The health committee meets with local community leaders

by Iliana Ponce

This week the health committee has been moving forward! The most interesting and fun experiences have been while traveling to the different communities outside of Rabinal. As part of the health investigation, we are seeking the participation of community members, leaders of local cocodes (Consejo Comunitario de Desarollo), and most importantly, youth.

Early this week, we decided to travel to Chuaperol, one of the communities we considered for the investigation. We arrive in Chuaperol to find out that the cocode president is no longer there. He is in Rabinal, where we had just come from. We had to hop on the back of a pick-up truck and return to Rabinal. Riding in trucks around town is something  that I always look forward to!

Once in Rabinal, we found out there was a meeting for all cocode presidents. This was our opportunity to speak with  many of them in person. We called other presidents who happened to be in town. It was the greatest thing ever! Within minutes, our health committee was meeting outside of the plaza area with five cocode presidents!

We had a discussion about community participation and what the health project could mean for their community. At this point I realized how different things work in Rabinal.  Even though we had only briefly spoken with them over the phone 1 or 2 times, I was amazed at the willingness and openness of the cocode members to meet with us. They did not hesitate and were willing to make time to speak with us right after their meeting and right during lunch time! There was no need to get around representatives, assistants, or secretaries. Their contact information was their personal phone number. I thought about how this would never happen in the US and if it did, it would definitely be very difficult.

Volunteering in Guatemala has made me more aware of my need to adjust how I work in different settings. It is a matter of having patience, respect, and sometimes just going with the spur of the moment. The attitude here is much more relaxed and personal, yet still professional, which is something that I truly appreciate.