Relief Resources - Guatemala
June 2018
Disclaimer: GSN has aggregated this list of recommended websites and projects for relief efforts of victims of the volcano eruption in Guatemala. These recommendations are from members of the GSN list and are in no way a formal recommendation from the GSN board to donate to these websites. None of them have been verified or fact checked. We have aggregated them as a resources to the GSN members. Please feel free to add to this list or include your comments this document.
Crowdfunding Campaign
1. Please post this GFM campaign on GSN. I know these folks personally and can vouch that 100% of funds will go to good use. I gave to this one and another.
https://www.gofundme.com/2jfjfr38?donorname=Jean-Marie+Simon
I also saw that Jean Marie sent along a gofundme by Paul Yamauchi (https://www.gofundme.com/2jfjfr38). I think directing people to some reputable site might make lots of sense.
Nonprofits and volunteer organizations
2. Eso de la campaña de Andrea Ixchíu no es muy efectivo. En cambio los bomberos de La Antigua sí están en el lugar y ellos no tienen recursos.
Go Fund Me
We at Skylight have been advising all who ask and we’ve been social messaging widely, to contribute to the Campaña Internacional / Cooperando con Guatemala GoFundMe campaign, started by Andrea Ixchíu (K’iche’ leader and protagonist of 500 YEARS) and Ben Powess a Canadian human rights defender - they are both on the ground now in El Rodeo, Escuintla making sure the funds get to the rescue efforts and rescuers and to the needed supplies: https://www.gofundme.com/helping-guatemalan-volcano-victims
This campaign is also being supported by Red Tz'ikin (@RedTzikin), Prensa Comunitaria (@PrensaComunitaria), Solidarity Festivals (@festivales_sol), and Todos Por Guatemala - Canada/All for Guatemala - Canada . Cosami is their local partner.
Shared by: Pamela Yates <pamela@skylight.is>
Friends of San Lucas
Hi Kara,
If it’s okay, I’d like to also put out there that the Friends of San Lucas is also accepting funds with the help of San Lucas Tolimán mission workers and volunteers. They’re an incredible group of people doing great things in and around Solola. Below is their Facebook post with information on how to help. Is it possible to get this out there?
Thanks,
Michael
Help the victims of the Volcán Fuego eruption! The Mission employees have been hard at work collaborating on relief efforts after Sunday's eruption. All of our programs have been contributing donations of food, medicine, clothing and other items requested by relief agencies. The first collection of donations has been delivered and we are eager to continue helping in any way we can! The San Lucas Mission will be purchasing additional supplies including clothing, toiletries, blankets, food and any other requested items to help with relief efforts. Make a donation between now and June 15th to help us purchase relief supplies to deliver to the victims! Be sure to to include "Volcano Relief" under the donation information description.
Donate online now - https://www.sanlucasmission.org/secure/donation.php
FotoKids
WINGS
I have heard nothing but good things about WINGS who are based in Antigua and work on reproductive rights and health promotion. They are actively involved in the recovery operation and I suggest you take a look at their website and make a donation if you can:
They are in the center of the disaster area and are worth supporting. Please send them your money!
Saludos,
Andrew Winters, MPH
Antigua, Guatemala
Another way to give in response to the disaster and longer term organizing, from M. Brinton Lykes, Board Member of Grassroots International and GSN Member
Community Led/Social Movement Building Response to Volcán de Fuego
Background to this Community Led Response:
Despite a wealth of natural resources, culture, minerals and biodiversity, Mesoamerica remains one of the most impoverished regions in the world, with Indigenous Peoples, small farmers and women among the poorest. Grassroots International has worked with Indigenous and peasant led organizations in Guatemala since 2003, and maintains vital partnerships with movements on the
Ground. While the volcano itself caused tremendous damage, many human made
factors exacerbate the ongoing disaster. Among those factors are weak institutional structures and planning, environmental degradation, social and economic inequality. One brief example of the extent of inequality and mismanagement tells a profound story. Guests at La Reunion Golf Resort and Residences, just miles from the volcano, received ample warning to evacuate while nearby villages did not. Warnings from seismologists did not reach thousands of people, despite indications at least 8 hours earlier of imminent eruption.
As María Dolores Marroquín from the Sector de Mujeres’ political leadership team shared with us, “The situation provoked by the eruption of the
volcano shows, once again, the terrible conditions of life, the lack of territorial planning and the weak institutions to prevent and respond to
emergencies.”
According to the United Nations, Guatemala has one of the lowest human development indices in Latin America, and the highest level of chronic malnutrition, due largely to the gross wealth inequality. Environmentally, Guatemala rests on three tectonic plates which threaten the country with earthquakes and volcanoes, and also sits exposed to intense tropical storms, more so due to climate change. It is in this context that Grassroots International partners with community led organizations working to address the root causes of inequality, build sustainable livelihoods, challenge privatization schemes and protect biodiversity and food sovereignty. Groups supported by Grassroots International are in a key position to help respond to the urgent needs on the ground:
● Sector de Mujeres Women’s Political Alliance in Alotenango, Sacatepéquez is
responding to urgent needs for food, shelter and medicine, as well as communications. They have also been providing food for rescue workers. This response as first responders is in the context of Sector de Mujeres (the Women’s Sector) network of 33 local organizations focused on building a powerful movement for all women — including Mother Earth. They are also a member of the World March of Women, a global feminist movement working to eliminate the root causes of poverty and violence against women.
● Peasant Unity Committee works in 200 communities and six microregions of Guatemala, including those impacted by the volcano. Their vast network allows them to navigate the difficult terrain, assess needs and respond quickly.
Current†Need∫
Grassroots International partners and allies in Guatemala impacted by the eruption of the Volcàn de Fuego have asked for support to address the current crisis. While the extent of the damage and recovery efforts continue to unfold, the following
are an initial list of needs:
● Food and water for families dislocated by the volcano
● Shelter, blankets and tarps
● Seeds, farming tools and equipment for those who lost everything
● Medical assistance, including for ash inhalation, burns and other conditions
● Transportation to allow families to reconnect and organizers to coordinate efforts
To address the urgent and ongoing needs of the these communities Guatemala,Grassroots International requests your generous support and solidarity. All funds collected through this appeal will go directly to Guatemala. Checks can be made payable to “Grassroots International” with “Guatemala volcano” in the memo line, and mailed to: Grassroot International, 179 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02130. To make a credit card donation, call the Grassroots International office at 6175241400.
Or you can contribute now through Grassrootsonline.org/Guatemala
Grassroots International
179 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02130