MEDIA RELEASE
“Northumberland Residents to
Visit Mayan Popular Education School”
(Cobourg, ON) A delegation from Canada, including residents from Northumberland, will be traveling to Guatemala early next year to visit a project that seeks to strengthen cultural identity, build leadership skills and increase citizen participation among indigenous Mayan youth. The Mayan Popular Education School is a project of Kabawil, a non-profit Guatemalan organization whose mandate is based on the Mayan worldview and the principles of freedom, justice and cultural identity. Kabawil is an indigenous peasant organization.
The goal of the project is to support human and social development of indigenous youth who are marginalized and often face discrimination within their own country. According to UNICEF, some of the root problems affecting Guatemala today are discrimination against indigenous peoples and the unequal distribution of economic resources in the country. The importance of this project becomes greater as more than half of the population of Guatemala is under the age of 18 and three-quarters of them live in poverty.
The trip is organized by Horizons of Friendship, a Canadian non-profit organization located in Cobourg that supports community development projects in Central America and Mexico. Kabawil is one of 17 partner organizations that Horizons of Friendship supports with help from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and individual donors committed to social justice initiatives.
According to Jessica Farias, Community Outreach Coordinator at Horizons of Friendship: “This delegation is not only an opportunity to learn first-hand how Horizons of Friendship works with local organizations such as Kabawil, but it is also a chance to visit Guatemala, a country famous for its majestic volcanoes, mountains and lakes.” The trip blends both educational and travel elements to create a truly unique experience for participants.
The trip will last 10 days and will take place in February 2005. The total cost of the tour is $3,000, and includes such expenses as airfare, accommodation, insurance, in-country travel and all meals. Five individuals from Northumberland County have already committed to participating in the trip; however, spaces are still available for those interested. To learn more, please contact Horizons of Friendship in Cobourg at (905) 372-5483 or 1-888-729-9928.
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For more information, please contact:
Jessica Farias
(905) 372-5483 Ext. 24
info@horizons.ca
