Economic Relief Program for the Indigenous Guatemalan MayansBy: Janelle Kluczynski December 14, 2012

Marginalized Mayans and

poverty.

Mayans make up over half (51%) of Guatemala’s overall population, and are the only indigenous culture.

The problem remains that the many Mayan groups of Guatemala are still treated as outsiders, living in designated areas, many facing revolving doors for opportunity leaving the majority exposed to extreme poverty and malnourishment.

**http://www.minorityrights.org/2555/guatemala/maya.html

"We are not myths of the past, ruins in the

jungle or zoos. We are people and we

want to be respected, not to be

victims of intolerance and

racism." --Rigoberta Mench'u Tum, winner of the 1992 Nobel Peace

Prize.

**http://www.criscenzo.com/jaguarsun/mayanow.html

Catastrophes in Guatemalaand economic challenges of

Indigenous people http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfKAzr9PW_Q According to Indian Country’s website, the death toll has

risen to 52 people now, while many people still remain missing.

“Many villages are also damaged and no one is paying attention,” said Juan Carlos Zelada, a veteran Red Cross worker in the department of Quetzaltenango. “They feel a little abandoned.”

Many Mayans who faced extreme poverty before the multiple disasters within the past few years, still face legal constraints, cultural constraints, and problems with receiving resource supplies.

Quote retrieved from: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/humanitarian-crisis-after-guatemalas-earthquake

Issues Mayans face and why relief is needed

Everyday life burdens that hinders opportunity for social class advancement: Legal Constraints: “While many non-literate indigenous men continue to be

forced into the military against their will, only 14 per cent of the police force is indigenous in a country that is overwhelmingly indigenous.” In addition to this, people who commit crimes against indigenous people are lightly sentenced or not brought to justice at all.

Social Equality and Cultural Constraints: “Many indigenous groups consider the government's use of sacred grounds (so called Mayan ruins) as profitable tourist destinations as an affront to their spiritual rights. There is no free access to these sacred sites for indigenous Guatemalans and no government policy guaranteeing the long-term preservation or protection of ceremonial sites as archaeological preserves.”

Resource Supply: Ongoing resource issues include increased activity of the mining industry, which has forced some indigenous people to relocate.

***All information and quotes were retrieved from: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,MRGI,,GTM,,49749d163c,0.html

Concerns and Issues:

With Mayans making up majority of Guatemala’s population, and still facing issues of depravity from social advancement, equality, and the government or justice system, there is little help for them to overcome the burden of natural disasters. The issue here then is not

only social justice, but also the problematic living circumstances with little resources and poorly constructed homes.

Picture: http://dawn.com/2012/11/08/powerful-quake-hits-guatemala-killing-at-least-48/

Concerns and Issues continued…

With poverty, comes overpopulation, limited resources, riots and war, and disease infestation…

This then becomes a question involving social justice, equality, and social responsibility.

Who is held responsible for meeting the sustainable health needs for the lifestyles, and making equal survival opportunities (than non-indigenous) and living circumstances for the Mayan people in Guatemala?

Picture: http://www.mercycorps.org/photoessay/foodtofamiliesafterearthquake#photo-1

Authority: who can we turn to for help?

Over 500 families in San Marcos alone are still needing any given assistance. Many Mayan’s adobe houses collapsed, leaving multiple families in shelters, or without any shelter at all. The people whose houses still stand are scared to go inside, because of fear it could still collapse from the aftershocks. Who can people of need turn to? (1)

Local Red Cross and MercyCorps help provide some recovery. “The government provides one “supposedly hot” meal per day, said Red Cross worker Zelada. (1) In addition, MercyCorps is attempting to assist with getting more food distributed.(2)

“One way the U.S. may help is to assist the undocumented Guatemalans already inside the U.S. obtain a “Temporary Protected Status” (TPS) by providing these individuals the opportunity to receive a temporary work permit so they can send money to their families and help in the recovery. “ (3)—Joel Vargas

Pay attention to this. Keep in mind that Mayans are seen as the inferior, thus this opportunity given is most likely to be distributed to people of some social significance.

