Accompaniment and Cooperant Program
Since 1990, Breaking the Silence has engaged Maritimers and people across Canada in solidarity work through on-the-ground accompaniment of our partners in Guatemala. Ranging from short and long-term internships, cooperant placements, delegations, and in-country presence of BTS staff, our solidarity efforts support the work of partners in Guatemala while increasing the capacity of Maritimers to become more conscientious and active organizers for social justice at home and abroad.
For several years after the end of our internship programs in 2013, our in-person support to partners in Guatemala took the form of in-country staffing and short-term delegations. In 2019, at the request of our partners, BTS recognized that a fundamental aspect of our solidarity needed to include a significant presence of Canadians in Guatemala. As a response, we launched a two-year pilot cooperant program to bring 6-8 highly qualified individuals from across the Maritimes region to Guatemala for short and long-term human rights and community development placements. Under the coordination of a full-time Lead Cooperant, the program brought three cooperants to Guatemala to support our partners’ work on truth, justice, and impunity, defense of territory, and human security, including mining justice.
In 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, BTS was forced to end its cooperant placements in Guatemala and shifted gears to strengthening virtual solidarity and accompaniment efforts. As we navigate the uncertainties presented by this context, we continue to centre the needs of partners as a guiding compass in our work and look forward to resuming our Cooperant Program in Guatemala when the time is right. Currently, with the support of two full-time cooperants based in the Maritimes and two staff based in Guatemala, the BTS Cooperant Program continues to provide ongoing virtual support to partners in Guatemala.
To view current opportunities to get involved in our Cooperant Program visit our ‘Get Involved’ page here. If you would like more information on the program you may write to BTScooperant@gmail.com
Report-backs from previous accompaniers and cooperants
COVID-19 Vaccination and Small Farmers in Guatemala
Canada has enough vaccines on reserve to vaccinate every Canadian five times over. Despite headlines of shipment delays, just over three of every 100 Canadians have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, (with the goal of having all Canadians vaccinated by September 2021). Canada and other [...]
June 6th Update from Case of 36 Achi Survivors of Sexual Violence
On Thursday, June 6th, a Guatemala City Court held the latest preliminary hearing against 6 former Civil Patrollers accused of committing sexual violence in Rabinal during the Internal Armed Conflict. The case has been brought forward by 36 Achi survivors of sexual violence committed from 1981 to 1985. Thursday’s hearing [...]
Report back: #NosDuelen56 Speaking tour with Mayra Jimenez of Ocho Tijax
Mayra Jimenez of Ocho Tijax spoke throughout the Maritimes from February 28th to March 9th, in lead up to the 2nd anniversary of the Hogar Seguro tragedy. She visited Fredericton, Sackville, Halifax, Antigonish and Tatamagouche, sharing the story of the 56 girls. The tragedy occurred on March 8, 2017. Police [...]
Overwhelming international support for Guatemalan communities resisting Tahoe’s Escobal mine
This past month, over 3,700 individuals took action in support of Guatemalan communities right to say “No” to Tahoe Resources’ Escobal mine. The action re-sent a letter delivered to Tahoe Resources’ offices in Reno, NV and Guatemala City by allies at the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) and representatives [...]
Report-back: Speaking Tour & Annual Gathering with Sandra Moran
Thirty years after her first visit to the Maritimes, Sandra Moran returned to the East coast this past June, this time as BTS' invited guest for our annual speaking tour. Sandra, who first visited the Maritimes as a member of the revolutionary musical group Kin Lalat, is an accomplished musician, [...]
Report back: Nobel Women’s Initiative Delegation to Guatemala 2017
Report back for Guatemala Coordinator Lisa Rankin From October 25-28, I had the opportunity to accompany the Nobel Women’s Initiative during the Guatemala leg of their tour to Central America. The Nobel laureates and delegation members first travelled to Honduras, where they met with human rights organizations and government officials. [...]