On October 25th in San Mateo, Quetzaltenango Asociacion Mujb’ ab’l yol celebrated the start of a new chapter in the community radio movement. As preparations began with incense, flowers and bright candles for a traditional mayan ceremony, radio broadcasters gathered from all over Guatemala to take part in this celebration. The series of workshops is appropriately titled Communication, Development and Democracy. It will cover a different topic every month for 2 days over a period of nine months and is expected to benefit indigenous youth that are interested in learning more about community radio.
The workshops are partially funded by DEMOS Guatemala and are expected to produce a lot of progress and initiatives on the side of the participants. At the traditional mayan ceremony, the group asked for strength and commitment for all the participants as they embark on this nine-month journey to tackle vital issues effecting the community radio future. Alberto Recinos, founder and member of Asociacion Mujb’ ab’l yol expressed his gratitude to the participants, “ I look forward to the next nine months and for the results of these workshops, I expect full commitment from all the participants so we can take the most advantage of this opportunity.”
[[{"fid":"62689","view_mode":"media_original","fields":{"format":"media_original","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"","taxonomy_vocabulary_8[und][]":"2676","taxonomy_vocabulary_14[und][]":"2878","field_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_copyright[und][0][value]":"","taxonomy_vocabulary_16[und]":"_none","field_folder[und]":"_none","field_tags[und]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"height":398,"width":530,"class":"media-element file-media-original"}}]]
Participants began the day at Mujb' ab'l yol with music and presentations discussing communication.
The event proceeded with a traditional Guatemalan lunch as participants discussed what lies ahead. Ancelmo Xunic gave a few words of encouragement on behalf of Cultural Survival, offering his continuing support to strengthening the community radio movement. “Cultural Survival has and will continue to support the next generation of radio broadcasters that will serve their communities through community radios. It is a fight many of us have been a part of since the war and it gives us hope to see so many enthusiastic young leaders ready to learn about the movement.” An international representative of another foundation that is partially funding the workshops, sent his greetings virtually and expressed his sincerest appreciation for Mujb’ ab’l yol and their work in preserving indigenous culture.
[[{"fid":"62691","view_mode":"media_original","fields":{"format":"media_original","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"","taxonomy_vocabulary_8[und][]":"2676","taxonomy_vocabulary_14[und][]":"2878","field_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_copyright[und][0][value]":"","taxonomy_vocabulary_16[und]":"_none","field_folder[und]":"_none","field_tags[und]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"height":398,"width":530,"class":"media-element file-media-original"}}]]
The first workshop began with discussions around communication and what defines a community radio. Participants talked about the importance of giving a space to every single member of their communities on the radio because it’s often the only space they have. In solidarity all participants sang along to a song specially composed for Asociacion Mujb’ ab’l yol and its many accomplishments. This first event left no doubt that the workshops will contribute to the formation of the next generation of radio broadcasters who will continue the fight for community media in Guatemala.