(1) http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/humanitarian-crisis-after-guatemalas-earthquake(2) http://www.mercycorps.org/photoessay/foodtofamiliesafterearthquake#photo-2

(3) http://www.examiner.com/article/guatemalan-earthquakes-and-the-u-s-war-on-drugs-perspective

Proposal I propose to build an Economic Crisis Recovery Program specifically for the Mayan community within Guatemala. This would not just be limited to helping the Mam Mayans, but all of the indigenous people in Guatemala.

Our purpose: Promote social equality in spreading knowledge about the Mayan history, and their rights today. In need of assistance for recovery from natural disasters, we will help work with the Mayan communities in building their own emergency shelters, or homes with them. We will assist in working and promoting Red Cross and MercyCorps in the promotional work for our Indigenous Recovery Act Agency.

Steps to Take: will be based out of

1. Build a board of members for the nonprofit organization. Including but not limited to construction and plumbing, professionals. I’ll do marketing communication among organizations and promotion handling. In addition , we will need an accountant for budgeting purposes, a computer technician for viral services and programming, and an office manager and customer service team to station in head offices and handle the organization of schedules, community outreach, and volunteer services. Then need lawyers for legal terms.

2. Build a few websites for the purpose of the organization, to educate people on the cause, and the history of why this organization needs to exist due to oppression.

3. Talk to Chairs of MercyCorps and Red Cross on proposing cross marketing opportunities to help people in need.4. Talk to U.S., London, South American, and Mexico governments & university systems to propose co-op or intern

opportunities to volunteer and gain experience assisting in a great cause. In addition , we will approach the Guatemalan government for assistance, despite us anticipating a rejection the first time around.

5. Promote on websites and media outlets, and radio… everywhere. Have a click donate through the websites for people who want to donate anything at all , they are willing to. Monetary donations can be made through PayPal. 50% Food and clothing will go to MercyCorps or the local Red Cross, while we keep $$ for building purposes .

6. Through publicity, and expanding promotional opportunities we can get mainstream popular media figures involved in wanting to help with the purpose and cause, while educating them to speak out about the cause. Adam Levine has already disclosed public statements about Guatemalan needs in this catastrophic event.

7. Start with Guatemala and expand to all Mayans in Mexico and then meso-america depending on success levels.8. Then before bad image goes publicly mainstream of Guatemalan government, we then ask them to cooperate,

and eventually lead to social change in how the Mayans are treated.

If no one talks about the problems, it leaves outsiders oblivious to the the issues others face…

Marketing & Budgeting: How

Websites, radio, and other mainstream publicity will be of minor cost to increase awareness of the cause. We can also allow corporations to advertise on our websites, and for competitive payment purposes they can donate a charitable bid monetary amount based off the number website visitors we have in time frame of their advertisements. $250/ visitor.

To get our organization off the ground, we are in detrimental need of $23 million.

This will cover salaries of professionals for the organization, hotel, airfare, food, and on-ground travel for 60 people to help in increments of 31-day time periods, over a 3 month time frame.

Breakdown of budget:The main headquarters for this organization will be based out of Tuscon, Arizona for

the U.S. and another headquarter office located in Guatemala City, Guatemala for easy commuting purposes…

$5 million distributed among 180 workers and professionals – we will look to government assistance for this in non-profit organization.

$15 million for reconstruction purposes and supplies…Each adobe house costing approximately $10-15,000… allows us to begin helping about 1000 homes be rebuilt, and expand from initial infrastructure.

$200,000 for airfare expenses for 180 people round trip tickets from Tuscon, Arizona to Guatemala City Guatemala.

$200,000 for hotel booking of 30 hotel rooms with two beds for 60 people to stay in in increments of 31-day time periods for up to 3 months (180 people total)

$ 600,00 for on-ground travel and food for the 3 months for all organization’s people.

