Purpose of the Site
My name is Kayla Myers and I am a Human Rights Accompanier for the Network in Solidarity With the People of Guatemala. This site is organized to:
- Explain what this work is and why it is crucial to our connected humanity
- Through the Blog Tab: Keep you involved in my journey
- Through the Support My Work Tab: Raise funds for the work
Solidarity Actions
Mayan and Duwamish People Unite
Indigenous leaders Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribe in Washington and Victor Caal Tzuy of the Mayans in Guatemala are standing together in solidarity for the human rights of Indigenous Peoples across borders.
On July 2, 2015, the Bureau of Indian Affairs denied Federal Tribal Recognition, and thus rights guaranteed by the Point Elliot Treaty, to the Duwamish People. Ken called for support.
Together, NISGUA and ACODET (the organization defending the Chixoy River of which Victor is a leader) demand that President Obama and related authorities restore recognition to the Duwamish People. Read the open letter written by NISGUA and ACODET to be sent to related authorities as well as the Duwamish Longhouse. Add your name by emailing Bridget at [email protected]
Why We Do This Work: Currently in Guatemala
Both the President and Vice President of Guatemala are behind bars for corruption. This follows weeks of peaceful protests involving sectors of society ranging from those rural indigenous groups who have been protesting for decades and the middle class who is just beginning to wake up to the problems facing Guatemalan society. Read about how a peaceful political uprising happened in war-scarred Guatemala to understand the hope and strength that is growing in the collective population. |
There is a Legacy of Violence that affects every aspect of life in Guatemala. An estimated 80% of Guatemalans live in poverty and 25% of children die before age 5. We need to bring awareness to these stories and show solidarity with the local organizations working to change this from the inside out. Read more: Social and Political Reality Today in Guatemala
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Ixil was one of the regions where Genocidal acts ripped apart Mayan Communities in 1982-1984. Over 200,000 Mayans were killed in Guatemala during that time. The stories are just beginning to rise and in 2013 Guatemala made world history becoming the first nation to bring their President to Justice through their own justice system instead of an international entity. Read more from the Guatemala Human Rights Commission. Guatemalan youth are fleeing violence and poverty in their rural homes coming to the United States; tens of thousands of youth under 18 have been crossing alone. Lets work together to support their communities in their search for justice and human rights. Read more from the New York Times. |
Families in Lote 8, a Mayan village in Guatemala, are still working to rebuild their homes after a violent eviction prompted by Canadian Mining company, Hudbay Minerals. One Hundred homes were burnt, animals slaughtered, and 11 women were gang raped. Read more from Rights Action: Re-building Lives and Communities One Home at a Time
Visit the Network in Solidarity With the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) blog to read more current stories, about local initiatives, and about the cases accompanied!
Accompaniment: What is it?
The following statement from the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala site explains accompaniment. They are the parent organization with whom I will be working.
"NISGUA is one of many organizations around the world that employs accompaniment as a vital tool in the global struggle for the respect of human rights. In the Guatemalan context, accompaniment creates a non-violent response to the threats, harassment, and violence faced by survivors of Guatemala’s 36-year-long civil war and grassroots organizations working for justice and human rights. To this end, NISGUA’s Guatemala Accompaniment Project (G.A.P.) places long-term volunteers side-by-side with people in rural communities and with organizations in an effort to deter human rights violations. The dissuasive physical presence of these volunteers, known as accompaniers, provides a measure of security and creates space for Guatemalan communities and groups to organize in defense of their rights. Accompaniers also monitor and report on the human rights situation and alert the international community to abuses. In the U.S., ten G.A.P. Sponsoring Communities are committed to immediately responding to abuses and providing ongoing support to accompaniers."
Click here to read more about G.A.P. and accompaniment on the website. Also, check out the newest reflection piece The Power of Presence to understand how Accompaniment has grown and adapted over more than 20 years of work with Human Rights defenders in Guatemala
"NISGUA is one of many organizations around the world that employs accompaniment as a vital tool in the global struggle for the respect of human rights. In the Guatemalan context, accompaniment creates a non-violent response to the threats, harassment, and violence faced by survivors of Guatemala’s 36-year-long civil war and grassroots organizations working for justice and human rights. To this end, NISGUA’s Guatemala Accompaniment Project (G.A.P.) places long-term volunteers side-by-side with people in rural communities and with organizations in an effort to deter human rights violations. The dissuasive physical presence of these volunteers, known as accompaniers, provides a measure of security and creates space for Guatemalan communities and groups to organize in defense of their rights. Accompaniers also monitor and report on the human rights situation and alert the international community to abuses. In the U.S., ten G.A.P. Sponsoring Communities are committed to immediately responding to abuses and providing ongoing support to accompaniers."
