This document discusses socio-cultural challenges to violence prevention programs in Central America. It summarizes that there are differences in culture, language, economic development and impact of war across communities in Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras where the Miles de Manos violence prevention program operates. It notes some key cultural factors to consider include indigenous Mayan spirituality and worldviews, nuances in communication styles, the influence of older generations' practices in child rearing, and the challenges faced by both indigenous and mestizo teachers from rural areas.

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The Case of Miles de Manos (MdM)
Ligia Díaz Pentzke, M.Ed
Socio cultural challenges to the
violence prevention programs in
Central America

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Background
Socio cultural challenges
• In Central America we share a common
history, language and cultural heritage. The
main language being Spanish with the
survival of a variety of indigenous
languages mainly in Guatemala.
Four communities where MdM is being
implemented:
• Ach’í community (Mayan Ethnic Group) in San
Miguel Chicaj in Baja Verapaz, Guatemala;
• Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua in Bluefields with
Creole and Mestizo familes.
• Mestizos are the majority in El Salvador, but in
Yamaranguila, Honduras, Mestizo and
indigenous from the Lenca group cohabitate.
Picture by Horacio, Guatemala, 2012

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Context
19/05/2014
• Mestizos in Central America can be a mix
of indigenous groups and whites; or a mix
of afrodescendants with indigenous (in the
past called zambos), or a mix of
afrodescendants and white (in Nicaragua
mostly in the Atlantic Coast).
• Whites in Central America are mostly of
European descent although we likely have
indigenous blood as well. It is rare to find
ethic groups that are pure.
• We have differences in policy making and
decisions, in quantity and quality of
resources allocated to the Education
sector
• We have differences in levels
of economic development.
• War hit us all but in different
degrees with different results
in each country.
Picture by L. Díaz, El Salvador, April 2014

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What does it mean to have an intercultural approach?
19/05/2014
We see the other as another human being, part of
the same team. When approaching a group of
people with different cultural roots and cultural
expressions, it is important to recognize that “a
culture is known to its deep roots when we
experience it, not so much when we read and
intellectualize about it” (Raimon Panikkar)
http://www.raimonpanikkar.com/biografia.htm
The perspective we share does not include the
need to absorb the other into our own culture and
world view. It is more the idea to approach the
other wishing to learn from them, share with them
and search solutions together.
Picture by L. Díaz, Cahabón,
Guatemala, 2012

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What have we observed?
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Although there are no absolutes, there
are essential elements to consider when
working with different cultural groups in
C.A.
• The families’ own practices and
concepts about raising children, and
their own experiences as children
greatly influence what they think and
feel about the new ideas presented to
them.
• The teachers´ own experience as son
– daughters and students has marked
the way they correct their students.
• Interactive sessions are
necessary.
Picture by Ligia Díaz, El Salvador, April 2014

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Communication
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• Men and women from indigenous communities will infrequently
answer in a direct manner.
• Fathers and mothers transmit what is essential to their survival, not
necessarily talk about ¨the day in school¨
• Majority women in rural areas will come to workshops.
• Nuances of indigenous way of communication:
• Many indigenous women will rarely look their interlocutors in the
eye, and if they do, it will not be for too long. Nevertheless, they
are receptive.
• Few of them will dare to present to their husbands or men an
alternative way to raise their children.
• Machista conception still prevalent in men and women. Many
women show interest in wanting to learn new ways to relate to
men.

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Mayan Worldview
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• The spiritual and non-physical world is integrated with the physical world
in the Mayan Worldview (Cosmovisión).
• What the stars, the nahuals and the animals say through their own
language is important -everything has life. Everything has meaning
and a reason to exist.
• In some places, community police/ families organized have established
order: some of their decisions difficult to understand by the western view
of the rule of law.
• Life is a cycle, and learning is an spiral, a seed we
plant and then we harvest.
• Death is something natural, we carried it with us
• Everything complements each other in the world:
day and night, men and women, water and earth.

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Teachers from rural areas: indigenous or mestizos
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They have graduated in programs with limited scope, scarce resources,
little space for reflection, working in isolated conditions.
- A young teacher from Huehuetenango (Guatemala) with only 21 years
of age is teaching children in the over age program whose parents have
left the country. (Teachers’ preparation is low compared to what they
face)
- In the RAAS, MINED technical supervisors almost drown during a high
tide going from one school to another (lack of resources)
- When teachers are very young, in many cases they are not well aware
of the traditions in their own ethnic group; more in tone with fashion and
music.

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Older and younger generations
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• Community leaders such as Alcalde Rezadores, Sacerdotes Mayas,
Comadronas, Guías Espirituales (mujeres y hombres) are key actors to
take int account in the contextualization process.
• Mayan and Afrodescentds gods survived in many communities to
Cristianity, Anglican and other religions brought from Europe.
• Older generations still believe in correcting children with the belt or the
hand.
• Some teachers explain that mothers and fathers in indigenous
communities today still would like to teach through example, sharing
every day household chores, working in the fields (not only a need but
also time to share) and through interactions with grandparents, but each
day more difficult due to the presence of technology, TV, migration, etc.

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Spirituality
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• Everything is sacred. Humans are
not superior.
• Everything needs to be fed.
Abstinence is key to feed the spirit.
A good - clean spirit is important to
have good healthy relationships.
• Mayans pray to the mountains, fire,
the hour. Preparation before praying
is key.
• Children grow seeing the
grandfather, the Aj´qui´ conduct the
prayers, the ceremonies, in those
communities where Christianity has
not been able to prohibit it.
Picture by Edilzar, Huehuetenango, 2012

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New ideas to our communities in poor, urban and rural
areas
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• Learn to be direct and give positive reinforcement.
• Learn to detect when a situation can go out of control. Tendency has
been to interfere after the fact.
• To establish rules together at home and at school.
• Important to promote honest daily dialogue at home and in school-
currently not much space for this.

12. Página 12Título de la presentación19/05/2014
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