Contributed by Emily Smith in Stories from the Field. Photos by Linnae Asiel. Time echoed through the mountains of Chiantla, Guatemala. Ancient haze settled over the mysterious peaks. Wind-scarred rocks loomed from the slopes. And amidst this epic backdrop, surrounded by her family, sat one small girl in a bright red dress. Maritza, age three, hummed contentedly to herself as she flipped through the pages of a cat-themed coloring book, her little ponytail bobbing in time to her tune. Every once in a while, she’d point out a particularly interesting gato to her mother, pull a crayon from her father’s hand, or smile up at her grandmother. “I wish you were staying for three days,” her grandmother said to me. “It always takes her three days to warm up to someone.” As I watched Maritza pick a crayon the color of her dress, I got the distinct impression that though she might not speak to me, she is not shy. She simply takes her time. I was in Chiantla that Tuesday with the Child Ambassador team. We were visiting Guatemala to learn people’s stories so that we could share them in the US, inspiring sponsorships and generating support for the programs there. As I prepped for the trip, World Vision asked if I would sponsor a child in Chiantla. If I did, I might be able to meet him / her. I agreed, and a picture of Maritza — wearing a cat sweatshirt — showed up in my inbox. A few short weeks later, I found myself face to face with this self-assured girl and her family: her mom Maria Elena, her dad Anjel, and her grandmother Maximiliana. While Maritza colored a cartoon of a cat holding a flower pot, her family and I talked. As we shared our backgrounds and swapped stories, I gathered that this family believed strongly in the power of time — just as time had shaped this mountain’s features, time would bring healing to its inhabitants. But in the meantime, they shared honestly, life is difficult. Maximiliana looked frankly at me. “Estamos luchando para vida,” she said. “We are fighting for life.” The Daily Fight As we were to later learn at a meeting between World Vision staff and community leadership, life is indeed a fight in Maritza’s community. The remoteness of the region causes severe concerns for its families. Most people in Chiantla farm, but access to international food markets is beyond the community’s reach. There is low demand for their products locally, so farmers must settle for low prices. With only a small income, families can’t afford to send their children to school. Children thus grow up to limited job opportunities and continue working on the family farms, barred from access to more stable income. The concerns get deeper. Because the farms produce only select crops, malnutrition affects half of preschool-aged children. Undernourished, children begin to develop other health conditions. But there are no doctors in remote Chiantla. A community leader shared with us in frustration that regional nurses had planned to serve in Chiantla twice a week, but in reality, they can visit only occasionally. When they do, they don’t always have adequate medicines and supplies. The malnutrition and limited medicines make a potent combination; diseases like tonsillitis and bronchitis still take children’s lives. Understandably, parents feel stretched to the limit. The Future But though they acknowledged the struggle of daily life, Maritza’s family were not in despair. Maria Elena and Anjel joyfully described Maritza’s intelligence and potential, and Maximiliana confidently stated that Maritza would one day have a career of her own choosing. How could they look to the future with such joy? Because they believed that hope was coming over time. Chiantla began a relationship with World Vision about three months ago. Currently, community leadership and World Vision staff are investigating needs and brainstorming goals and solutions. World Vision helped a pilot group of farmers start an animal husbandry program, diversifying their products for marketability. Community leaders and WV staff are conducting research on how to support schools and early childhood development centers. WV officers are helping children register for sponsorship so the community will receive donations that can benefit healthcare. Anjel and Maria Elena summarized it best in a letter they wrote me: the children of Guatemala have been remembered.
Our Challenge
Today we challenge you, CAs, to join Guatemala's parents and grandparents in supporting moments of childhood — moments of humming contentedly and blissfully coloring. When you finish reading this post, please head to the the team website, click on the Supplies tab, and order picture folders specifically for kids from Chiantla. (You can specify the community name and its code, 211057, in the special requests box next to your order.) Then, share those pictures with your circle of influence and invite people to sponsor. Guatemala is stepping into the change that comes over time. Let's echo the stories of their courage. Comments are closed.
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