Click here to read more about G.A.P. and accompaniment on the website. Also, check out the newest reflection piece The Power of Presence to understand how Accompaniment has grown and adapted over more than 20 years of work with Human Rights defenders in Guatemala
Mission and Vision of NISGUA
The following statement describes the mission and vision of the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala:
"The Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) links people in the U.S. and Guatemala in the grassroots global struggle for justice, human dignity and respect for the Earth. Formed at the height of Guatemala's war in 1981, NISGUA's network today is comprised of thousands of people across the U.S. who demand justice for genocidal crimes of the past, push to change current U.S. policies, challenge corporate-led development in Guatemala, and advocate for grassroots alternatives."
Click here to read more about NISGUA on the website.
"The Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) links people in the U.S. and Guatemala in the grassroots global struggle for justice, human dignity and respect for the Earth. Formed at the height of Guatemala's war in 1981, NISGUA's network today is comprised of thousands of people across the U.S. who demand justice for genocidal crimes of the past, push to change current U.S. policies, challenge corporate-led development in Guatemala, and advocate for grassroots alternatives."
Click here to read more about NISGUA on the website.
Nice to Meet You!
Welcome to my site! One may ask what brings a young woman to the path of a Human Rights Accompanier. While explaining one's path is an ever changing endeavor, making this choice has given me the pause and cause to reflect. I studied International Development and Human Development at CSU and was always driven to work on several different projects. Upon graduating, I worked as a Youth Advocate at a Domestic Violence Shelter. This formed my deeper understanding of trauma and oppression and their affects on the individual and our communities. This job was hard, yet beautiful. I saw horrifying violence in my own community and I saw victims taking the courage to share their stories, and in each sharing becoming lighter in their being and stronger in their choices.
I knew that stories had to be a part of my future. After the government shut-down, my organization lost a lot of funding and I lost my job. This was a blow. Yet, I knew that stemming the flow of violence through crisis response was not my calling, I wanted to tell the stories. I wanted people to begin to understand each other. How else will we end violence and oppression in our world?
So, like so many 20-something idealists, I bounced around trying a lot of different jobs and researching how to work abroad, as I am quite afflicted with wanderlust. It is such a burden for me to know of the amounts of violence in our world and not be working to end it. Yet, how could I make any impact? How can I tell stories? What does that even mean?
After months of searching and screening, I found the G.A.P. program- Guatemalan Accompaniment Program. I love that I use my peaceful presence to dissuade violence and to encourage those brave Guatemalans working to change their country and our hemisphere. Finally, I get to share the voices of those who have been oppressed in order to build understanding between peoples and in order to build a more peaceful world. This work is a dream come true for me, this work is the goal I have been working towards in my professional career. I cannot wait to see where it will lead me! Thank you for joining me, I look forward to sharing with you during this journey!
I knew that stories had to be a part of my future. After the government shut-down, my organization lost a lot of funding and I lost my job. This was a blow. Yet, I knew that stemming the flow of violence through crisis response was not my calling, I wanted to tell the stories. I wanted people to begin to understand each other. How else will we end violence and oppression in our world?
So, like so many 20-something idealists, I bounced around trying a lot of different jobs and researching how to work abroad, as I am quite afflicted with wanderlust. It is such a burden for me to know of the amounts of violence in our world and not be working to end it. Yet, how could I make any impact? How can I tell stories? What does that even mean?
After months of searching and screening, I found the G.A.P. program- Guatemalan Accompaniment Program. I love that I use my peaceful presence to dissuade violence and to encourage those brave Guatemalans working to change their country and our hemisphere. Finally, I get to share the voices of those who have been oppressed in order to build understanding between peoples and in order to build a more peaceful world. This work is a dream come true for me, this work is the goal I have been working towards in my professional career. I cannot wait to see where it will lead me! Thank you for joining me, I look forward to sharing with you during this journey!