Women United Can Never Be Defeated

By Valery Nodem, International Coordinator for the Presbyterian Hunger Program PC(USA)

This week, I traveled with Carrie Saathoff, co-chair of the Guatemala Partnership of New Castle Presbytery to the Western Highlands of Guatemala to witness the work of the Association of Mam Christian Women for Development  (Association) in person. New Castle Presbytery has worked in formal partnership with the Association for more than a decade and the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) has recently begun supporting the Association as well. I was excited to see the projects that I have heard so much about in the last two years. Accompanying us were Andrea Ramirez, our expert interpreter, and Kevin de León, our trusted driver. The four of us had a lot of laughs and good conversation on the road.

On the first day, we spent the entire morning with the board and staff of the Association at their office and had a great discussion about the mission of the organization, the various projects they implement, as well as the general context in the communities they serve. The passion and commitment of the team was very contagious! Altogether this week, we visited four groups in three different communities and had a chance to meet with the women, see their projects, and hear their stories. 

For the second consecutive year, PHP is partnering with the Association in Guatemala. This Association was created about 20 years ago with the mission to empower Mam women and support their efforts to build a future in which they have financial, material, spiritual and personal independence. Like in many parts of the world, rural women in Guatemala experience high levels of poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, high incidence of domestic violence and low employment rates. The situation is a lot worse for indigenous women due to discrimination. It is this context that encouraged Rosario Diaz, the Association’s founder and coordinator, to form an organization to bring about change in local communities. To date, the Association has served more than 7,000 women. 

In 2025, PHP provided funds to launch two new revolving funds groups within the Association, so women can invest in income-generating activities and improve their living conditions. For 2026, PHP is supporting the construction and delivery of 50 fuel-efficient stoves. These stoves offer women a better cooking space, improve the health of families by directing smoke outside of the home, and also reduce the amount of firewood needed to prepare meals. 

During this past week, the Association board and staff planned well-organized and impactful visits to women’s homes and communities. We met with the women of the two new revolving funds groups and saw their projects of cows, other livestock, potato crops, and even a pharmacy.

We also were lucky enough to witness and participate in the delivery of the first 18 stoves for 2026. Let me tell you, those stoves are heavy!

In addition to the two projects recently funded by PHP, we also saw the many additional projects that have been supported by New Castle Presbytery, other US churches, and a strong base of individual donors. These projects include (but are not limited to) chickens, family gardens, reforestation, latrines, and sewing schools. We also matched another 64 prayer partners!

On our last day, we had a very informative visit to the AJPU workshop where they make the stoves, then headed to a private mountain managed by the local community. We hiked to miradors with incredible views, entered sacred caves, and shared fellowship while enjoying a picnic lunch. The Mayan spirituality of this special place really hit home on a personal note. It took me back to my childhood growing up in Cameroon, feeling the close connection between nature and the divine. It was a beautiful way to end my time here in Guatemala.

Reflecting on this past week, I feel the work of Association teaches us many lessons:

• An organization doesn’t need to be big to have an impact. A few women with a vision and determination can move mountains. The Association is doing just that!
• Empowering women and elevating their skills and talents is an investment in the families and communities they serve.
• When they come together to vision and problem-solve, women are unstoppable!

While traveling with the Association women in the van this week, I heard them reciting the verse of a well-known song, swapping out the word “People” for “Women” – Mujeres Unidas Jamás Seran Vencidas (Women United Can Never Be Defeated). Exactly! I leave tomorrow and head to meet with another PHP partner in Panama but will certainly keep in touch with this impressive Association and look forward to witnessing their progress in the years to come.