Report from Project Victoria - March 2008

1. Congratulations to our four recent graduates!

2. A message from Juana Sohom Ajpacaja, who is planning sexual and reproductive health workshops for PV

3. PV board member Roland Elf collaborates on the publication of a vocabulary book of the Maya K'iche' language

4. Six female students make Casa Victoria their home

5. A home visit to one of the PV families

6. Audited Year-End Financial Report for 2007

7. Welcome to our new students!

 

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1. Congratulations to our four recent graduates!

Petronila Castro Acabal graduated from her bilingual education program on October 29, 2007. She is now qualified to teach school in classrooms where both the Mayan language K'iche' and Spanish are spoken, as is the case in much of the Western highlands of Guatemala. Project Victoria board member Roland Elf writes, "I was with her family at the graduation dinner and Petronila made a speech. She thanked us very much for the help she has received through Project Victoria."

Petronila was one of the three original students who received scholarships when Project Victoria was established in 2004. The photo above shows Roland Elf with Petronila and her parents on graduation day.

Rosa Coxaj, another student who has received help for school through Project Victoria, also graduated on October 29, 2007 as a bilingual teacher. She is pictured at right.

Our third graduate is Sebastian Giovanni Ajtun Tzun. See his original application for a Project Victoria scholarship here.

Roland Elf writes: "Here are some the photos I took on the graduation day of our Victoria scholarship student Roberta Antonia Aju Cuc, who has received a scholarship since January 2004 through Project Victoria. She is now a bilingual teacher. Marielos and I went with a friend of Marielos early in the morning to take part of this wonderful graduation day for Roberta Antonia in Nahualá. During her speech in her home she started to cry while she was thanking for the help she has received through Project Victoria." Roberta Antonia Aju Cuc is pictured at left.

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2. A message from Juana Sohom Ajpacaja, who is planning sexual and reproductive health workshops for PV

March 16, 2008

My name is Juana Sohom Ajpacaja and I am a health educator. I am a Mayan woman, I have a six-year-old son, and I speak two languages: K'iche' and Spanish. I have been teaching in rural areas of Guatemala since I graduated from the Teresa Martin College for Women in Quetzaltenango seven years ago. I feel very satisfied with my work, and to know that I will always keep working so that my Mayan people can prevent HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted infections.

I am 26 years old, and thank God both of my parents are living. My mother does not know how to read or write, but I enjoy teaching her the things I have learned.

I have been trained in different institutions about several subjects that, as a Mayan, I did not know about before. In our culture, it was not permitted to speak about subjects such as sexuality, gender equality, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, the correct use of a condom, and many other things. However, I have received trainings about these topics and worked as a health educator for three years. I have coordinated with organizations such as Health Unlimited (Salud Sin Limites), World Vision, Positive People, and others.

I speak about HIV/AIDS to groups of young people, mid-wives, parents, and sex workers, and to general audiences. That is how I came to know this subject very well, and I am experienced in speaking to all kinds of groups. It is important to be aware that many women who have not been to school need to spoken to kindly to gain their trust so that they can freely express what they feel. They trust me as a facilitator when they see that I am also a Mayan woman.

The training sessions I will provide through Project Victoria will be carried out in rural communities, because we know very well that they are the most vulnerable to lack of information, and that it is necessary to clear up all their questions about how to prevent STIs. These are communities where people speak K'iche', which is the language that I speak, and
in that way they can understand the information because most of the women do not speak or understand Spanish. They only speak their native language, and for that reason it is necessary for the trainer to know the language of the communities where the workshops take place. The trainer must also facilitate so that women can express themselves and ask their questions about these subjects. In that way we build trust, always being aware that these topics many times have been taboo to discuss in the past.

I plan to start the sexual and reproductive health workshops in the municipality of Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, in the department of Solola. The first five communities where we propose to offer workshops are Chiquisis, Nuevo Xetinamit, Pacorral Unom Xeabaj Dos, and Xeabaj Uno.

These workshops are being provided through the support of the Network of Lovingkindness. Photos are of Juana Sohom Alpacaja conducting past trainings.

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Additional photos from Project Victoria graduation celebrations:

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3. PV board member Roland Elf collaborates on the publication of a vocabulary book of the Maya K'iche' language

PV board member Roland Elf has worked with native speakers of the Maya K'iche' language to publish a vocabulary book that will be used in schools throughout the regions of Guatemala where K'iche' is spoken.

