RANDOLPH MACON WOMAN'S COLLEGE TRAVEL SEMINAR

GUATEMALA AND EL SALVADOR

JUNE 1-15,1997

FINAL ITINERARY

 

Trip sponsor:            Randolph-Macon Woman’s College

                                      John Abell, Associate Professor of Economics

 

CGE Leader:             Kimberly Wick

                                     Center for Global Education

                                     Augsburg College

                                     2211 Riverside Avenue

                                     Minneapolis, MN 55454

                                     tel. 612/330-1159

 

Guatemala Staff:       Fidel Xinico and Mauricio Healy

                                     c/o Center for Global Education

 

El Salvador Staff:      Kevin Connors

                                     c/o Center for Global Education

GUATEMALA

  Sunday June 1

  5:20 PM Arrival on Aviateca #95 1. Transfer to Casa San Josd 9 Calle 1-42, Zona 1.

Dinner, followed by introductions, Orientation and schedule review

  Monday June 2

7:30 AM     Breakfast

9:30     Meeting with Government representatives: Aracely Conde de Paiz and Alejandro Williams Whitaker

11:15     Meeting with the Families of the Disappeared (FAMDEGUA): Aura Elena Farfán and Herlindo Hicho Aquino

1:00 PM     Lunch

2:30     Meeting with the Rigoberta Menchú Túm Foundation: Paul Menchú and Luis Estrada

5:45     History of Guatemala (Part 1): Rolando Alecio

6:30     Supper

7:30     History of Guatemala (Part 11): Rolando Alecio

  Tuesday June 3

7:00 AM Breakfast

9:15        Meeting with Padre Horacio Castillo and visit to the commuity of La Isla: Lidia Isabel Vásquez, Zenaida Hernández, Antonia Tecú, Brenda Angélica Cortés, Claudia López, Felicita López, Guillermo Chen

12:00 PM  Lunch in La Isla and short tour in the community

2:30          Briefing at the U.S. Embassy: Jim Benson

4:00          Meeting with representatives of CIEN (Economic "think tank" for business interests): Carlos Mendoza and Carlos Ralón

6:30            Supper

7:30            Reflection

  Wednesday  June 4

7:3 0 AM     Breakfast

9:00             Meeting with CERIGUA: Ruth Taylor

11:00           Meeting with CONDEG: Manuel Pérez and Santos Natalio Chic and free time

12:30 PM    Lunch

2:00            Meeting with "Women in Solidarity": Rosa Escobar and Loli Obando

4:30            Meeting with members of UNSITRAGUA (Union Organization): Irene Barrientos and Olimpia Gatica

7:00            Supper

9:00            La Bodeguita (optional): Music by Guillermo Eduardo

  Thursday  June 5

7:00 AM     Breakfast

8:00     Leave for town of San Lucas Tolimán situated on Lake Atitlán

12:30 PM     Lunch -

1:30     Visit the works of the parish lead by Andres Chajil

4:30     Conference with Fr.  Greg Schaffer

6:00     Supper

  Friday June 6

8:00 AM      Breakfast

9:00             Short explanations of the plantations by Fr. John Goggin

9:30             Leave for a visit to the plantations lead by Cirilo Castro.  "Finca Sta.  Cruz Quixaya", presentation by Jorge Tzunun

12:30 PM  Lunch

2:00             Visit to the old and new parish clinics of San Lucas Tolimán, lead by Benedicto Santizo

4:00             Visit to the parish orphanage

6:00             Supper

7:00              Presentation by Thomas Benevento followed by reflection

  Saturday June 7

8:00 AM      Breakfast

9:00             Leave for Chichicastenango

11:00           Arrival at the village of Chontalá and presentation by Pastor Diego Chicoj Rarnos and Juana Chicoj at the Methodist Church

12:30 PM    Lunch with the widows followed by the story of María Tomasa's life

3:00             Work with the widows of Chontalá

5:00

6:00             Visit the project of the Methodist Church and shopping time

7:00             Supper

Sunday June 8

7:30 AM      Breakfast

8:00             Visit church and market in Chichicastenango

10:00           Participate in a Maya Religious Ceremony performed by the Maya Priestess Calixta Gabriel at the Maya altar "Pacual Abaj”

