TPG on the PeaceJam Guatemala convention in 2023

TPG and PeaceJam in Guatemala

This year’s PeaceJam conference in Guatemala featured Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú as the mentor. Menchú, the country’s only Nobel laureate, has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of Indigenous people and was a major figure in promoting peace during Guatemala’s brutal civil war from 1960 to 1996, which claimed 200,000 lives. She continues her work through the Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation, which supports Indigenous communities. One of her projects is the Centro Educativo Pavarotti, a junior high school for students ages 12 to 16, where she oversees operations.

In total, more than 200 students, school administrators and PeaceJam mentors gathered for a transformative experience at this year’s conference. The TPG team arrived from Panajachel by lancha (speedboat) at the San Lucas Toliman dock, where hundreds of students, faculty members and staff members warmly greeted us. Menchú provided a traditional floral arrangement to Brian and Dean Kelly.

She began the conference with a traditional Mayan ceremony of incense and music. Menchú’s opening speech centered around “La Madre Tierra: Mi primer y único hogar” (“Mother Earth: My first and only home”), which encouraged students to engage in sustainable practices.

One of the most memorable moments at the conference was when teams of five students demonstrated both creativity and innovative thinking as they presented their sustainable business ideas in a “Shark Tank”-style format. The student group presentations centered around these four goals:

• A restaurant to serve local favorites and protect familial recipes
• Protecting Indigenous culture
• Improving Guatemala’s rural healthcare
• Making the water supply in San Lucas Toliman drinkable

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Courtney and I joined a group of around 50 students to visit a local center dedicated to addressing child malnutrition. We contributed by delivering essential dry food items, including white and yellow corn. Meanwhile, Hannah and Emily showcased their gardening skills as they and the students planted various plants, nurturing their green thumbs.

“Something special about PeaceJam in Guatemala is that it delivers programming to rural schools that don’t have access to leadership enrichment programming and peace education,” said PeaceJam programs director Lauren Coffaro. “Many of these areas are heavily affected by issues like poverty and migration. PeaceJam Guatemala creates a space where young people celebrate Indigenous traditions and claim pride in their heritage.”

The climax of each PeaceJam conference is the poignant candle-lighting ceremony, el fuego sagrado. During this ritual, the Nobel laureate imparts an inspiring message before igniting a candle, symbolizing all participants’ collective pursuit of lasting peace. Once the flame is kindled, students and staff share their wellsprings of inspiration.

The heartfelt messages shared were deeply moving and personal. They encompassed tales of resilience in the face of formidable challenges, such as growing up in impoverished regions and embarking on arduous journeys to access education. Numerous individuals acknowledged the sacrifices made by their families, all fueled by the hope of a brighter future for themselves and generations to come.

During the candle ceremony, Brian Kelly revealed a generous contribution of $31,000 to support the endeavors of PeaceJam. Additionally, he announced a $20,000 donation for the Global Impact Youth Fellowship.

The Global Impact Youth Fellowship

TPG’s support extends beyond sponsoring the PeaceJam conference in Guatemala. Through the Global Impact Youth Fellowship, TPG provides scholarships to students in Ghana, Guatemala and South Africa, covering all their high school or college educational expenses. Four students in each country are selected for this program, receiving financial support as well as guidance from a dedicated TPG employee who serves as their mentor throughout their academic journey.

For these students, receiving a full scholarship is a transformative opportunity. Combined with their extraordinary efforts, these fellowships allow the students to pursue a university education that would otherwise be unattainable. During the three days we spent together at PeaceJam, the TPG fellows shared stories of hard work on family farms and the sacrifices made by their grandparents, who toiled well into their later years to contribute to tuition fees and essential school materials.

Keybin, a TPG fellow from Guatemala, is currently studying radiology. He expressed that before learning about the Global Impact Youth Fellowship, attending university was never a consideration for his family. “This fellowship has given me an opportunity to support people. In the world, we are like a chain, helping each other mutually,” he shared.

Ines, who specializes in legal and social sciences, echoed Keybin’s sentiments. She emphasized that the fellowship deepened her sense of responsibility to succeed, thanks to the support she received along the way. Ines stated, “Being accountable for my actions and commitments has fueled my determination to excel academically.”

Key takeaways

While our TPG team visited Guatemala to support Indigenous students participating in PeaceJam, the benefits of the conference were not limited to the student participants alone. We, as volunteers, also gained immensely from the experience, both personally and professionally.

New PeaceJam volunteers are introduced to many aspects of local Mayan culture, including the cosmovision — a Maya worldview that highlights the significance of nature and serves as the foundation for community service projects. By familiarizing ourselves with the students’ values and perspectives, we were able to strategize effective approaches to addressing their academic challenges.

Attending this year’s PeaceJam conference left a profound impact on us. Witnessing the extraordinary lengths students and their families go to in their quest for education was truly awe-inspiring. It made us deeply appreciate the privileges we have enjoyed, including easy access to educational opportunities.

Moreover, this experience catalyzed personal growth and reflection. It reminded us that meeting our personal needs or feeling content does not absolve us from the responsibility to make a positive impact. Each life that PeaceJam changes opens up new possibilities to uplift more individuals, and we all have a role to play in enhancing communities worldwide, ensuring everyone can thrive.

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