The RWI blog often highlights social injustices faced by those in developing countries, particularly in Guatemala. Our team cares deeply about education first and foremost, but also the connections between education and poverty, employment, and political activism in the Latin American context. While the majority of citizens in lower-income countries face obstacles to attaining a [...]
“If music be the food of love, play on!” Shakespeare’s immortal words always bring to mind the way that music shapes our lives, reflects our emotions and connects people across the world. This New Year’s, I experienced an unexpected brush with Guatemalan culture in the form of music. The sounds of a Guatemalan marching band [...]
Perhaps you’ve made a loan through Kiva.org, like last week’s guest blogger Clay Alexander. Maybe you heard something on TV about an organization like FINCA or the Grameen Bank, two of the pioneers of microfinance in the 20th century. Or perhaps the very concept of microfinance is a foreign one and you’re asking yourself what [...]
“Yes! Same same but different!” If you’ve ever spent time in South East Asia you’ll be familiar with this paradoxical phrase. Everything here is same same but different: the bus ticket that takes you to a destination 100kms away from the place you thought you were heading; the souvenir that’s totally different from the one [...]
The first time I left my home country, I was 19 years old. For me, 19 years seemed an eternity to wait before finally experiencing the thrill of international travel. Ever since childhood, the idea of other countries, cultures, and languages completely fascinated me. I dreamt of the day when I would experience a foreign [...]
Quetzalenango (Xela), which is located in the western highlands of Guatemala, is approximately 200km from Guatemala City and is an excellent tourist hub for the highlands. There are plenty of things to do in and around the city, such as visiting the most colorful church you are likely to see. The Catholic Church at San [...]
Mention the U.S. border debate and most people will have a very strong emotional reaction. It’s a topic that we take very seriously and is hotly debated by both sides.. Arizona has been at the forefront of the debate this year, and the controversy continues to unfold as Arizona is revisiting plans to fund building [...]
I’ve been listening to a recording of Beloved, a reading by the author herself. Morrison’s intimate knowledge of the moods of the lines and her gorgeous voice have won me over to the audio book. But what recently struck me, more than the reading, were three words of dialogue: “cold as charity.” The phrase isn’t [...]
Recently, I came across an article in the New York Times that discussed how lower-income and minority students still make up only a small part of the student bodies at elite universities. As a Latina, I can also attest from personal experience that there were only a few other students at my private liberal arts [...]
There are countless reasons to visit Guatemala, which is often marketed as “The Soul of the Earth.” I’m not much for taglines, especially for describing a country, but as you walk the Mayan pyramids or take a hike around the volcanoes of Lake Atitlan, you can almost feel the Earth breathing beneath your feet. [...]
2011 is literally just around the corner…so what have *you* resolved to change or do this coming year? Personally, the #1 thing on my list is to “give back” more often and try to make a real difference for others. Instead of resolving to lose ten pounds (but actually gaining 5) or any of those [...]
According to ReliefWeb, the United Nations ranks Guatemala as being in the Top 5 of underfunded countries in the entire world for 2010. This means that, along with Uganda, Central African Republic, Kyrgyzstan and Iraq, Guatemala has received the least money from international donors for the United Nations’ appeal to address conflict, natural disasters, and [...]
As I was thinking about what to write for my first posting with RWI, my thoughts went all over the map. Having lived in Guatemala for close to three years, I am not at a lack for words…so much so that I found it hard to disentangle myself from Guatemala. How there is now, and [...]
That’s right. In 1992, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to a Guatemalan — Rigoberta Menchu. Born in 1959, Menchu is an indigenous Guatemalan of the K’iche’ ethnic group. Currently an UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Menchu won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting indigenous rights in the country as well as publicizing the plight [...]