1:00             Lunch on your own

4:30             Leave for Lemoa and visit with Maryknoll Sisters: Sister Helen and Sister Rosemary

7:00            Supper

Monday June 9

8:00 AM     Breakfast

9:00             Leave for Guatemala City

1:00 PM      Lunch in Casa San José

2:00             Final reflection

4:00             Leave for airport and depart at 6:15 PM on Aviateca 951 to El Salvador

  EL SALVADOR

Monday June 9

6:55 pm      Arrive on Aviateca #951 from Guatemala

8:30             Check in at Guest House (Hotel Happy House, Calle Sisimiles # 295 1; tel 2601568); dinner, introductions, schedule review

  Tuesday  June 10

8:00 am      Breakfast at guest house

8:45             Orientation, visit the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) and tour site of the November 16, 1989 assassination of the six Jesuits Priests and two women

12:00 pm     Reflection

2:00             Visit Hospital Divina Providencia, where Archbishop Oscar Romero lived and where he was assassinated

4:00             Meet with Marina Ríos, director of Maquila organizing project for MAM (Movimiento de Mujeres "Melida Anaya Montes") and maquila workers: Marifelia Bonilla, Delia Cristina Martínez, Angilica, Dominga Carolina.  Also at the meeting were Rosibela Flores, MAM nationa Icoordinator; and Cecilia, a Journalist from the national university

6:30             Dinner at Guest House, with Francisco Altschul, newly elected member of the Municipal Ccouncil of San Salvador, serving on the Committees on the Environment and Urban Development

  Wednesday June 11

7:00 am       Breakfast at guest house

8:30             Meeting at US embassy with Jean Bonilla, First Secretary of the Economics and Commerical Sction

10:00           Depart for Segundo Montes repopulation community in Morazán. Lunch en route at an orange orchard in Cojutepeque

4:00 pm      Arrive at the San Luis community center of Segundo Montes, greeting and introduction by Mercedes Ventura, President of the Directiva (Community Board of Directors)

6:30 pm      Dinner at community center

7:30            Music and discussion with Grupo Morazán

Spend night at the community center

Thursday June 12

6:30 am      Breakfast at community center

7:30             Depart to visit El Mozote

11:20           Visit community child care center in "Los Quebrachos" settlement of Segundo Montes

12:30           Lunch at community center in San Luis settlement

1:00 pm      Visit clothing making factory cooperative of the community

2:00             Depart for San Salvador

7:00             Out for Pupusa dinner

Friday June 13

7:30 am       Breakfast at guest house

9:00            Meeting with Orlando Arévalo, legislative deputy (congressperson) for ARENA.  Also sitting in at the meeting was ex-deputy Elisar Benítez

11:00          While we were waiting for our scheduled meeting with FMLN deputy Nidia Diaz, we were greeted by deputy María Navarrete.  Nidia was unable to meet with us, so we spoke with deputy Roberto Navarro, and were joined by deputy Lilian de Cuéllar.  Nidia did come in briefly to greet our group

1:00 pm       Lunch at Sol y Luna vegetarian restaurant, or at "Los Chumpipes" turkey restaurant

2:30            Meet with Lic. Juan Héctor Vidal, Executive Director of ANEP (National Association of Private Enterprise)

4:30             Meet with Raúl Moreno, coordinator of the analysis team and Roberto Gochez for FUNDE (foundation for National Development)

6:30             Dinner and piñata at guest house

  Saturday June 14

7:00 am      Breakfast at guest house

8:00             Meeting with leaders of El Espino coffee cooperative, Héctor Eduardo López, vice president; Antonio Burgos, secretary; Orlando Hernández and Miguel Avalos, board member.  Tour cooperative

11:00           Shop at Nuevo Despertar artisan coop store

12:00 pm     Lunch at guest house

  1:30            Meet with Ricardo Navarro, president of CESTA (Centro Salvadoreño de

2:30     Depart for beach (Izalco Cabafia Club, Costa del Sol, tel. 334-0616)

Dinner on beach

Final Reflection

Spend night on the beach

Sunday June 15

5:30 am Coffee, tea, and light breakfast available 6:00 Depart for Airport 8:20 Depart on Aviateca #950 to Miami

  - Ojalá que no sea ni la primera ni la última vez que visiten El Salvador con el Centro de

Educación Mundial!