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Cabrini University Students Complete Immersion Trip to Guatemala

Cabrini University students have returned to campus in Radnor, PA, following a week of travel and immersion experiences.

Wow! It is our sixth day in Guatemala, bringing us closer to the end of our immersive experience, but the good fight of the Guatemalan people does not stop here. We are reminded that the voiceless have 22 great students, and staff, who will continue that fight in Washington DC for equality and respect for human dignity.

We started the day coffee picking while half of our group did construction. While coffee picking it provided a humbling experience. We saw employees picking coffee but without gloves and our group members were very adamant to having working gloves. It reminded us of the privileges we have and how easily it is to fall into those entitlement mindsets of “this is what I need”. The coffee beans were attached to tree branches and without gloves it is very easy to endure blisters, cuts, and dirty hands. This a job that Guatemalan people do every day, and not once did we hear any complaints from them, but we are here saying what we need.

Reflection: Dignity of each Person
In seeking justice for people for the people of Guatemala, it is crucial to recognize and uphold the inherent dignity of every individual. Injustice not only violates basic human rights but also diminishes the value of each person. By promoting equality, fairness, and respect for all, we can work towards the common good and empower a society where every individual is valued and lives a life of purpose.

Until tomorrow,
Alex, A’niyah, Tiara

Students Thankful for Guatemala Experience

[On the final day] we all went to the Women’s Center for a Living Class that taught us about the things that women have traditionally done to support their families, like grinding corn and cooking tortillas on a komal, washing clothes at a pila, and carrying basins on their heads. Today many women continue to support their families by selling hand-made tortillas (for Q1 each, about 13 cents) and washing clothes by hand (for Q20 per load, about $2).

We held our final reflection under the stars on the hotel roof. Around a fire we recalled the “gems” of the day and the week, experiences that would stay with us and compel us to action. For example, the opportunity to interact directly with the Mayan people serviced by ‘mision’ has allowed us to learn their stories and connect with them in a deeper and more meaningful way. We have all been touched by someone, so much so that some participants would like to return to Guatemala as Long-Term Volunteers, or organize future service trips with their respective employers, church, or families.

Others are committed to supporting the ‘mision’ in other ways, through advocacy work, donations, and sharing their experience with others so they too can get involved. And we read a poem about the fact that the work we do (for justice, for a better life together, for the Kingdom of God) is never done.

We all have things that we discovered on this trip, and we named things we don’t want to leave behind:
 New friendships
 Greater confidence in ourselves and our callings
 Solidarity with the people of San Lucas Toliman
 Renewed energy and commitment to seek the common good

Much love to you all,
The Cabrini crew in Guatemala

Bringing Joy, Community, and Services to Senior Adults in Guatemala

“No elderly person should be like an exile in our families,
they are a treasure for our society.”
~ Pope Francis

 

Cabrini missions in Guatemala do a lot to make sure that the elderly population in both Barcenas and Zone 6 are well treasured through the elderly program. This program offers spiritual, educational, social, psychological, nutritional, musical, and physical activities in group settings. It also encourages personal interactions, regular attendance, community involvement and general
growth.

This program is organized by the social work department, together with volunteers (teenagers) and other departments like the psychology and nutrition department. The dynamism of working together as a team is so powerful and goes beyond expectations. It creates a collaborative learning environment for the elderly, volunteers, professionals, and interning students. Also, it helps promote a social relationship where the participating elderly share freely and confidently. The materials and the resources shared in this program are creative, educative, informative.

The elderly taking part in this program are nourished in all aspects of life. The MSCs in the mission share the gift of faith with the participants at the beginning of every gathering with a word of prayer, scripture sharing or faith-based sharing. Nutrition departments share their wisdom on how the elderly should master their diet. The psychology department introduces diverse ways of exercising self-love and care through their daily activities and how to maintain their well-being. There is no doubt that this nourishment affects them positively because of the joy and enthusiasm they all have every time they gather. It is inspiring how they attend actively with their ears open and always with an open heart and will.

They people love taking part in the program every Monday and Friday. They enjoy connecting with their friends, learning, playing, chatting, and doing their physical exercises or dancing every Friday morning. I love the way they greet each other and the way they share their concern among themselves. I appreciate the way they share stories and laugh aloud. They are simply full of life. I have been enjoying this program and I am full of gratitude for the fact that I am able to take part, help, and just be with senior adults in this amazing program.

U.S. Deportations Have Led to Spread of COVID-19

~ by Rhina Guidos, Catholic News Service

A report by the Washington-based Refugees International organization charges U.S. immigration policy with [exacerbating] the spread of the coronavirus in Guatemala, as federal agencies in the U.S. and Mexico have repatriated infected Guatemalans through deportations.

In “Harmful Returns: The Compounded Vulnerabilities of Returned Guatemalans in the Time of COVID-19,” a report released on June 23, Refugees International urges that Guatemalans seeking refuge be allowed to apply for asylum in the U.S., instead of being turned over to Mexican authorities or repatriated, and that they be allowed to go with U.S. sponsors while they wait for their day in immigration court.

But U.S. policies such as the “Remain in Mexico” program, also called the Migrant Protection Protocols or MPP, which asks those seeking asylum in the U.S. to wait in Mexico until a U.S. immigration court can adjudicate their case, have led to the eventual return home of many Guatemalans and other Central Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, Guatemalan officials halted flights carrying deportees into the country, saying that at least 20% of its COVID-19 cases had resulted from deportees who contracted the virus in U.S. detention centers. Citing those figures, Refugees International said once they were returned to Guatemala, deportees tested positive for COVID-19, “despite having clean bill of health documents from the United States.”

And, once they return to Guatemala, they were met with stigma, lack of jobs and still facing dangerous conditions in addition to having contracted the virus, the group says.

“These measures force home many Guatemalans with valid refugee claims who are at risk of persecution upon return,” the group said. “Others have legitimate fears for their security and safety when they get home because returnees are at greater risk of becoming targets of violence and extortion.

“Once back, Guatemalans often struggle to reintegrate. They face unique challenges in earning a livelihood; and women, indigenous groups and children face particular barriers to accessing many basic public services. Also, healthcare is lacking, particularly for psychological or specialized services.”

The main concern is that people seeking refuge in the U.S., including children, are exposed to unsafe conditions during detention and then turned away or put in conditions that risk their health and their lives while in custody.

The organization has recommended testing prior to deportation as well as testing once the returnees arrive, saying a lack of such measures puts those deported and the general population at risk. Deported Guatemalans return only to face hunger, a stagnant economy, and restrictions on their movement.

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