Report from Project Victoria - January 2009

1. Eight PV students graduate in 2008, bringing our total number of graduates to 14!

2. Project Victoria's Board elects a new President -- welcome to Brenda de León

3. International Coordinator Christopher Curran visits PV students and board members in Guatemala

4. Meet Gracie Chisholm, PV's first intern

5. A report back from Guatemala from donor Zia Tayebjee

6. Long-time supporter Gloria Zmolek decribes the connection between PV and Baile Latino in Cedar Rapids

7. Twenty-eight students receive scholarships for the 2009 school year

8. Health Educator Juana Sohom continues her series of workshops on reproductive health

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1. Eight PV students graduate in 2008, bringing our total number of graduates to 14!

These eight students have achieved the victory they set out for themselves when they first applied for help from Project Victoria to be able to study. Our 2008 graduates are:

1. Juana Elizabeth Sulugüi Talé, from Coxom Argueta, Sololá
2. Isabel Roblero del Cid, from Guatemala City
3. Dina Rubali Ochoa Escobar, from La Esperanza, Quetzaltenango
4. Alonzo Guarchaj Guarchián, from Xeabaj Dos, Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán, Sololá
5. Vinamarvy García Ordóñez, from Ixcán, El Quiché
6. Marlon Javier Pú Coy, from Totonicapán
7. Ciria Mareni López Gutiérrez, from La Esperanza, Quetzaltenango
8. Dominga Chopen Churunel, from Pujujil, Sololá

Congratulations to the class of 2008! Here are updates on our previous graduates:

9. Victor Manuel de León worked as a teacher for a year after his graduation in 2006 and is now studying at the Universidad Panamericana. He hopes to become a doctor.
10. Petronila Castro Acabal is now working as a bilingual teacher in the area of El Quiché. This year she also began studying education at the Universidad de San Carlos, El Quiché campus.
11. Roberta Antonia Ajú Cuc graduated in 2007 and became a bilingual teacher. Roberta is pictured at right.
12. Sebastián Giovanni Ajtun Tzun graduated in 2007 and spent a year helping his family set up a small weaving business. In 2009, he began university studies to become a doctor.
13. Rosa Coxaj graduated in 2007 as a bilingual teacher.
14. Gloria López Manuel graduated in 2006 from an accounting program and is now working in a bank.

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2. Board of Directors elects a new President for Project Victoria -- welcome to Brenda Carolina de León

In July 2008, the board of Project Victoria met to elect a new president. Marielos Hernádez, a founder of the organization and the person who has been most responsible for Project Victoria's success, fulfilled two 2-year terms at the helm. She will continue to serve as a member of the board, but the leadership duties will be passed on to Brenda Carolina de León (pictured at right). Brenda has long served as Project Victoria's accountant, and she was elected by a unanimous vote of the board members and the students and family members present at the July 2008 meeting. Since then, Brenda has made multiple trips with Juana Sohom to give reproductive health workshops in small communities, and she coordinates PV activities in Quetzaltenango. Brenda will be presenting the audited financial report for 2008 as soon as taxes are completed. The new composition of the Project Victoria board is as follows:

Brenda Carolina de León - President
Juana Sohom Alpacaja - Vice president and health educator
Maria de los Angeles Hernandez Tzaquitzal
Gloria Estrada
Bernardina Coy (mother of PV graduate Marlon Javier Pú Coy)
Alma Ochoa Escobar
Roland Elf

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3. International Coordinator Christopher Curran visits PV students and board members in Guatemala

“In July 2008, I returned to Guatemala for the first time since I lived there in 2003-2004. During the last four years I have made use of email to maintain my relationships with the original scholarship students and with my former Spanish school co-workers, who are now PV's board members. I received such a warm welcome from many old friends during this visit, and it was also an extraordinary feeling to meet the new Project Victoria students in person for the first time. Their energy and enthusiasm is what has made Project Victoria grow into such a success. We spoke about the principle of education as a universal human right and about the many challenges these students face as they pursue their goals. I found myself completely reenergized by their optimism, their desire to develop their own potential, and their commitment to use the knowledge they're gaining to serve their communities in the future.”

Christopher Curran is a first-year law student at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, CA.

For more on Project Victoria's history as an organization, see our History page.

