In September of 2003 the second series of women’s adult literacy classes sponsored by El Quetzal began in San Antonio Palopó.  This session included a beginning Primary literacy class with 17 women, and a 2^nd level “First Post-Primary” class with 13 women who had completed and passed the prior 9-month beginning class, offered in 2002-2003..
 
Laura Ajanel Vicente, our  agent in Guatemala with experience in many areas of education, business and production, continued as the program’s supervisor through 2005. She worked closely with CONALFA, the semi-governmental agency in Guatemala charged with enrolling and certifying students at each level of education. Julian Xoquic, the second teacher for the 2002/2003 beginning Primary class, was the teacher for the 13 women in Post-Primary. El Quetzal hired Henri Larios to teach the 17 women in this session’s Primary class.
 
As in many areas of development, progress was slow, sometimes difficult, but always empowering.  Laura constantly encouraged both teachers to incorporate into the classroom aspects of daily living and the weaving business in which all the women participate. The month of February, 2004, the theme was cooking – ingredients and methods they all knew.
 
Laura shared with us the example of a woman in the Primary class, Petrona Perez Perez, who was unwilling to participate until January of 2004. At that time, she underwent a big transformation – rather than complaining and blaming, she decided to participate and learn. This happened with a lot of other women.
 
Unfortunately, in February of 2004, the Director of Schools in the community of San Antonio Palopó decided that the women, and their many children, could no longer use the classrooms in the afternoon. (Class for primary and middle schools was held in the morning hours, from 9 to 1, while the adult classes were held from 2 to 5.)  This interrupted classes for up to 2 weeks, but Laura was able to resolve the situation with new space, including desks, following repeated applications to the mayor of the town for resources.

These two-tier classes for 30 women were originally intended to end in June, 2004, after 9 months of instruction, but due to problems with location, rain, and other scheduling issues, Laura, in conjunction with CONALFA and the two classroom teachers, continued classes through November.  In December of 2004 Laura, with a CONALFA representative, administered credentials exams and award certificates of achievement for those women who passed the courses.

We would like to thank all supporters of this important adult literacy program. El Quetzal’s literacy program was evaluated following the completion of the second phase in November of 2004.  We are looking into partnering with Guatemala-based literacy groups to help provide these classes in conjunction with the fair trade side of our program in the future.  We believe the combination provides a greater benefit than either program on its own.