$1 million for apprenticeship and/or internship program for universities. $1 million for publicity and promotional activity and travel.Airfare info retrieved from: http://travel.travelocity.com/flights/InitialSearch.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY&flightType=roundtrip&dateTypeSelect=exactDates&dateLeavingTime=Anytime&dateReturningTime=Anytime&adults=1&children=0&seniors=0&leavingDate=1/1/2013&returningDate=1/31/2013&leavingFrom=TUS&goingTo=GUA&WA1=03010&WA2=cheapflights.com&WA3=cpc&WA4=27&WA5=trave_airbookeng_tier4_|t&WA6=airHotel rates: http://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-us.html?aid=346969;label=hotel-344366_Pool-com_Slice-99999;sid=d63fb1c99a6d6362b1127e417a14056e;dcid=1;checkin=2013-01-01;checkout=2013-01-31;city=-1141980;highlighted_hotels=344366

Outcome: benefits vs. burdens

Benefits: Empowering Guatemalan Mayan communities and promoting social equality through educating outsiders of the history and results of the many oppressions and discriminations of the indigenous people endure.Providing the indigenous peoples of Guatemala with the same tools and resources for advancement socially and economically for them to succeed.

Burdens: Time constraints and the amount of time it may take to jumpstart this program’s success and publicity. In addition, the monetary needs to get this agency for empowerment started and expanded into successful resources is a financial strain hindering the timely concerns of this project.

With your help, we can evolve this program to improve the economic and social structure of

Guatemala as a whole.

Conclusion & moving forward

With this help, we hope to expand knowledge around the world of the Indigenous Mayans and where they stand today. Eventually with the success and outreach for support driven by publicity and support given by our volunteers and listeners around the world, we hope to expand into providing help to Mayans in other areas of Mexico, Central and South America!

Empowerment is our goal for the long time unheard voices of Guatemalan Mayans.

Thank you so much for your time. I hope you are interested in becoming involved in sustaining health and equality in Guatemala for the indigenous people, who have been in long time need of help from our surrounding communities!

References http://www.criscenzo.com/jaguarsun/mayanow.html

http://www.minorityrights.org/2555/guatemala/maya.html http

://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/humanitarian-crisis-after-guatemalas-earthquake

http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,MRGI,,GTM,,49749d163c,0.html http

://dawn.com/2012/11/08/powerful-quake-hits-guatemala-killing-at-least-48/ http

://www.mercycorps.org/photoessay/foodtofamiliesafterearthquake#photo-1

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/humanitarian-crisis-after-guatemalas-earthquake

References continued… http://www.mercycorps.org/photoessay/foodtofamiliesafterearthqua

ke#photo-2 http://www.examiner.com/article/guatemalan-earthquakes-and-the-

u-s-war-on-drugs-perspective http://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-us.html?aid=346969;label

=hotel-344366_Pool-com_Slice-99999;sid=d63fb1c99a6d6362b1127e417a14056e;dcid=1;checkin=2013-01-01;checkout=2013-01-31;city=-1141980;highlighted_hotels=344366

http://travel.travelocity.com/flights/InitialSearch.do?Service=TRAVELOCITY&flightType=roundtrip&dateTypeSelect=exactDates&dateLeavingTime=Anytime&dateReturningTime=Anytime&adults=1&children=0&seniors=0&leavingDate=1/1/2013&returningDate=1/31/2013&leavingFrom=TUS&goingTo=GUA&WA1=03010&WA2=cheapflights.com&WA3=cpc&WA4=27&WA5=trave_airbookeng_tier4_|t&WA6=air

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/car092910a.htm http://www.directrelief.org/2012/11/supporting-indigenous-populatio

ns-affected-by-guatemala-earthquake/

References continued…

http://www.iadb.org/en/countries/guatemala/country-strategy,1060.html

http://www.iadb.org/en/countries/guatemala/country-strategy,1060.html

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/156448.pdf

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2045.htm