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Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE September 6, 2008
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| August 29 2008 |
Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala – On the Brink of Change |
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| About half of Guatemalans are direct descendants of 22 different indigenous Mayan groups |
Guatemala is the heart of the Maya world. The lasting powers of the Maya are seen in the enigmatic hill top ruins and the blazing colours of the Mayan dress.
Fishing and farming villages were the forerunners of the great Mayan civilization which dominated Central America for centuries. Independence from Spain came in 1821, bringing new prosperity to those of Spanish blood (creoles) and even worse conditions for those of Mayan descent. |
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| Ancient ruins provided a glimpse of the ancient Mayan civilization. |
Mayan land was stolen to cultivate tobacco and sugar cane, and the Maya were further enslaved to work that land. Since the signing of Peace Accords in 1996, the country has been in a state of economic growth and political stability. However, improving the condition of the Maya has not been the focus of politicians.
As part of the educational programmes offered in port, a group of Peace Boat participants spent two days with the Mayan community of Tecpan, to learn specifically about the issues facing indigenous women. |
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| The Mayan spiritual leader prayed for a safe return home for Peace Boat paticipants |
The group of Mayan women that took part in the exchange all belonged to
Asociacion Mujeres Vamos Adelante (AMVA) or "Women Let's Go! Association”. While its headquarters are based in Guatemala City, AMVA works across 13 provinces with 15 paid workers and numerous volunteers in each province.
AMVA’s concept is to find or develop equality, integrity and respect for women. Members go to villages and give classes to inform the indigenous women about their legal rights and protections. Many participating women are not previously aware of the concept of equality between the sexes. |
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| The group formed a big circle and hugged each other in thanks at the end of the first ceremony |
The high rate of domestic violence, locally attributed to the 'fiercely jealous nature of Mayan man', is a very serious problem within the community. If women go out and have fun with their girl friends, or if they dress up or linger in the street, the men become very suspicious. Because of this, women are restricted in their actions, which in turn hinders progression.
However, the women have been conditioned to believe that men have a right to act in such ways. This is not helped by the fact that most Mayan women traditionally only attend school between the ages of 12 and 15, and hence their academic capacity is very limited. |
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| Tecpan AMVA women weave their own fabric, which is then made into merchandise to be sold. |
After Peace Boat participants met the community members, the local group’s spiritual leader performed a ceremony to show respect to the Mayan ancestors. The magic of the Mayan traditions came alive amidst burning flames, candles and flowers.
Passengers were then taken by their host families to their respective homes, after sharing a traditional home cooked meal.
Chiharu Doi said she especially loved spending the night with her Mayan family. “I was really touched at how welcoming they were, and was even more moved to see the grandchildren of the family hug their grandma in the morning. They went out of their way to make sure we would not be cold at night and the next day, they fed us the most delicious breakfast”. |
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| Florida water and herbs were rubbed down the child so that her energy was restored. |
Once participants regrouped the next morning, further dialogue between the two groups continued. The Mayan community were very curious to learn about Japanese society and questioned passengers on the role of women, domestic violence, and how children are brought up in Japan.
Following this, an elderly woman in the community performed another ceremony, which rid a crying baby of what the Mayans call an ‘evil eye’. Passengers noted that the ceremonies closely resembled Japanese culture, in the belief in gaining strength from Mother Earth.
Peace Boat participant Shuichiro Nakashima said that one of his resolves during the voyage had been to observe women’s eyes around the world, as a way to understanding their soul. As he travelled through Asia and the Middle East, he felt that the eyes of the women he met were lacking in life. Through Europe he sensed more passion. In Guatemala however, he claimed that the women’s eyes had the most amount of shine he had seen. |
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| Global Kids from New York joined participants on the home stay education programme |
After spending two days with the women of Tecpan, he came to realise that this may be because Guatemala is a country on the brink of economic explosion, and the women realise that the part they play and the lead they take will really make a difference. Hence there is a sense of excitement and empowerment within them.
For Peace Boat participants, being given the rare opportunity to be a part of a Mayan family's life, even for just one night, was a very heart warming experience, giving them a unique insight. Though Guatemala suffered more than 36 years of internal conflict in the not too distant past, the Mayan women have remained strong in their resolve to flourish. As long as the social norms keep being challenged and the boundaries set by men keep being pushed, there is no doubt they will. |
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