Roberta Antonia Aju Cuc and Catarina Lopez Guarchaj, two PV students who are native K'iche' speakers, are using the books in their bilingual education studies. Both plan to become teachers in schools where K'iche' is spoken. Catarina, who is in her second year of the bilingual education program, is pictured at right with a copy of the book. Roland Elf writes:

"Over the last two weeks I have been visiting many schools and giving out the book we made: a K'iche' - Spanish vocabulary book. It is a great joy to see how happy the children become when receiving the book! Also the teachers are very grateful for the book. It has been a lot of work for us to make the book, including more than 250 drawings and paintings. Many times the elecricity goes away, delaying the work a lot. But now finally we have started to go to the schools with the book, and the positive reaction it receives is incredible. I am very happy for this." In April 2008, Roland again commented:

"Over 2600 persons have received the book. The majority are Mayan children in primary schools, from over 30 rural schools. We have also been giving the book to teachers and directors of various schools where the children speak the Mayan language K'iche', and to many students who are studying to be bilingual teachers."

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4. Six female students make Casa Victoria their home

A main goal of Project Victoria is to provide educational opportunities to the most marginalized populations in Guatemala. In 2005, when the program began, we rented a house called Casa Victoria so that our students who come from the most remote areas of the country would have a place to live while studying in the city of Quetzaltenango. Currently, six female students are sharing the living space of Casa Victoria. They are:

Dominga Guachiac Ajpacaja (pictured at right)

Program in school: Bilingual education (the Mayan language K'iche' – Spanish)
Home community: Nuevo Xetinamit, Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, Sololá.
Dominga's village was destroyed by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. She is a new Project Victoria scholarship recipient as of 2008.

Virginia Cos Castro (pictures at right and below)

Program in school: Bilingual Secretary, Spanish – English.
Home community: Xeul, Cunen, Dep: Quiché

Virginia speaks three languages: K'iche', Ixil, and Spanish. She has also started to learn English.

Roland Elf wrote in January 2008: "Last week I helped Dominga and she received information and keys. Today I helped Virgina Cos; she received information, keys, and sheets and blankets, I went to ask my friend Angelica and she gave me blankets and more for Virginia. And she and her dad brought a special present as you can in the photos.

Magdalena Tambriz Cocom
Level in school: Bilingual Education (the Mayan language K’iche’ – Spanish)
Home community: Nahuala, Dep: Sololá.

The other three female students who have lived in the house since 2007 are:

Juana Elizabeth Sulugüi Talé (pictured at right)

Program in school: Bilingual education (the Mayan language K'iche' – Spanish)
Home community: Coxom Argueta, Dep: Sololá.

Aura Virginia Sulugüi Talé

Program in school: Bilingual education (the Mayan language K'iche' – Spanish)
Home community: Coxom Argueta, Dep: Sololá.

Faustina Maria Canastuj Tumax

Program in school: Bilingual education (the Mayan language K'iche' – Spanish)
Home community: Barranechè, Dep: Totonicapán.

(Aura Virginia and Faustina are pictured at left)

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5. A home visit to one of the PV families

From Roland Elf, PV board member:

8/12/2007

Hello Chris,

Yesterday I visited the home of Elizabeth and Virginia Sulugüi Talé, who are scholarship students of our Project Victoria (Juana Elizabeth and Aura Virginia). Their home is an adobe house of 2 rooms with earth floor, they share 3 beds. Their father José has built the house. They are 6 sisters and 4 brothers. Elizabeth is the eldest at 19 years old and Virginia is second at 17 years old. Then comes Agustin, Henry, Eddy, Bryan, Ericka, Dora, Josefina, and the youngest is Elsy. Their mother is Felipa, they call her Ana and their father is José. A wonderful Mayan K'iche' family. They live in a village called Coxom Argueta in the municipality of Sololá. I send you several photos I took yesterday of their family and home. One photo is of Elizabeth with her little sisters Dora, Ericka and Josefina in front of their kitchen that is at risk to fall down. They are afraid that it will fall down in a coming rainfall. Another photo is of Elizabeth while she was working with her documents for her practice, she has a lot of work with this. She has 44 students who study second primary school. She had to write her plans in the Mayan language K'iche' and Spanish. She has many more extra costs during her practice, and without the help with room and food from Project Victoria for her and her sister, it wouldn't have been possible for them to study. Their father is working hard, but he has low income. One photo is of Dora, Ericka and Eddy holding their drawings. Two photos are of Elizabeth and Virginia in a window of their house with all their sisters, all six sisters in two photos. In one photo Virginia is holding the smallest daughter Elsy. Some photos include their mother Felipa Ana. José was not there, he was working, he works six days a week and has to travel far, so he is mostly in the home only on Sundays. Last year he broke his foot while working. When I met him the first time he still had difficulty to walk. The girls' little sister Ericka was singing a lot during my visit, and they did paintings and drawings. I had the opportunity to practice their language K'iche'. Several photos are of Dora and Ericka and brothers Byron and Eddy having fun in the window.

Kawil awib' Roland

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Audited Year-End Financial Report for 2007

Click on the image to the right for a larger version of the original audited report, in Spanish, from our accountant in Guatemala, Brenda Carolina de Leon.

