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It has had a significant increase the participation of the
Guatemalan women inside the
different fields of the society.
The contribution of the Guatemalan women goes further her role as
a wife, mother and housewives and without abandoning these activities.
Nowadays, most of them are venture into areas such as social,
economic, politics, business and in a responsible and proactive way
promoting the integral development of our country.
In Guatemala there are women organization that work in different
spaces, contributing with the integral development of the Guatemalans.
In the year 2003 a group of women of the municipality of San Andrés Semetabaj,
department of Solola at the shore of the Atitlan lake, decided to get organized
to get technical assistance and training to implement
various productive projects, with the purpose of collaborating
with sustainability in their homes, giving rise to the Association of
Integrated Management "Mayan Vision", with which they benefit thousands of families
in the area and of course also many in the surrounding areas.
Welcome to Investment and Development, today we will talk about the subject:
"Vision, Women for the Development ". And with it we count with:
Carmela Sacuj, President of the Integral Management Association
"Mayan Vision" of San Andres Semetabaj, Solola and Juana Pacal,
Associate. Welcome to Investment and Development. Thank you very much
for accepting our invitation. Thanks to you.
Carmela How does it arise the association? What does it mean? and What
is the purpose of the association? In first place, nice to meet you
I feel very glad to be here with you by this communication
medium. This happened because of the necessity of women,
because we see that there are many of us who need a family
income and that's why we started looking and we got together one
group of women who were looking for something we could do.
And we would like to do something different, we said at the time.
And we came in touch with Don Rodolfo Paiz,
I knew him years ago and he gave us the idea of mushrooms.
He helped us to manage projects to produce the mushroom
in the community. Which with the support of him and the Austriaco School,
helped us a lot with the legal management of the Association and everything else
was our responsibility and there was where we started
with this since 2003.
And it has been increasing, to this date, How many partners do you have? and
What communities belong to this association?
Now it integrates Patanatic, belonging to Panajachel and
also San Antonio Palopo, Santa Catarina. They are 4 municipalities
that are with a group of women, then we are going to integrate
Santa Lucia, San Jose Chacaya and these ones with older
people. Then there is already a participation of the Mayors
that have built modules for the elderly citizens.
There are women and men.
In this association there are only 50 women, and one men, I have understood.
There are going to be integrated 60 more women and the elderly ones.
Important because there are practically 60 families. That is so. And the most important
is that you all are women and have moved forward and only one man
which participates in your association.
So, when we started the percentage was about 50% male and 50% female;
but the men retired and only one remained between us.
They also saw that this work is more for women,
because it allows us to be at home and even though they left us, we have
shown them that we have achieved a lot.
Juana , What benefits do the women of these communities receive
if they are associated to Mayan Vision?
In 1st. Place we have obtained more modules and incomes for the families
and other things that we have achieved, such as the trainings.
And they have been improving.
The development of women, being more independent
and contributing financially with their families expenses.
That is is. How many trays of mushrooms do you produce in a week? and
Where is the production, mainly delivered?
200 trays of 12 ounces.
and, Where are being distributed those trays?
At Walmart, Tikal Futura, restaurants, local markets
and regions of Solola.
Important because you have been diversifying into different markets.
Carmela the participation of the community is very important,
there are 27 thousand cominities at a national level, where we would
like to have 27 thousand of COCODES and that in this moment there are only
10 thousand of COCODES at a national level.
The participation of women is very important. Do you participate
in a COCODE of the communities you already mentioned?
or, Do you participate in the COMUDES of any of the 4 municipalities?
At the moment we are not participating in
any COCODE or COMUDE; but we do have a good approach
with the mayor and we are an example for the town and everyone.
Now we are called to give talks and show that women can.
Of course you are an example in the communities and in the department
and now you are an example for all Guatemala.
What should we do for more entrepreneur women,
fighters who want to get ahead, to participate
like you are doing?
It is fight that we have to give and not be tired and we also as a group
of women we knock doors where we must not,
because we decided to not fold our arms waiting
for someone to come to give us something. We search and
get ahead with the help of the communicatin with the government, that supports
a lot project of women. Well then we said:
Lets search, because in some place there must be the bottom
and even if we have achieved just a little; but we must go out and search for it.
Do not stay sit at home waiting, but as I say:
I am a woman that fights, I have 6 children and till now I am the only
one responsible for my children and I have one that is studying medicine in Cuba;
and that is why I am giving you this example, that we the women can.
And that struggle that I do so my children will not suffer as I did,
Because before I could not get ahead, bit I want to get ahead now.
I have a son that practice boxing, here in the country and we also fights.
