Nuevo Amanecer |
A community of repatriated refugees united by principles of social justice.
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Historical Background of Nuevo Amanecer
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Nuevo Amanecer, a community of about 60 families located in the Department of San Marcos near the city of Coatepeque, was founded in 1998 by Guatemalan ex- refugee families. They had been expelled from their country and forced to live in refugee camps in Chiapas, Mexico, for nearly fifteen years as a result of government sponsored violence. In an attempt to eliminate political opposition, military and security forces killed, tortured, or raped many of their family members during raids on rural communities. The founders of Nuevo Amanecer hailed from different parts of Guatemala, but formed strong bonds while living in the Mexican refugee camps. After the 1996 Peace Accords had been signed and political violence decreased, they decided to try to return to Guatemala and form a new community. After extensive organizing and negotiations with many governmental and civic institutions in Guatemala, they finally felt ready to return in 1998.
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A Community Based on Principles of Social Justice
After a long and joyous trek back to their native country, the community was officially founded in July of 1998. As some of the residents were ex-combatants, they were also granted some agricultural land as part of the Peace Accords, which had as one of their stated goals the peaceful reintegration of ex-combatants into Guatemalan society. Before being expelled from Guatemala, most of residents had been part of the "movieminto popular" or grass roots struggle for justice as part of peasant unions, agricultural cooperatives, women’s’ groups or indigenous organizations . Consequently, they vowed to build their new community upon the same principles of justice and equity.
Soon after settling in Nuevo Amanecer, Community residents began grow coffee and bananas on these lands which provide some income and food for community residents. Still, the lands are located over an hour from Nuevo Amanecer and the lack of decent roads, credit and infrastructure combine with the local monopolies who keep prices very low to make employment in the coffee and fields a very difficult, low wage endeavor.
Other projects have been developed by residents to attempt to diversify the local economy, including a honey cooperative located in Nuevo Amanecer itself, as well as small fish farm located on the coffee and banana lands. These projects have provided some employment, income and food for the community, yet most community residents still have no option but to work as agricultural laborers on the community land or nearby farms. Consequently, a major goal of the community has been to develop economic development projects as well as education and training programs to help resident improve their skills and raise their income levels. One way Nuevo Amanecer has sought to meet these needs has been via solidarity from sympathetic organizations, both domestic and international.
Soon after settling in Nuevo Amanecer, Community residents began grow coffee and bananas on these lands which provide some income and food for community residents. Still, the lands are located over an hour from Nuevo Amanecer and the lack of decent roads, credit and infrastructure combine with the local monopolies who keep prices very low to make employment in the coffee and fields a very difficult, low wage endeavor.
Other projects have been developed by residents to attempt to diversify the local economy, including a honey cooperative located in Nuevo Amanecer itself, as well as small fish farm located on the coffee and banana lands. These projects have provided some employment, income and food for the community, yet most community residents still have no option but to work as agricultural laborers on the community land or nearby farms. Consequently, a major goal of the community has been to develop economic development projects as well as education and training programs to help resident improve their skills and raise their income levels. One way Nuevo Amanecer has sought to meet these needs has been via solidarity from sympathetic organizations, both domestic and international.
New Dawn Guatemala - Promoting Solidarity with Nuevo Amanecer
In the summer of 2013 a small group of Seattle residents who had learned about Nuevo Amanecer during trips to Guatemala founded a new organization dedicated to maintaining positive links with Nuevo Amanecer and the surrounding region. We decided to orient our organization around the democratically chosen development needs of Nuevo Amanecer. Consequently, New Dawn Guatemala works in close conjunction with Nuevo Amanecer's community council, the democratically elected Associacion de Campesinos who determine projects for which they request solidarity and financial assistance.