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Michbilrixpú, located in the department of Coban, Guatemala, is small and isolated, home to about 19 families, and lying three hours by foot from any town. Its members are indigenous Maya, speak Q'eqchi' as a first language and support themselves through agriculture, primarily the organic production of cardamom. After surviving repression in the 1980s, the community has again recently been the target of State violence. Numerous times in recent years they have been violently evicted by police, including the destruction of houses, chopping of crops and burning of harvests. Despite this volatile situation, the people of this community continue to struggle to improve their lives and livelihoods, educate their children and create some measure of stability and prosperity.
The entire community is related by kinship, most descendants from the great-grandparents of the three scholarship students. They were the only three to complete primary school in 2008 and move from sixth grade to básico. They attend NUFED (Nucleo Familiar Educativo del Desarrollo) and must live in Salacuim during the week. At the present time this is the only option for Michbilrixpú students who are ready to attend a middle school or beyond.
Elmer Jovani Luc Choc,
Alva Marisela Luc Ac, Maura Catalina Luc Caal
The students have been doing well this year, and the scholarships have encouraged them to continue. There are a few more applicants in Michbilrixpu. As has been our custom, we start these programs small to see that they get firmly established and managed well before we expand them. The need is great, and as we begin to address it, we want to make sure that your support is in place, is well utilized, and gets to those communities where it makes the most effective impact. |
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Michbilrixpú is a small community outside of the village of Salacuim in the Department of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. The indigenous Q'eqchi' families of Michbilrixpú have been living in the community for over 30 years. It is not clear exactly what year they first inhabited the area, as the founders and older residents did not and in many cases do not keep track of the year or use judeo-christian calendars.
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In Michbilrixpú, the only school is a one-room building which looks like a shack. It benefits, however, from the commitment of its only teacher and the backing of the whole community.
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Michbilrixpu