With their dad we separated, I prefer to be alone.
This shows that women are independent and can 105 00: 08:21,745 --> 00:08:25,188 raise their families, in despite of the disadvantages they may have.
Doña Juana What can women of Solola do? the ones in the
surrounding communities to join Mayan Vision.
What do they need to do?
Be part of the group to produce mushrooms, because that is what generates incomes
and if they can be part of the association. And it is a good business.
Truly, Juana and Carmela it is such a pleasure to interview women
like you and I am sure that many Guatemalan women,
that have been watching us are hard workers, fighters, and have
the desire to move fordward and like you say: we need to knock doors and persevere.
We encourage you to continue this partnership and continue
raising your families, as you have indicated. And we need
that Guatemalan society, communities, municipalities 118 00:09:25,504 --> 00:09:29,409 open its spaces for more women like you, can get ahead.
Again, congratulations and thanks for giving your best,
to take fordward your communities, your municipality
and Guatemala. Let’s go to a commercial break and then continue with
the second part of Investment and Development and the theme:
"Vision of women for the development ".
Mayan Vision promotes productive projects, fomenting
the participation of women, accelerating the Rural Development,
Economic and Social in Guatemala.
We continue with the second part of Investment and Development for which
is with us: Josefina Coroxon, Vice-president of the Association "Mayan Vision"
and also Lopez, Asociada. Welcome to Investment and Development.
Josefina, you are the Vice- president, you have strongly fight
and have got ahead this association and your family, you are
developing a project with the Inter-American Development Bank, BID.
What is this project?
IDB has supported us a lot, they have provided us training that
we are beginning for 200 older adults in
Utatlán St. Lucia, Santa Clara La Laguna, San Antonio Palopo
and San Pablo La Laguna. Very important because you
are supporting elderly people and is a
quite significant number and you are expanding this to 5 or 6 municipalities.
That is important because you have a much broader vision.
Josefina, as we are seeing now you are reaching communities
of the Republic, what expansion plans do you have to export this
type of fungi? to What countries have you planned?
Well we have the vision to export in international markets,
so we can expand and so the product can be marketed
more and thus we obtain more benefits
and women also.
Rosalba, these fungi oysters, you produce are of excellent
quality, besides being a good food product.
What other qualities do these mushrooms possess? And how else can
we consume them? Besides being a food product, it is also a
medicinal product which brings a lot of benefits for the ones that
that consume it.
and, much is this 12-ounce tray? And how can we get it?
What can be achieved in supermarkets as for example in: Paiz,
Despensa Familiar has a tray price of Q32.
A product with a very affordable price in the market, at the same time
of high quality. Josefina What projects have you been working
with the Commonwealth Mancatitlan? and What does Mancatitlan mean?
It is an institution that has helped us a lot in the training,
because we have received many trainings and recently they gave us
a computer for our head office, in which we pack
mushrooms and send them to Paiz stores.
And that's very important because they are having a vision, not only for
short term, but also for the long and medium term.
Rosalba, you already are experts in growing oyster mushrooms;
but I have understood that you are diversifying
and now you are also talking about of organic fertiliser projects.
What is it? What can it be used for? And what it will mean
this diversification? In job opportunities for partnership
and for the other municipalities or communities that want to be part.
What about the organic manure? Correct. The organic fertiliser
benefits us to fertilization of the vegetables and also for the corn field
and with this, to stop the use of the chemical fertilizer.
This is another means of production that you are going to have.
What do you have planned? for Consumption or use it for other communities.
That is what we have in process, not just use it for ourselves,
but we hope that this product can be on the market for others.
Josefina, I have understood that there has been a lot of expectation in relation
to the products you are generating
and even artists have visited you.
Yes it is so, we were visited by Cristina Aguilera and at that time we saw her,
we were very happy as women, because sometimes we
think that women cannot do the things, but yes,
we're moving forward and we receive her
with great joy and received support from her, since we
asked her for a computer, which served us and she donated it.
You receive these international artists with joy and in this
moments thousand of Guatemalans are watching and receiving
you with much joy, not just as a national level; but also to at a international level.
Because you are women worthy of example worthy of imitation and
this is replicated in these projects. You as a young person Rosalba have been
preparing and building a better future than your previous generation had.
What would be that message? That you would send these women in
the Community area, women who are waiting for a chance
and they really want to fight for themselves and their families,
for better economic and social development.
I invite all the people, especially women who are
watching by this means of communication, to take the initiative,
do not miss the opportunities that are given;
but to take any opportunity that comes to your way, because only then
we can improve our lives, and women and our families.
