OUR WORK IN POLITICAL EDUCATION

Capacity-building classes on the following themes have been taught by Ascodimaya:

• Human Rights
• Analysis of the Peace Agreement, especially of the Agreements on Identity and Rights of the Indigenous Peoples
• The Agreement on the Agrarian Situation and Socioeconomic Aspects
• The role of the military in a democratic society
• The Agreement on the Establishment of a Commission for the Historical Clarification of the Human Rights Violations and the Violent Acts that have caused the population’s suffering (in relation with the compensation for the victims of war and the genocide, racism and discrimination that our country endured during war)
• Study of national laws and international treaties: Labor Code, Municipal Code, Law of Urban and Rural Development Councils, General Law of Centralization, Political Constitution of the Republic, Civil Code, International Treaties and Agreements ratified by the State (mostly Agreement 169 of the International Labor Organization – ILO)...

Apart from the study of these subjects, the association has given courses on medicinal plants, circumstantial analysis, analysis and interpretation of the Mayan Calendar, communal cohabitation, Mayan ceremonies in different sacred places, walks in commemoration of the International Women’s Day and the International Workers’ Day (May Day), mass meetings and peace Vigils.

OUR SOCIAL WORK

In 2003, 24 houses were built and administrated for inhabitants of Patzún (Q288 000 were managed) and 40 more accommodations are in the process of being built/managed. All these procedures are being carried out for a Ministry of the national government of Guatemala. The people most affected by extreme poverty or hurricanes (Mitch in 2001 and Stan in 2005) and particularly in need received support. All these people received medicine, food products, roofs for the destroyed homes, clothing and coats.

Eight students of first, second and third grade of basic education (educación básica for 13, 14 and 15 years old) were able to get funding for three years of studying (2004-2007). The studies of four other students in computing are presently being funded.

In order to develop these three axes of vital importance (organized work, political education and social work), ASCODIMAYA needs financial help.

As mentioned, various social movements and revolutions took place in Guatemala ever since the invasion in 1523 and until the signing of the Peace Agreements which ended 36 years of war. However, these Agreements were not capable of bringing true peace or social justice to the population or actual representation of the Mayan in Parliament. This is precisely what ASCODIMAYA is fighting for. Organizations such as ASCODIMAYA believe that a radical change concerning basic needs is urgently needed: medical care, education, food, housing, land ownership, political education...On the other hand, ASCODIMAYA educates the population on the laws that protect them so that they can exercise their rights, as well as informing them on their duties as citizens.

For these reasons, ASCODIMAYA considers civil and political education, comprehensive development and civic participation as vital elements. ASCODIMAYA focuses all its efforts on the members of the communities mentioned above and spends much effort on training key influential people that have the capacity to act as vectors of change in their communities and surroundings. We hope to increase the political participation of women and men (the elderly, adults, the youth and children) in the country’s political life, with a wider vision of the public and political scenes, at the national, municipal and local levels. We hope to enable citizens to take part in and influence the decision-making process and project the comprehensive human development of the population. On the other hand, the association owns a parcel of land (predio) of 512 sq meters, to be used to build two classrooms for the children’s study, an office for the association and a place to celebrate Mayan ceremonies. This parcel of land is situated in the canton of Xajaxac Sololá and financial aid is necessary for its future construction.