Interview: Rob Motley SEPA recently caught up with Rob Motley, a former accompanier with Santa Elena Veinte de Octubre. Rob was in Santa Elena shortly after the end of the Internal Armed Conflict. *** In the summer of 1996, between my junior and senior years of college, I traveled to Guatemala, Honduras and Chiapas, Mexico. I was 21 at the time and went by myself. I spent a month in language school in Quetzaltenango (Xela) Guatemala and really fell in love with the country. I

SEPA recently spoke with Dennyse Nineth Aleidy Temaj Yat, the niece of Virginia Yat (school director in Santa Elena). Dennyse was born in Santa Elena, but when she was a little girl, her family moved so that her parents, both teachers, could work in a community in Ixcán, about an hour’s distance from Santa Elena. Three years ago, the family decided to return to Santa Elena to live. Although Dennyse and her parents still work in Ixcán, their decision was worth it: Dennyse get

We're happy to share that SEPA made $1650 in our first annual garage/plant sale yesterday. That may sound like a small amount of money for days of preparing plants, organizing tables, and baking treats for sale. However, in Guatemala, where compulsory education ends after the sixth grade, $1500 can give three children a one-year scholarship for an education they may otherwise not have been able to receive. Thank you to our bakers for the delicious treats. Thank you for donati

One Woman’s Experience with the Internal Armed Conflict During Guatemala’s Internal Armed Conflict, the Maya population was targeted. Their choices were few: move to a so-called “Model Village,” and be under constant surveillance; hide in the mountains as a “Community in Resistance,” trying to survive while avoiding violence; join a guerrilla group and fight; or flee the country. In our last edition, we learned that the family of our guest, whom we’re calling Luisa, decided t

Starting our 30th Year: This year’s Annual Meeting was a success! The board and our guests were treated to a presentation by Rigoberto Ordoñez Morales, one of the founders of Copal AA. Rigoberto talked about the history of the community, its dedication to the environment, and challenges and successes. We hope to continue having such educational exchanges with Copal AA and Santa Elena. Here are the opening remarks from founder, John Gates. On behalf of the communities of Santa

Introducing Seferino Maquin Xol from the community of Santa Elena Before you meet Seferino, we’d like to explain how the educational system in Guatemala works. In Guatemala an optional school called cecodii is available for children from birth to the age of four. At this stage, the mother of the enrolled child helps in the school from the first month of pregnancy. The children who graduate from cecodii are prepared for preschool, which is available for students aged 4 - 6. Pr