMID, we took part in a candle-lighting ceremony (as seen in the picture). The circle of the candles represents our interconnectedness, the love of Mother Earth and the importance of protecting earth.
The colours of each candle are also significant. In turn, six of us would light the candles, one by one. After lighting each candle, a prayer was said related to some aspects of what the colour of the candle symbolized: for instance, the red candle represents red corn, blood, energy and sunrise; black stands for black corn, night, space to rest and relax; white is for white corn and peace; the yellow candle is for yellow corn,
Donna with Shanty, who shared about her experiences as an Indig- enous woman in her community
skin and seeds; blue symbolizes the universe, sky, water and rain; finally, the green candle is lit for Mother Earth, plants and trees.
The other thing that struck me was that when we greeted the Maya Mam Indigenous women, they shook our hands and then they raised their hands to their foreheads. This is how they “share energy with each other.” This gesture made me think about how we are all interconnected.
A group gathered at Dayspring Presbyterian Church in Edmonton for the Journey for Hope in 2022.
Join the Journey for Hope
By Karen Bokma, PWS&D Communications
Cyclone Freddy was one of the most powerful storms and long- est-lived tropical cyclones ever recorded.It originated over the Indian Ocean on February 6 and made landfall in Malawi on March 12, 2023. From March 10 to 14, 2023, Southern Malawi was se- verely hit by heavy, persistent rains and strong winds.
The cyclone largely affected districts in the Southern Region— the scale of the disaster is un- precedented. Tens of thousands in Malawi have been left home- less and over 345,000 people were affected by the heavy rains, floods and landslides. Malawi’s Department of Disaster Manage- ment Affairs reports the cyclone
killed at least 1,216 people and another 538 are missing.
After the initial impact on March 12, PWS&D’s partner, Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD), began work on an imme- diate response. PWS&D provided an initial contribution to CARD to assist with search-and-rescue efforts, needs assessments and immediate food for evacuated households.
As of April 12, a total of 325 households living in temporary shelters for those displaced by the flooding received an initial food distribution, which included maize flour and soya, to enable people to meet their immediate food requirements. PWS&D is continuing to work with our part- ners on the next phase of our re- sponse to the disaster.
Additionally, because of crisis food insecurity due to climate- related shocks, PWS&D was already implementing a three- month food assistance project for 2,500 households. This project, which started in February 2023, is providing food assistance in the form of cash transfers, as well as seeds to produce high- value crops.
However, Cyclone Freddy also hit many of the communities receiving assistance and some of the seeds provided through the project were washed away. CARD plans to replace the seeds to ensure that project par tici- pants will be able to meet their food needs.
To support this ongoing response, visit WeRespond.ca/ donate.
In a world filled with need, we have a chance to create positive change—and it’s as easy as tak- ing a walk, playing a game or go- ing for a bike ride!
On Saturday, Sept. 23, join PWS&D in the Journey for Hope. After the great success of the first ever Journey for Hope in 2022, we’re excited to have PWS&D suppor ters from coast- to-coast join us once again to
raise funds for food security pro- grams around the world. Climate change, conflict and COVID-19 have worsened the food situation for many who go hungry, and your participation can help farm- ers increase crop yields, provide food in times of crisis and im- prove nutrition.
Visit WeRespond.ca/ JourneyforHope to learn more and to join the Journey!
Responding to Cyclone Freddy
Initial food distributions in response to Cyclone Freddy, which struck Malawi in March. PHOTO CREDIT: CARD.