MSC archived stories - November 23, 2019
This week I was taken by surprise to hear from CI the news of my Katerin. She has graduated, but..
This is the first time, I heard of a youth graduating 6 months ahead of the 19th birthday – my 3rd successful graduate!
CI kindly shared a copy of Susana’s very sincere letter giving specific reasoning for Katerin’s early graduation. It is so true that when she said.. “you believed in her – that she mattered. You cared enough to step up and give her the opportunity to create a future of optimism and opportunity.”
Katerin is a wonderful and a caring person to all whom knew her and a dear friend to me.
With her departure leaves me to find a new child from Guatemala. In fact, Katerin thinks a younger child would benefit more from being enrolled than her carrying on for the next 6 months.
CI has just partnered with Child Aid [child-aid.org] to provide the Educational Strengthening Initiative to children in Guatemala, so I'm interested in sponsoring a child from the traditional Mayan communities.
In my experience, Estephanie resembled modern society of Guatemala, whereas Katerin's lifestyle can be described as traditional yet blended with modernity.
With this in mind, what's your personal take on the country's indigenous people other than their handmade colorful costumes? Are they keen to go as far as getting a good education/job, or locked into the traditional way of life?
The waiting list doesn't give much of a clue to find this child, but do they wear casual cloths when posing for EG photos?
I hope to be able to write a follow-up story about Katerin once received her graduation pack in the post.
Absolutely wonderful
ReplyDeleteNovember 23, 2019
All good wishes for Katerin's future and for you as you set out to positively change another life - this time, for an indigenous Guatemalan child!
ReplyDeleteNovember 23, 2019
Congratulations on your graduate!I'm also glad to hear about this new Educational Strengthening Initiative, because the education rate in Guatemala is so low that it's sad.I've never sponsored an indigenous child from Guatemala, but if I were trying to look for one, I'd maybe try searching for one that speaks a language other than Spanish, or even just contacting CI directly to inquire about indigenous children specifically.
ReplyDeleteNovember 23, 2019
I have sponsored 1 indigenous child (Maria Magdalena) that spoke 2 languages and always had the traditional dress.. and now I have Ruth, she is also from a indigenous family but looking at the yearly photos she wasn't wearing the traditional dress all the years.. I was pleased to see that in her new photo she was.. You could ask the care team to help you choose..
ReplyDeleteNovember 23, 2019
I love that you are an involved sponsor Chelaka, but there are some mis-steps in your contemplation of the situation and I cannot agree with your post or be silent. You wrote: "With this in mind, what's your personal take on the country's indigenous people other than their handmade colorful costumes? Are they keen to go as far as getting a good education/job, or locked into the traditional way of life?" Oh dear Chelaka, oh dear, please ponder: Indigenous people, first nation peoples are not wrong to be who they choose to be. "Locked into the traditional way of life" is judgemental. Are you saying that cultures which are not cell-phone, SUV-centered are wrong? Are you saying indigenous people are backward? Ponder carefully, Chelaka. You have used heavy, negative descriptions. Why are you choosing to forego love, respect and an eagerness to understand?
ReplyDeleteNovember 23, 2019
Thanks so much for all your well wishes. I'm used to the country but quite new to the Mayan culture. I love their intricate designs of embroidery and huipiles. But one thing stood out for me was that the tradition is almost exclusive to Maya women than men but I may be wrong. I'll have to ask CT to find this child for me.
ReplyDeleteNovember 23, 2019
Rachel, I’m a great admirer of people’s beliefs and cultures, and of course Maya are no difference in my respects for them. It may be that they do want to keep the tradition alive than fitting or changing into the modern world, which I thought would be good to know about, but I have no idea where you get these thoughts bothering you!
ReplyDeleteNovember 23, 2019
barbmc
ReplyDeleteChelaka: I've seen lots of information in posts from long term sponsors of children in Guatemala and the common thread seems to be that for youth living in poverty in rural areas there are almost no jobs that require an education beyond the 6th grade which is all that is required in Guatemala. Even for youth that have completed high school the only employment there are low paying agricultural jobs. Even if they could afford to move to the city they can't compete with the city students who attended the better city schools. I think people from other countries need to stay out of politics. MSC is about our sponsored children. Not their governments. I think CI would be happy to help you pick the child that is the best fit. I would pick a child from the city. I think the odds are better.
November 24, 2019
I addressed this in a similar instance by looking at career goals. I sponsor an indigenous young woman (in another country, through a different org.) who hopes to attend nursing school, in the large regional city. She is committed to preserving tribal customs – dress, dance, etc - and is looking at nursing as a way to (a) be employable, and (b) hopefully work among her communities. From what I have seen, sponsored kids going into occupations like nursing and teaching can have that mindset. On the other hand, many aspiring to other professions (example: my aspiring CPA) will no doubt move to where those jobs are. So... I would look at career goals. Some orgs do a better job than others at identifying these for sponsors (I've brought this up with CI).
ReplyDeleteNovember 26, 2019
I have one Guatemalan graduate who is Mayan. She wanted to attend nursing school, however after she completed high school she postponed those plans in favor of going to work--in an office setting--to help support her family (she is the oldest of seven or eight siblings, as of the last update I had a few years back). She wears the traditional Mayan clothes and speaks Cakchiquel in addition to Spanish, but her employment in an office rather than in agriculture leads me to believe she has embraced a blend of the traditional and the more modern.
ReplyDeleteNovember 26, 2019