Maria Esperanza Santino Esquivel – One of the women of Aldea Granada – AMEDICAusa
A group of impoverished women teaches us strength
Retalhuleu, Guatemala-
Near the western coast of Guatemala there exists a small village whose residents are almost entirely women. Widowed, abandoned or single mothers, despair would be easy. Instead, these women have found the strength and determination to band together and fend for themselves.
Aldea Granada, (Pomegranate Village) exists as a small by-way on the road from Retalhuleu to Champerico on the coast. It is surrounded by low lying sugar cane fields, two rivers and a scattering of mango fincas (plantations). At first glance, it appears very similar to most small Guatemalan villages. It is only when you get out of your car and meet the people that you notice something different. There are very few men.
Where are the men? Some are dead, some in the U.S. as laborers, others are “in the wind”, often after struggling with alcohol issues, and some were the perpetrators of spousal abuse.
Aldea Granada didn’t begin as a haven for these women. It got its start as a typical, small campesino (farm worker) village. Time and circumstance left an unusually high population of women living alone without spouses. Word of the women’s efforts to band together soon spread and women from other parts the region began moving to the village as well. Some are indigenous Maya, some ladina (of mixed Spanish and indigenous heritage) but all are poor.
Life in the Pomegranate Village
A Typical house in Granada
Many of the women labor in the fields, earning just a few Quetzales or so a day. (the Quetzal – Guatemala’s currency – is worth about 14 cents). Others do laundry, sew or make tamales for local stores at similar wages. They live in small, one room homes of adobe or bamboo, with dirt floors and hot, tin roofs. The women cook on open fire within their homes, running water is a dream, electricity is rare.
Aldea Grenada resident Maria Gertrude Lopez Cuculista, mother of 15 children
Almost all have children, many having four or more. The children attend a small elementary school about a mile or so to the northeast, a long walk in the humid, often 95-degree heat of Guatemala’s pacific lowlands. Food is largely sparse servings of tortillas, beans and rice -the standard low protein, high carbohydrate staples of Central America. Medical care, what little there is, is in Retalhuleu, 30 km away at the National Hospital. A trip to the doctor can take many hours and the trip is expensive by the Aldea’s standards. The hospital often lacks basic medications to treat even common illness. Major medical problems are often insurmountable, left until they are too advanced to treat.
.
Doña Elsa
Doña Elsa Calderón
Elsa Calderón, known as Doña Elsa, is the leader of the village. Officially she is the head of its COCODE (Consejo Comunitarios de Desarrollo – Community Development Council) whose official function is to guide and promote economic and social service projects within the village. Unofficially, she is everybody’s concerned aunt. Keeping track of everyone’s well-being, she is the prime motivator for the various projects within the village. Her own home doubles as the community center and meeting place. Well constructed, and on higher ground, her home also serves as the emergency shelter during severe storms and the frequent floods of the area’s two rivers. The community has planted new corn fields on her property over the last two years , growing maize that they harvest, grind and process for their own consumption as the omnipresent tortillas. On a separate plot, this year they have added a small mango plantation and hope produce fruit to sell commercially and help support the community.
.
Despite their challenges, most of the women remain upbeat
They know that, as little as they have, it could be much worse outside of their community. Videos of the women and children show happy, bright faces and waves of hello to the people they hope will see the video in the United States. Even fair complaints about absent husbands in the U.S. have a wry humor.
“Hi ______” one woman shouts happily at the camera to a woman in the U.S. she suspects to be her husband’s new girlfriend. “I hope he is treating you better than he did me!” The gathered women laugh.
Despite their common efforts, the women here remain desperately poor. The effort allows them to survive (not a forgone conclusion in Guatemala) but little else. New clothes come from second hand bins via donations. They often struggle for each days meal. School supplies and clothing for their kids are a significant burden.
Gloria Nicolasa Aj Pacaja-Cachajil is one such woman. A friend from previous visits to the village, Gloria has several children for whom she struggles to provide. Her daughter, María de Jesus Arce-Pacaja, is one of the difficult stories of Granada. While very young, Gloria’s daughter developed severe hydrocephalus. No matter where you are, hydrocephaly can be a devastating condition. In Guatemala, it can be far worse. Fortunately, Maria’s condition received surgical treatment early enough to save her life. The extra fluid in her head did cause a swelling of her skull and created her unusual appearance, but it was caught in time to prevent crippling effects to her brain function. She speaks well, has a sunny disposition and, though she has some balance and sight problems, otherwise seems a normal, if a bit shy, little girl. She does not, however, go to school.
Maria de Jesus with mom, Gloria Pacaja (center rear), and Neale Brown of AMEDICAusa in Granada
The last time we spoke with Gloria, 18 months ago, she told us that she was reluctant to send María de Jesus to school, as she still had balance problems and often fell. Combined with the sometimes cruel teasing of the other children, she felt it might not be in her daughter’s best interest to attend. Now things have changed. While she now wants Maria to go to school, she simply can’t afford it.
“Now I don’t have a house, and only a little to eat.” she said. ” Backpack, notebooks and things for school are too expensive.”
Inspired by the Women’s Efforts
Our welcome to Aldea Granada
As always, greeted with handwritten signs and big smiles, AMEDICAusa’s arrival here in Granada was warmly welcomed. Of course, pictures with old friends and discussions about everyone’s well being were the first order of the day. The women, proud despite their limited means, always press a gift on us as well, usually something grown or made in the village, elote (cooked corn on the cob), home grown squash and the like. This time we are treated to a bushel of fiercely spicy fresh peppers.
2016 Women’s Health Education Mission to Granada
Our last mission trip here was part of a program of women’s and children’s health education, when AMEDICAusa brought several volunteers from an American health project to teach prenatal and early childhood health practices.
.
Clothing and Supplies mission, Aldea Granada, 2017
This time we brought a truckload of donated women’s and children’s clothing and, as a special gift, rare toys for the villages’ kids. Our next visit will be a school supply mission to provide the basic educational supplies that are otherwise difficult or impossible for the women to afford. Each time we visit, we also take a small gift of rice and beans for each family. It isn’t much, but at least for one day they do not have to worry about where their next meal will come from.
In addition, between regular program visits, AMEDICAusa’s Vice President Silvana Ayuso stops by frequently to check on the community’s well being and pass a little time with her friend, Doña Elsa.
“I really admire these women.” said Ayuso. ” Their strength and organization has gotten notice from as far away as the Government in Guatemala City.”
That is a difficult feat in a country where poverty is always the rule, rather than the exception.
Meet some of the women of Aldea Granada
(Each interview is translated to English)
AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.
We are always looking for volunteers who wish to help in Guatemala. Get the details here.
Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.