As I reflect on my first week of language school in
Guatemala a few points stick out: one week went by SO quickly; Spanish is hard;
and Sakribal is a great place to study. I’m going to concentrate on this last
part for this blog entry.
Sakribal offers classes for students 5 hours a day, 5
days a week. Last week, our group had lessons in the afternoon session, from
2-7 (we got a nice 30-minute break at 4:30). As I was hanging out at school
during one of the breaks last week, I saw a brochure for Sakribal sitting on
the main office desk. What caught my eye was the bottom of the first page
(partially because it was in English and my brain was longing to think in
English):
“Woman Founded, Woman Directed, Community Conscious.”
Olga
Wow. I knew the first woman I was introduced to at
school, Olga, was a woman of great importance. She sat at the front desk,
introduced me to my homestay mom, and took my money. Until I saw this brochure,
I had no idea that she founded this school. She has created an incredible
program.
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| When I asked if I could take her picture, this is what Olga did. haha. Love her. |
First, Olga is extremely well-educated. When you look at
the wall across from her desk, all of her diplomas and recognitions are
displayed. Most of these are for excellence in teaching, and for the school as
a whole. Second, the school is very well-organized (I attribute this to the
fact that the director is a woman!). She set up our travel from Guatemala City
to Xela, she arranged our homestays, she plans activities to do throughout the
week, and she developed curricula for all different levels of Spanish
instruction. Third, when I felt so sick on Tuesday, she gave me the biggest
motherly hug (which of course made me cry because all I wanted was a hug from
my actual mom!), and she told me everything would be ok. This woman is amazing.
Half the Sky
This summer, I have decided to read only non-fiction books.
Usually I am a fiction reader in the summer because I get enough of the
academic stuff during the year (I may have read an entire novel the day before
I left, knowing I wasn’t bringing any with me… ha). The book I’m reading now is
called Half the Sky: Turning Oppression
into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl
WuDunn. I highly, highly recommend it. It was given to me by my good friend
Andrea two years ago (for graduation… oy! Two years!), and I am just reading it
now, but I’m so happy I am.
One of the main points of the book is that many issues surrounding
women’s oppression worldwide can be helped through continued education for
girls. (I am completely watering down here, there’s much more that this book
teaches.) As I read it, I can’t help but think about Sakribal and Olga. Kristof
and WuDunn write about “social entrepreneurs” who work worldwide to empower
women through locally-run organizations. In my mind, Olga is one of these entrepreneurs.
Odilia: The Teachers
Olga maintains a school that employs mostly women (there
is only one male teacher). Whether this is on purpose or simply coincidence, I
do not know, but the fact is most of the staff is female. Odilia is my teacher:
a 45-year old mother of 3, who teaches from 8am-7pm weeks when she has to work
the double-shift (like last week). Odilia walks about 40 minutes from her house
to Sakribal and back again. Her eldest daughter often forgets to help with the
chores (reminds me of me at 16…) and her husband is usually occupied with his
own work (although he does do all the ironing). Odilia taught young children
before taking the job at Sakribal. She has this steady job throughout the year,
and is presumably paid well. Most of the other teachers are younger, in their
twenties, and their job at this school probably helps them support not only
themselves, but their families. It is refreshing to be studying at a school
that provides meaningful work for women. Young women are starting their careers
as teachers, and women like Odilia are continuing to meaningfully support their
families with jobs outside of the home.
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| Me and Odilia. |
Irma: The Host-Moms
Not only are teachers employed by Sakribal, but the host
families also receive compensation for hosting us. Meredith’s family would not
have a house if it wasn’t for Sakribal students. The money her “mom” receives
each week helps pay for the rent on the house as well as food for the family.
Meredith lives with three women; her “mom” is older, and has two grown daughters.
These women’s lives would be completely different if Olga did not employ them
as a host family. Clearly Olga lives into the “community conscious” aspect of
her mission statement, providing livelihood for local families through her
school.
The Scholarship Program
Each afternoon, girls from the local schools come to
Sakribal to use the old typewriters (yes, you read correctly, typewriters), to do their homework. They
tap tap tap away on the keys as I study with Odilia. Part of our tuition goes
to fund the scholarship program which supports young girls who otherwise would
not have the opportunity to study. Not only does the school help support female
teachers in Xela, but also tries to affirm education for girls and keep them in
school.
Oh right, and foreigners learn Spanish. This seems so
secondary compared to the rest of the amazing work being done.
Blessed
I don’t know if Duke Divinity School chose Sakribal
because of Olga and her community focused approach or if it is all by chance
that I’m here. All I know is that I feel blessed to be here, blessed to be part
of an organization doing such good work, and blessed to have even more
wonderful female role models in my life.
Peace, Love, and Smiles,
Christa
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