Projects

Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta “Aldea San Jose Cajahualten”, San Andres Itzapa, Chimaltenango, Guatemala

Having witness the conditions and the necessities that children are exposed to at local schools, Mayan Folkloric Organization in conjunction with a committee from the village of San Jose Cajahualten formed a project to reconstruct the local school.

Bilingual Preschool - Kaqchikel* / Spanish
*Kaqchikel is one of the most spoken Mayan languages in Guatemala.

Preschool = 40 students Grammar school = 150 students

It is also important to note that the school building is used as a community center, communal kitchen and for laundry.

Objectives:

  • Board the outside parameters for safety reasons due to recent incidents with vehicular transit.
  • Pave – the school lacks pavement and it's unhealthy for the children attending school. There is an increasing amount of children suffering with respiratory problems due to the dirt grounds.
  • Reconstruct classrooms – due to a growing school population there is a need for an extra multifunctional classroom.
  • Playground – construction of a playground and sports ground for the children’s physical, social and mental well being is essential. This will include a basketball court and a mini soccer field.
  • Educational materials and school supplies. The teachers are soliciting anything from pens and pencils, 100 desks and computers.

The children of San Jose Cajahualten, Chimaltenango, through Mayan Folkloric Organization will thank you for your tax exempt donations. We have set a goal for ourselves to raise the necessary funds to begin the first phase which includes objectives 1 and 2 by the end of 2009.


Hormigo Tree Project

The Hormigo tree represents a high level of importance within the Mayan culture. Not only is it a resource for producing marimbas but it also has its own eco-system. It is ideal for reforestation and for the exchange of carbon oxygen to improve the environment. This tree is currently facing extinction and needs financial support to create nurseries in order to cultivate and reforest the Guatemalan highlands.

This tree is also called the marimba tree since the k’ojom or marimba keyboard are built out of its fine woods.

Mayan Folkloric Organization supports this project and needs funds in order to meet the project’s objectives.

Objectives:

  • To obtain permits on communal lands or from municipal governments in the Guatemalan highlands and or from the villagers in order to promote the sow and cultivating of the Hormigo tree.
  • To purchase the best quality of seeds from specialized entities or institutions.
  • Gather participation of local villagers in learning the process of sowing and cultivating the Hormigo tree and creating incentives by providing seeds and fertilizer and showing ways of farming new crops.

The Hormigo Tree Project represents a very special project for Mayan Folkloric Organization since this is a very important tree in the Guatemalan culture. It is very respected by the Mayan people.

Recomposicion del Tejido Social

After a long civil war which left the rural area of the Guatemalan highlands divided and under extreme poverty, the CEIPRODI organization was founded in the province of Totonicapán.

This ecumenical center posed the question of reconstructing the economical, cultural and social relations of the 8 municipal communities that reside within Totonicapán. They formed a project that will last 4 years in duration starting in 2007 and ending in 2010 and its primary focus will be on the following:

Capacitating – Working with community leaders and organized representatives of towns and villages on the functionality of State & Municipal organisms.

Inter Community Relations – The objective is to achieve the participation of organized groups which include men, women and youth towards warranting inclusive communal development within the municipal government.

Planning & Governmental Development – Ensuring that the local government organisms receive technical capacity in order to transmit their work to the community and ensuring participation in the process of planning and making decisions.

The ultimate goal of this project is to have a self sufficient community at the end of its duration. Economical resources are needed for the capacity and administration of this project as well as financial and technical aid.

Mayan Folkloric Organization, P.O. Box 256734, Chicago, IL 60625-9998
Phone: 773.754.7346 / 773.418.1492, Fax: 773.486.6751
E-mail: info@mayanfolkloric.org