Bonnie Dilger: Supporting Schools in Santiago Atitlan
I first met Bonnie Dilger, author of Blood in the Cornfields, in Guatemala and recently we met up with each other in Marin County, California, when she came to visit her daughter.
How long have you lived in Guatemala and what first brought you there?
I've lived in Guatemala approximately thirty years, intermittently, but on a permanent basis for the last twelve. My first experience in Central America found me in El Salvador. It was 1973, and just a few weeks into my trip, my son David called me from Guatemala with an invitation to join him in the tourist town of Panajachel. The thought of touring the mountains of Guatemala was more appealing than the over-crowded city of San Salvador, so I accepted the invitation. I missed him, my youngest, anyway. I had not originally thought that my visit to Lake Atitlan would culminate in so long a stay, but thirty years later, here we are.
What, if any, political changes have you seen and experienced?
The country has had a succession of civilian presidents, beginning in the mid-eighties until the present and following the military dictatorships of decades (and centuries) past. These political changes have affected many reforms for the better in terms of humane behavior on the part of the government. In addition, before the guerrillas (the opposition party to the military-backed government) would sign the Peace Accords with the civilian administration, they mandated equal rights to health and education, and the right to hold public offices for the indigenous Mayas. When I arrived on my first visit to Guatemala (in early 1973), a mere 2% of the population of Santiago Atitlan could read and write. Tuberculosis, dysentery and other illnesses were rampant due to poor nutrition and the villagers' impoverished conditions. Only half of all children born at the time survived beyond the age of six years. These appalling statistics existed throughout Guatemala among the poor, particularly among the Mayan population. In the past few years, many health and education workers have come to the pueblo in attempt to improve living conditions. According to statistics of the students of the San Carlos University, there has been a quantum leap to 76% literacy among the youths in Santiago Atitlan. I don't have any statistics involving the whole country.
What are some of the most pressing needs facing the Mayan people of the Guatemalan Highlands?
There is an ever-present need for food and clothing, plus health care among the poor. Unemployment is high, and due to the confiscation of property that dates back to the Conquistadores, their property rights having been taken away, leaving them without adequte space even to grow their crops. Many non-profit groups and individuals are attempting to address these needs and though much has been done, much remains undone.
Where do you recommend travelers stay around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala City and Antigua?
There are two very comfortable and attractive hotels in Santiago Atitlan, both with moderate prices when compared with U.S. prices. The names are the Posada de Santiago and the Bamboo. Both are located at the edge of Lake Atitlan, affording a glorious view of the lake. Aldous Huxley once visited this part of the world and named Atitlan as the most beautiful area in the world. There are numerous hotels in Antigua.
Have you ever been worried for your life in Guatemala? If so, why?
During the bloody conflict in the early 80's, which lasted for 16 years, it was necessary for me to flee the area where I was living and helping my son in construction of the hotel -- Posada de Santiago. I actually reported the deaths and disappearances in the pueblo, which were then occurring on a daily basis, to all the wrong people in the government, thereby putting myself at extreme risk. I realized I had to leave when I returned to Santiago Atitlan from a visit to Panajachel and found my home broken into, my possessions destroyed and my little dog stabbed. A neighbor took me out of the pueblo in the family helicopter, enabling me to purchase a ticket back to the States in Guatemala City.
Do you feel safe now?
Yes. The military no longer in power. What worries us now is street crime and break-ins among youthful gangs. Government violence is now rare or non-existent.
Tell me about the schools you support in Santiago Atitlan.
I began my experiences with three schools a matter of five years ago. The founders, who had formed committees with the intention of building schools, came to me asking for my help. At the time, I had no resources to speak of, but I promised solidarity with them anyway. The young students had no school supplies, no desks to balance their books, if indeed they had any, really nothing except the desire to learn. They were also sitting in the mud with no roof over their heads. Much has changed since then. They now have desks, school supplies and, at times, we've been able to provide breakfasts for the children. We have one new school due to the help of theformer first lady, Dona Wendy Berger. She sent us the materials that enabled the fathers of the students to build the school. Presently, the second school has a tereno (piece of property) to begin building. A third has no property with which to build. They are looking to me to fulfill this need. At present, I have no resources available to purchase this property. Also, If possible, I would like to build a simple housing structure for the young volunteers who come to teach or provide other services, such as health care. I have to add that I've mainly been a committe of one, working alone. I keep no money, but all donated funds (primarily from private donors who are friends in the States) go directly to the schools.
What is your hope for the children of the Mayans?
A tall order. I want to help every child in the pueblo study and learn. When these three aforementioned schools can operate without me, I would like to start a scholarship program. Our schools only reach the 6th grade. I recently learned that a couple working in the area has started a scholarship program for higher education for students who will become professionals (such as medical students, studying to become accountants, prospective attorneys, etc.) but in between there is need to bridge the gap, such as funds for high school, college, or trade schools.
What changes have you seen in Guatemala since the signing of the Peace Accords Treaty in 1996?
As mentioned above, the Mayan children are in school for the first time in history. Their elders also hold governmental public offices for the first time. Their voices are being heard. I could compare the changes that have occurred in Guatemala with those of the Civil Rights Movement in the States. Many Mayas have held Martin Luther King's identical convictions and carried them out to facilitate freedom and equal rights for their people so that the chains of virtual slavery that have bound countless individuals since the Spanish Conquest in their grip could be broken.
To learn more about Bonnie Dilger, visit her website here.
Children at War: "Innocent Voices"
Innocent Voices is a compelling documentary about the brutal Civil War in El Salvador, seen through the eyes of Oscar Torres, an 11 year old boy, who miraculously survived to tell his story. The film could easily be set in Guatemala, a neighboring country, as they endured a similar violent Civil War. You can listen to an NPR podcast about "Innocent Voices" here.
During the 1980's, El Salvador's armed forces were recruiting twelve year old boys, abducting them from schools, homes, villages and streets. Chava, the main character, is an 11 year old boy and the "man" of his household, after his father escaped to the United States. Chava has only one year of innocence left before he will be forced to train and fight against his own people, or "guerillas", of the FMLN. The movie follows Chava's journey in this worn torn country, where we see him escape the perils of death at the hands of the military and survive violent gun fire in his village. His story, poignant and touching, is a story worth seeing.
Here is my question: How can a country (or world!) justify the kidnapping and training of children for war? It is absolutely repugnant to me; I grieve over the innocence lost. We must stop this now.
Go rent the movie today.