Income from donations during 2007: $12,812.00

Summary of expenditures:

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List of Project Victoria Students for 2008

(Marta Veronica Garcia Colop, number 27 on this list, is pictured at right with her family)

1. Wilson Enrique Panjoj Chópen
Level in school: Primary
Home community: Churunel Central, Sololá.

2. Dominga Chopén Churunel
Level in school: Diversificado
Home community: Pujujil II, Sololá.

3. Brenda Lizbeth Poz Ventura.
Level in school: Primary
Home community: Urbina Cantel Quetzaltenango.

4. Catarina López Guarchaj
Program in school: Bilingual education (the Mayan language K’iche’ – Spanish)Home community: Chuicutama, Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, Sololá.

5. Ángel Acabal Baten
Level in school: Primary.
Home community: San Pedro Jocopilas, Quiché.

6. Marlon Javier Pú Coy
Level in school: Diversificado
Home community: Totonicapán.
(Marlon is pictured at right with his mother)

7. Vinamarby García Ordóñez
Level in school: Diversificado
Home community: Ixcán, El Quiché.

8. Ana Lucia Mendoza Calmo
Level in school: Básico
Home community: Todos Santos, Huehuetenango.

9. Rigoberto Pablo Cruz
Level in school: University of Todos Santos.
Home community: Sololá, Huehuetenango.

10. Aura Virginia Sulugüi Talé
Program in school: Bilingual education (the Mayan language K’iche’ – Spanish)
Home community: Coxom Argueta, Dep: Sololá.

11. Juana Elizabeth Sulugüi Talé
Level in school: Magisterio Bilingüe the Mayan language K’iche’ – Spanish.
Home community: Coxom Argueta, Dep: Sololá.

12. Maria Angélica Sacalxot Salanic
Level in school: Primary.
Home community: Cantel, Quetzaltenango.

13. Maria Celestina Tambriz Tzep
Level in school: Primary.
Home community: Nahuala, Sololá.

14. Isabel Roblero del Cid
Level in school: 5th year in Public Accounting.
Home community: Guatemala City.
(Isabel is pictured at right)

15. Faustina Maria Canastuj Tumax
Program in school: Bilingual education (the Mayan language K’iche’ – Spanish).
Home community: Barranechè, Dep: Totonicapán.

16. Baudilia Soledad Puac Salanic
Level in school: Diversificado.
Home community: Cantel, Quetzaltenango.
(Baudilia is pictured at right)

17. Sandy Fabiola Orellana Díaz
Level in school: Diversificado.
Home community: San Mateo, Quetzaltenango.

18. Jania Cristina Sic
Level in school: 1º básico.
Home community: Totonicapán.

19. Alonzo Guarchaj Guachiac
Level in school: 5º Magisterio.
Home community: Xeabaj Dos, Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, Sololá.

20. Ciria Mareni López Gutiérrez
Level in school: 3º básico.
Home community: La Esperanza, Quetzaltenango.

21. Dina Rubali Ochoa Escobar
Level in school: 4º magisterio.
Home community: La Esperanza, Quetzaltenango.

22. William Moisés Pérez
Level in school: 4º magisterio.
Home community: San Mateo, Quetzaltenango.

23. Iván Gonzalo López Arana
Level in school: Primary.
Home community: Momostenango, Totonicapán.

24. Dominga Guachiac Ajpacaja
New student as of 2008.
Program in school: Bilingual education (the Mayan language K’iche’ – Spanish).
Home community: Nuevo Xetinamit, Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, Dep: Sololá.

25. Virginia Cos Castro
New student as of 2008.
Program in school: Bilingual secretary program (Spanish – English).
Home community: Xeul, Cunen, Dep: Quiché.
She speaks 3 languages: K’iche’, Ixil and Spanish. She has also started to learn English.

26. Magdalena Tambriz Cocom
New student as of 2008.
Program in school: Bilingual education (the Mayan language K’iche’ – Spanish)
Home community: Nahuala, Dep: Sololá.

27. Marta Veronica Garcia Colop
New student as of 2008.
Program in school: Bilingual education (the Mayan language K’iche’ – Spanish)
Home community: La Estancia, Cantel, Dep: Quetzaltenango.
(Marta Veronica is pictured at right)

28. Isabel Aju Cuc
New student as of 2008.
Level in school: diversificado.
Home community: Xolcajà. Nahuala, Dep: Sololá. (sister of Roberta Antonia who graduated last year)

29. Juana Fabiola Garcia Hernandez
New student as of 2008.
Level in school: primer básico.
Home community: Chiquilaja, Dep: Quetzaltenango
(Juana Fabiola is pictured at right)

THANK YOU to all donors whose contributions who have made possible our success so far, and who continue to support Project Victoria.

(PV student Catarina Lopez Guarchaj is pictured below)

 Tax-deductible contributions to Project Victoria may be made to:

Project Victoria Fund
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
200 1st St. SW
Cedar Rapids IA 52404
319-366-2862