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4. Meet Gracie Chisholm - PV's first intern

“My experience in Quetzaltenango (Xela) this summer was multi-dimensional. Through my interaction with Project Victoria, I discovered much about Guatemalan culture, history, and poverty. It seemed that I had hardly settled into Xela when it was time to leave. The short two months left me wishing I could have stayed longer and done more. During my visit I was able to visit two Kich’e' villages; attend several important Project Victoria meetings, one of which saw the election of a new president; tutor one of the scholarship recipients in English; and assist in several administrative tasks. I was also extremely fortunate to have the former PV president, Maria de los Angeles, as my Spanish tutor. I was impressed by the quality of education the students were receiving, and the board’s ability to tactfully deal with difficult issues surrounding funding and race. Additionally, as a donor I was proud to learn that funds from the U.S. are being used widely. Not a week has gone by since I left that I haven’t thought about the project and wished that I could be more involved.”

Gracie Chisholm
Summer 2008

Gracie Chisholm is a first-year law student at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

 

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5. A report back from Guatemala from donor Zia Tayebjee

“I was lucky to hear about Project Victoria from its inception because of my friendship with Christopher Curran who established the organisation in partnership with his friends in Guatemala. Since this time I have tried to make a financial contribution whenever I am able, to support Project Victoria in the incredibly important work that they do. I have a Masters in Social Development and through my studies and work in the area I have become convinced that education is crucial in improving opportunities and the standard of living in the poorest communities. I recently travelled to Guatemala and was able to see first hand how the students supported by Project Victoria are benefiting from the program and the positive impact their education is having, not only on their own lives and future prospects, but also on their families and communities. While in Xela I had the great privilege of meeting Marta, a scholarship recipient, and visiting her family in the village of Cantel. I was overwhelmed at her and her family's generosity in the face of significant hardship. Upon meeting Marta is it immediately evident that she is an incredibly bright, enthusiastic woman with leadership skills beyond her years. Marta talked to us about her plans to become a school teacher and to work at a bilingual school teaching in Spanish and in the local Mayan language. Marta talked about wanting to give back to her community and promote the maintenance of the Mayan cultural identity through bilingual education from a young age. Marta told us a little of her family's circumstances and the medical, financial and employment difficulties that her parents are facing. Without support from Project Victoria, Marta would not have had the opportunity to go to high school. Perhaps this is why Marta has demonstrated such commitment to her education. She has received top grades in all of her subjects in spite of facing systemic discrimination as an indigenous woman in Guatemala. Thank you Marta, Christopher, and all of the other wonderful people involved with Project Victoria for the opportunity to contribute to your organisation.”

Zia Tayebjee
Case Worker, Brighter Futures
Department of Community Services
Lakemba CSC
New South Wales, Australia

 

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6. Long-time supporter Gloria Zmolek decribes the connection between PV and Baile Latino in Cedar Rapids, IA

“The seed for my connection with Project Victoria was first planted in 2004. My college graduation gift to my daughter Laurel was to spend three weeks in Guatemala. We went there with no particular itinerary and Laurel thought it would be appropriate to spend a week in Xela at a language school where I could brush up on my Spanish. I've known Chris Curran and his family since he was in elementary school and so we decided to attend the school where he was just finishing his tenure as the International Coordinator for the school...”

Click here to read the rest of Gloria's statement.

More info about Baile Latino in Cedar Rapids, IA: http://crsalsa.org/home.html

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7. Twenty-eight students receive scholarships for the 2009 school year

Our current students are:

1. Eugenia Tambriz Tambriz
Program in school: 1. Básico. Home community: Caserio Pasis. Aldea Tzampoj. Municipality: Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan. Dep: Sololá.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

2. Maria Tahay Carrillo
Program in school: 1. Básico. Home community: Caserio Pasis, Aldea Tzampoj. Municipality: Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan. Dep: Sololá.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

3. Isabel Josefina Ixtós García
Program in school: 1. Básico. Home community: Caserio Pasis. Aldea Tzampoj. Municipality: Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan. Dep: Sololá.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

4. Rigoberto Cocom Ramos
Program in school: 4. Primary. Home community: Caserío Pasis, Aldea Tzampoj. Municipality: Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan. Dep: Sololá.
His first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

5. Pascuala Cristina Ixtós Sohom.
Program in school: 2. Básico. Home community: Caserio Pasis, Aldea Tzampoj. Municipality: Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan. Dep: Sololá.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

6. Miguel Angel Tahay Guachiac.
Program in school: 1. Básico. Home community: Caserio Pasis, Aldea Tzampoj. Municipality: Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan. Dep: Sololá.
His first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

7. Antonia Ixquiactap Carillo.
Program in school: 4. Magisterio. Home community: Caserio Pasis, Aldea Tzampoj. Municipality: Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan. Dep: Sololá.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

8. Lorenzo Roberto Sohom Tahay.
Program in school: 4. Primary. Home community: Caserio Pasis, Aldea Tzampoj. Municipality: Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan. Dep: Sololá.
His first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

9. David Israel Cos Castro.
Program in school: 3 basico at a school in Nebaj. Home community: Xeul, Cunen, Dep: Quiché. His first language is the Mayan language: K'iche' and also Ixil.

