history – Guatemala Partnership

Microloan Groups: A Key Piece to a Sustainable Partnership

March 21, 2018March 12, 2019Guatemala Partnership

During this trip, Cathy and Carrie made sure to meet with a variety of microloan groups. These microloan groups help fulfill the pillar of incoming-earning power in the Guatemala Partnership.

The Association of Mam Christian Women for Development has 500 members. As these women live across a large geographic area in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, they organize themselves into smaller groups of 12-18 women in each aldea, a term for village or local community. Together, each group is encouraged to write a business plan and apply to the Association Board for an interest-free microloan.

Continuing Our Youth Partnership

March 20, 2018April 29, 2018Guatemala Partnership

This past Sunday, Cathy and Carrie paid a visit to our partner church, El Verbo Divino. The church is absolutely breathtaking and has the most scenic view from its balcony. If that name sounds a tad familiar, this is the same church whose youth group graciously hosted Westminster youth this past summer for the inaugural youth partnership trip to Guatemala.

View from the balcony of El Verbo Divino

The Signing of the Covenant

March 18, 2018April 13, 2018Guatemala Partnership

In a recent post, Cathy Higgins shared how she and some Westminster and New Castle Presbytery (NCP) members traveled down to Guatemala in early 2015 to sign a three-year agreement between the Association of Mam Christian Women for Development and the Mission Development Unit of the NCP.

As the agreement was due to be resigned, the scope of the partnership increased from the Mission Development Unity of the NCP to entire NCP and the Association through 2020.

98a6c6b7-0f8e-4149-8d37-77512cf168ad — Cathy Higgins, Carrie Saathoff, and the Association Board Members smile after signing the covenant atop Rosario’s home.

It’s Tool Time: Guatemalan Style

March 17, 2018March 17, 2018Guatemala Partnership

As most will know, one of our biggest initiatives with the Association are the ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine and recently completed water filter projects. We are striving to provide partial funding for 500 latrines for the 500 women in the Association.

In an effort to have a sustainable partnership that helps the local economy, we teamed up with two local tradesmen, Alfredo and Vicente. Alfredo, Vicente and his staff source all the materials locally and make and manufacture them in their facility.

Breaking Bread with The Association Board

March 16, 2018March 17, 2018Guatemala Partnership

After a busy first day, Cathy and Carrie did not miss a beat as they packed up their things in route to Xela. This is a rather populated town in the North Western part of Guatemala, very close to our partners in the neighboring city San Juan Ostuncalco. The main event for the day was a dinner meeting with Rosario and Board Members of the Association.

Cathy Higgins and Rosario, The Association Coordinator, discuss next steps at Rosario’s home and public health clinic, Clinica Maya.

This Association is a conglomerate of 500 women in this region of Guatemala that committed to empowering one another through educational, agricultural and business-related ventures, thus allowing these women to empower their families and respective communities. After all, empowered women build strong families and communities.

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