Delegation to Guatemala February 27 - March 6, 2000 A Photo Journal by David Booth Translations by Roberta Borgonovo

In early 2000, Witness for Peace (WFP), New England chapter, sponsored a nine-day "peace delegation" to Guatemala, a country facing a myriad of social challenges following the devastating long-term effects of their 30-year civil war. The trip included discussions with representatives from Guatemalan social, labor and political organizations, and meetings with international aid organizations.   It also included a visit to a community of dump dwellers, and a stay in a village of returned refugees.

The delegation consisted of thirteen members, including myself and my father, Don Booth. Delegates came from various parts of the USA, and ranged in age from 21 to 83. Three WFP team leaders also accompanied us throughout the trip, handling local arrangements and translating for the group.  This photo journal chronicles our nine-day experience.  

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Table of Contents

• Day 1 - Sunday, February 27, 2000
  • Part 1 - Guatemala City - Orientation
• Day 2 - Monday, February 28, 2000
  • Part 1 - Juanita Batzibal of the International Mayan League
  • Part 2 - Lunch and city scenes
  • Part 3 - Meeting with Dr. Felipe Camaro of UNHCR
  • Part 4 - Meeting with Rodolfo Robles, Union Organizer
  • Part 5 - Dinner and discussion at our hostel
• Day 3 - Tuesday, February 29, 2000
  • Part 1 - Guatemala City dump and dump dwellers
  • Part 2 - Cemetery and wealthy section of Guatemala City
  • Part 3 - Meeting with Miguel Chitic of CONIC
  • Part 4 - Metropolitan Cathedral area
• Day 4 - Wednesday, March 1, 2000
  • Part 1 - Meeting with Dr. Hector Castaņeda, Pastor
  • Part 2 - Guatemala City scenes and buses
  • Part 3 - Meeting with Carlos Sarti and Amanda Rodas of the Organization of American States
  • Part 4 - City and hostel scenes
  • Part 5 - Meeting with Tania Palencia, Economist
• Day 5 - Thursday, March 2, 2000
  • Part 1 - Guatemala countryside, Casa Santo Domingo Hotel
  • Part 2 - Aņo Santo church, villagers, and Mayan weavers
  • Part 3 - Antigua scenes
• Day 6 - Friday, March 3, 2000
  • Part 1 - Driving to Nuevo Mexico, a village of returned refugees
  • Part 2 - Arrival in returned-refugee village Nuevo Mexico, meeting our host family
  • Part 3 - Meeting with refugee Don Nicolas, on his experiences of escaping Guatemala
  • Part 4 - Nuevo Mexico village and host family scenes
• Day 7 - Saturday, March 4, 2000
  • Part 1 - Touring the village, the school, the water supply
  • Part 2 - Villagers' coffee growing, host family scenes
  • Part 3 - Village activities, washing in the river
  • Part 4 - Meeting with the President of the Madre Tierra Women’s Committee
  • Part 5 - Visiting with villagers, dinner with our host family
• Part - Sunday, March 5, 2000
  • Part 1 - Attending church, watching a women's committee meeting, village scenes
  • Part 2 - Meeting with refugee Don Nicolas on Nuevo Mexico’s land problem
  • Part 3 - Saying goodbye to Nuevo Mexico, driving back to Guatemala City, passing sweatshops
• Day 9 - Monday, March 6, 2000
  • Part 1 - Meeting with Jack McCarthy of USAID
  • Part 2 - Guatemala City scenes, closing quotes, saying goodbye
• Notes from Other Delegates
  • Peg: WFP Tour of Guatemala City - City of Contrasts
  • Don Booth: Reflections on the Guatemala Trip