Advocacy Begins in Guatemala City

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - Trista Matascastillo, Community Relations Sr Associate

We left our friends in Zacapa early this morning and made our way back to Guatemala City to begin our meetings with Non Government Agencies (NGOs) and Government Agencies. This is the part of the trip that we take what we have experienced and learned and find out what the agencies are doing about the issues and what work still needs to be done.

Because everywhere we travel in the city we have a police escort complete with lights and sirens we seem to get places quicker than necessary. We were nearly an hour early for our first meeting so had the unique opportunity to see a few sights in the city. We took a driving tour past the National Cathedral, and the Justice Department and to Central Park. The police were even patient enough to let us get out for a few minutes, despite how nervous they seemed. There is some risk being in the center of the city as a group of Americans and the last thing anyone wants is for us to be a victim of crime.

Though we were perfectly safe I did have an elderly Indigenous woman that swore and spit at me. I know it wasn’t anything I had done as an individual that provoked the response but, instead what I obviously represent to her. Guatemala has had a long history of war, and fighting and unfortunately we haven’t always done the right thing as American’s and got involved when we shouldn’t have. The Indigenous people suffered greatly at the hands of the Government in the 70’s and 80’s and that pain still is a very real part of the culture here. I took the insult in stride and a lesson in humility.

Our first meeting was with Plataforma Urbana or Urban Platform, which is a coalition of several different organizations and settlements. This coalition is working on housings, training and education, transportation, security and the economy representing those who experience poverty and extreme poverty. There is a lot of Sinicism and distrust of the Government, which is from a long experience of corruption and constant turn over. We heard their opinions and positions as it relates to dignified housing and the situation that the poor face. There seems to be an overwhelming need for an established ministry of housing. Currently none exists and there is no agency in the Government to hold accountable. There are currently 2 bills before the congress relating to housing one in which they feel only represents the private sector and the other which they feel is holistic and inclusive.

Our second meeting just a few blocks away was with an incredible Non Profit called Hogar y Desarrollo or Home and Development. This is a 100% volunteer non-profit that is very similar to Habitat but adds an additional piece of Micro-finance for small business development. They have been around since 1972 and survived the civil war, which is very impressive. They have built 2,500 homes to date with no paid or full time staff. Serving the countries poor and building them decent affordable houses. It truly is nice to meet another successful housing partner. Though far less political they agreed with the need to take a holistic approach to housing and that the biggest need is for a universal system in Guatemala to track land titles. They said lack of security and land tenure is the biggest obstacle to their work. This is exactly why it is one of Habitat for Humanity’s legislative agendas world wide.

After our meetings we were joined for dinner by two of Habitat Guatemala’s board members and had our most provoking devotions and reflections of the week. The discussion was what is it that we personally have to lose? We were challenged to not judge anyone, not government officials, poor people or the NGO’s but to consider for ourselves what is we stand to lose by taking action and more importantly what are we willing to lose to stand up for what is right? In Guatemala everyone stands to lose something when it comes to the issues of land tenure, and housing. The solutions are not easy but, they are achievable and it starts with Advocacy. Are you willing to advocate?

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