10. Brenda Lizbeth Poz Ventura
Program in school: Primary. Home community: Urbina Cantel. Municipality and Department: Quetzaltenango.
Her first language is Spanish.

11. Wilson Enrique Panjoj Chópen
Program in school: Primary. Home community: Churunel Central. Dep: Sololá.
His first language is the Mayan language: Kaqchikel.

12. Maria Angélica Sacalxot Salanic
Program in school: Primary. Home community: Cantel. Dep: Quetzaltenango.
Her first languages are the Mayan language: K'iche' and Spanish.

13. Jania Cristina Sic
Program in school: Básico. Home community: Totonicapán. Dep: Totonicapán.
Her first language is Spanish.

14. Baudilia Soledad Puac Salanic
Program in school: Diversificado. Home community: Cantel. Dep: Quetzaltenango.
Her first language is Spanish.

15. Maria Celestina Tambriz Tzep
Program in school: Primary. Home community: Nahuala, Dep: Sololá.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

16. Juana Fabiola Garcia Hernández
Program in school: Básico. Home community: Chiquilaja, Dep: Quetzaltenango
Her first languages are the Mayan language: K'iche' and Spanish

17. Marta Isabel Ajú Cuc (sister of Roberta Antonia who graduated 2007)
Program in school: Diversificado. Home community: Xolcajà. Nahuala, Dep: Sololá.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

18. Marta Veronica Garcia Colop
Program in school: teacher studies; Bilingual education (the Mayan language K'iche' – Spanish) Home community: La Estancia, Cantel, Dep: Quetzaltenango.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

19. Catarina López Guarchaj
Program in school: teacher studies; Bilingual education the Mayan language K'iche' – Spanish. Home community: Chuicutama, Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, Dep: Sololá.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

20. William Moisés Pérez
Program in school: magisterio. Home community: San Mateo, Dep: Quetzaltenango.
His first language is Spanish

21. Ángel Acabal Baten
Program in school: Primary. Home community: San Pedro Jocopilas, Dep: Quiché.
His first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

22. Iván Gonzalo López Arana
Program in school: Primary. Home community: Momostenango, Dep: Totonicapán.
His first language is the Mayan language: K'iche' and Spanish

23. Ana Lucia Mendoza Calmo
Program in school: Básico. Home community: Todos Santos, Dep: Huehuetenango. Her first language is the Mayan language: Mam.

The following five students also receive room and board in Casa Victoria:

24. Aura Virginia Sulugüi Talé
Program in school: teacher studies; Bilingual education the Mayan language K'iche' – Spanish. Home community: Coxom Argueta, Dep: Sololá.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

25. Magdalena Tambriz Cocom
Program in school: teacher studies; Bilingual education the Mayan language K'iche' – Spanish. Home community: Nahuala, Dep: Sololá.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

26. Faustina Maria Canastuj Tumax
Program in school: teacher studies; Bilingual education the Mayan language K'iche' – Spanish. Home community: Barraneché, Dep: Totonicapán.
Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

27. Nohemy Virginia Cos Castro
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.

28. Dominga Irma Guachiac Ajpacaja
Program in school: teacher studies; Bilingual education the Mayan language K'iche' – Spanish. Home community: Nuevo Xetinamit, Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, Dep: Sololá. Her first language is the Mayan language: K'iche'

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8. Health Educator Juana Sohom continues her series of workshops on reproductive health

Juana Sohom (pictured at right) is Project Victoria's vice president. She is also a trained health educator and a graduate of Teresa Martin College for Women in Quetzaltenango. Juana is responsible for an ongoing series of workshops on reproductive health, provided by Project Victoria with generous support from the Network of Lovingkindness in San Francisco, CA.

Juana is a native speaker of the Mayan K'iché language and an excellent teacher. She generally starts her workshops with activities to break the ice and help those present feel comfortable talking about subject such as HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. Juana gives practical advice about how to protect against unwanted pregnancies. Using an anatomical plastic model, she also demonstrates how to put on a condom correctly. She closes her workshops by handing out condoms, and she leaves participants feeling empowered by knowledge and confident about taking control of their sexual health.

Click here to read to read more about Juana from PV's March 2008 report.

Below are photos from Juana's workshops held during the fall of 2008.

 

All photos © Roland Elf.

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

 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