We All Learn – We All Teach
Rosa Beatriz Castañeda de Larios –
Board member, Guatemala Chapter
Photos by Rosa Beatriz Castañeda de Larios
Affiliates who belong to a Chapter and young people interested in joining that Chapter should not see each other as two different groups. On the contrary, young people should be invited to a special activity of the Chapter and have the opportunity to participate in a dialogue in which they and the Chapter members learn from each other's experiences, including such questions as: how do we spend our free time, what studies or work do we do, hobbies, what interests us in our community, country, world?
In February 2019, approximately ten young affiliates were invited to participate in the celebration of Maryknoll Sister Helen Werner’s 100 years. Some of them had worked in mission with the Maryknoll Sisters during the holidays in Lemoa; others had recently obtained an academic degree in a profession, and talking with Affiliates of the Chapter, they became interested in coming to the celebration. As the Guatemala Chapter, we were very happy that young people wanted to be with us. We received them with a big applause. During the meeting, they listened to messages and praises and participated in activities that “lit the flame of Maryknoll spirituality.” We also heard their voices, and their message impressed us. At the end of the celebration, they expressed their desire to participate further. One of them wrote down names, cell phones, and emails for future communication.
Quarantine, isolation, social distancing, and confinement invaded the world to prevent the spread of COVID 19. We communicated with the young group through emails and asked them, if they wanted to be members of the Guatemala Chapter, to fill out the application that was sent to them. In addition to their personal data, we asked them to answer two questions: Why do you want to be a member of Maryknoll Affiliates? From your skills, profession, what can you offer to the Chapter? Here is a sample of the answers.
1. I have heard about the activities and projects that the Chapter do, I´m interested. I met Sister Helen and Connie and they told me about Affiliates, I want to transform Guatemala, be at the service of the vulnerable, meet more people who want to be part of a change for Guatemala, the participation of young women is important, I see the Affiliate Movement as an opportunity to be an agent of change in my country.
2. My energy, courses and workshops, the ability to transform visual communication, innovative ideas so that other young people are motivated to participate in this Movement that involves social service, talks on law, psychology.
After receiving the applications, the Guatemala Chapter sent them “News Loaded with Hope”: a WhatsApp group of young Affiliates will be created, with two young Affiliates who have been in the Chapter for three or four years as coordinators; and issues of the bulletins of the Guatemala Chapter and No Tan Lejos del Horizonte will be dedicated to the young Affiliates. They were invited to participate in a Guatemala Chapter Zoom meeting to channel their interest and let us again hear their voices. Also, at a monthly Zoom reunion of Latin America, they were invited to send a message to all the Chapters. The young Affiliates of the Guatemala Chapter continue to meet with their coordinators by Zoom every week.
After several meetings they expressed the message: Believe in US! We are a source of hope! We want to serve day after day! Even if we are afraid, we dream of the unattainable! We want to be a testimony of life for others! We question reality! We believe in Social Projects! We believe in change as a solution to something, but we don't know what to expect! We fight for our ideals, and we don't give up!
Little by little, the learning process was advancing—the dialogue, work, action, and reflection of the group was more and more intense; The Chapter knew the interest of the young women, and that meant a transformation for the Chapter. The Chapter after including the young Affiliates had 13 members from 18 to 29 years old, 6 from 30 to 39 years old, 11 from 40-59 years old, 6 from 60-79, and 8 of 80 years or more.
The young Affiliates assumed the mission with solidarity and responsibility by preparing the first Maryknoll Spirituality Workshop. Its purpose was to reflect on what it means to be an Affiliate and assume the mission in their daily actions, especially with vulnerable groups, as well as for justice and peace.
Through these workshops, an intergenerational exchange was established between the Affiliates that originated the Movement and those who have been part of it for less time. Over three weeks, the workshop presents the themes that they have chosen: The four Maryknoll entities and their founders; History of the Guatemala Chapter; Introduction to the Four Pillars—Community Spirit, Spirituality, Global Vision, and Action; and Buen Vivir.
At the same time, the young Affiliates had meetings to present how they could contribute to the Guatemala Chapter: participate in social projects, contribute technologically to the publishing of our two magazines—the Guatemala Chapter Bulletin and No Tan Lejos del Horizonte (NTLH), and update Facebook and Instagram, so that the image projected draws more young people to participate in the Chapter.
Actually, some of the young Affiliates have participated in the planning and coordination of the monthly Zoom reunions of all the Latin American countries.
We all know something. We are all ignorant
of something.
Therefore, we always learn.
—Paulo Freire, Brazilian educator
NOTE: This article was published in the July/August 2021 issue of Not So Far Afield.