Josefina and Rosalba, we congratulate you and urge you to continue
showing that different 2 generations are following the same
project, which are benefiting their communities.
Let´s go to a commercial break and then we will continue with Investment and Development.
Training programs, designed to promote improvement
of women, expand their knowledge, enabling
develop new skills that create better opportunities
for the benefit of their families and communities.
We continued investment and development in the third and final block.
For this is with us: Marta Garcia, Treasurer of The Association "Mayan Vision"
and Coralia Tzul, Associated of the Association "Mayan Vision". Welcome.
Marta, with all these international artists that have visited you
What is the purpose of their visits? and particularly in the case of
Cristina Aguilera who recently was with you.
Nice to meet you, thanks for giving me this opportunity.
The singer visited us, as you said, it was because she works
with food associations and to see whether the support she gives,
reaches the neediest communities. For example: there with us,
in our town are people in need, children orphaned,
There are widows and so she made the visit. To verify if
the help she sends and gives reaches.
Coralia What other kind of mushroom do you think to grow? besides the oyster mushroom.
In 1st. place we appreciate this opportunity given to us,
the idea of Mayan Vision is to grow Shiitake
mushrooms and fungi, those are the ones we have in
mind to improve in our production, that is not only
oyster mushrooms production; but having a variety in our products.
and, What kind of thing can be done with the Shiitake mushrooms?
¿Is it toe at or for medicine? for example.
You can eat it, people consume more shiitake, and also
the fungi mushroom, which are the ones we have been requested about.
When we went out to sell, people told us that these
are the most consumed, then the idea now is to see how we
can produce these 2 types. And the people like them very much.
Marta, you have a trademark "Oyster Mushroom Atitlan"
that is increasingly consumed more on the domestic market
and now you are looking for other markets. 240 00:20:46,826 -> 00:20:51,582 How do you guarantee the quality of your products?
In 1st. place as my partner mentioned, we are receiving
more training, in order to sell our product,
we need to have a good hygiene in order to sell well,
because receiving training, is how we can get ahead
and do a further follow-up on the hygiene of our mushrooms,
because these are produced naturally to look after them well.
We have a lot of gratitude for this mushroom because it has helped us a lot
and through this we learned a lot, because before we did not know
how to sow, but through these trainings given to us,
we have learned to grow these and it is not a heavy duty
it is a job that we do at home being with our family,
this is what we do.
Coralia, before you used to dehydrated apple and pineapple, Are there plans to
take up this project again?
Not for the moment, because we are dedicated only with the mushrooms.
Marta, as a woman you, How it feels to be taken into account
with this opportunity in Mayan Vision?
I feel very happy, because before we did not participate in
associations, but now, thank God, with many training
we have received, we are gathering people to form our
Association and I thank God and my beautiful family, my husband
because they supported me a lot and my children also
help me and therefore I am very happy to belong to the Association.
Coralia, you already have 5 years of being in the Association and definitely
this method of production is a livelihood for your family. What do
your children say? What do your neighbors say? On this important work
that you are doing.
Actually, my children are very happy that I am participating in
the Association and they also support and help me when I have
to plant and when we have meetings, they tell me: go and we will
take care of water the mushrooms, as it requires a lot of
care for our product.
We thank Coralia and Marta for joining us in Investment and Development
encourage them to go further, more women like you
are what we need.
Definitively such projects are extremely important
and therefore the Mrs. Rosa Pacal, a member of the Association
will give a message in Cakchiquel for more women to join
to this type of production projects that sustain families
that give communitry support and of course that generate jobs.
I thank the Association "Mayan Vision" and the women of
San Andres Semetabaj, because thanks to them we were invited to participate
in this TV show. Thank you very much.
It is essential to promote and support productive projects
at the level of communities, municipalities and departments,
providing local producers with training and technical assistance
and financial among others.
We must provide access to opportunities and resources for
rural dwellers, dynamic, proactive, enterprising and organized
develop their skills and creativity.
Recently women have taken a more active role, they
are able todo tasks involved in, political, economic
and social business, promoting the development of Guatemala.
Integral Management Association "Mayan Vision", is an organization of
women wich are leaders in San Andres Semetabaj, which contributes to economic strengthening
of the municipality and their communities through various projects
Oyster Mushroom as well as organic fertilizer.
It is essential to coordinate the efforts of Guatemalan institutions
to boost the country's socioeconomic development.
We must support all entrepreneurs in the urban area;
but particularly in rural areas, to create more jobs,
attract more investment and bring better benefits to families and communities,
to accelerate rural development, economic development,
social development, but above all human development, which is what
our Guatemala really needs.
See you next week in a program as interesting as today.