In the heart of Central America lies Guatemala, a land once flourishing with the ancient Maya civilization. However, in recent years, economic disparity has left many indigenous Maya people struggling without land of their own, toiling away without reaping the fruits of their labor. Paola María Cor oxón, a woman who has been formed good affinities with Tzu Chi for twelve years, could not bear to see her fellow villagers suffering, so she regularly reports their plight to Tzu Chi, organizing material aid and medical clinics.

Distributing Stationery to Aid Education

Concerned about the well-being of the Maya community in Momostenango, Paola extended an invitation to Mayor Albino Cuyuch and his wife to join Tzu Chi’s Lunar New Year blessing event on January 27. After the event, they agreed to act as a bridge between the city government and Tzu Chi, planning to distribute stationery supplies in the city by February 18.

Even though Momostenango sits nestled in the highlands, over 200 kilometers (about 124.27 mi) away from the Tzu Chi office, making for a five-and-a-half-hour drive, the Tzu Chi volunteers were warmly welcomed upon reaching the local basketball court. There, they were greeted by a crowd eagerly awaiting their arrival, with a poster on a pillar expressing gratitude to Tzu Chi Taiwan for helping Guatemalan schoolchildren.

Without delay, the volunteers quickly split into four teams to check lists and neatly organize the stationery supplies. With the assistance of seventy-five local volunteers mobilized by the city government, they prepared to distribute supplies to eight hundred students. Meanwhile, Miguel Angel Capriel López, the principal of the Instituto Educación Básica por Cooperativa, attended the event alongside the students.

Seeing the hopeful faces of the children, Mayor Albino Cuyuch personally presented a certificate of appreciation to the Tzu Chi volunteers, expressing his gratitude in a speech: "Today, we are helping those in need because many children aspire to learn, yet their parents lack the means to support their education. As the mayor, I opened the doors to Tzu Chi and received their support, for which I am deeply grateful."

The mayor led the city government team to join in the distribution efforts, specifically thanking the Tzu Chi volunteers who had traveled from the capital early in the morning to lend their support. He then encouraged everyone present to applaud the kindness and generosity of the Tzu Chi volunteers.

Spirit of the Bamboo Bank Era

Afterwards, volunteer Li-wen Liu took the stage to share about “the spirit of the Bamboo Bank Era,” while volunteer Su-cheng Lo gathered donations using a bamboo bank, receiving enthusiastic responses from the attendees. Mayor Cuyuch happily joined in, posing for photos with the volunteers, city government team, and students after making his donation.

As the distribution commenced, the atmosphere became lively. Clara Luz Galindo, who had set out from home at four in the morning, gently placed sets of notebooks into the children's backpacks, assisted by her daughter Norma Yessenia Galindo Garcia. Volunteer Ching-chih Peng kindly encouraged the children to open their backpacks and explore the stationery inside.

To ensure smooth operations, the volunteers divided tasks among themselves. One volunteer accompanied the children in collecting their stationery, others distributed the stationery and handed out biscuits, while another collected the receipt vouchers, and finally there was a volunteer to help zip up the filled backpacks at the last stop.

The children's wish to have their own set of stationery has been fulfilled. One mother was grateful as all three of her children received school supplies, while a father was deeply moved by Tzu Chi's assistance for his daughter and niece. High school student, nineteen-year-old Karla López, and her ten-year-old brother in fourth grade, happily put on their backpacks with beaming smiles.

Distributions in Rural Chuarrancho

Following the distribution in Momostenango on February 18, volunteers continued to their next stop. On February 25, Tzu Chi volunteers arrived at Carlos Augusto School in the remote town of Chuarrancho, an hour’s drove from the Tzu Chi office.

Tzu Chi’s affinities with this rural town began in 2012, an area with vast barren mountains, limited arable land and impoverished residents. Over the past twelve years, Tzu Chi has visited multiple times, providing aid and school supplies, and organizing medical clinics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they distributed aid three times, benefiting 1,661 people, and distributed stationery twice, benefiting 723 students.

Inspiring Smiles of Children

On February 25, Tzu Chi volunteers arrived at Carlos Augusto School in Chuarrancho to distribute stationery. The spacious and well-lit basketball court provided an ideal venue for distributing supplies to five hundred students. To ease parents' burdens, the school waived the uniform requirement. Tzu Chi volunteers worked alongside city government staff to check attendance.

Mayor Jerson Saul led the city government team in joining the distribution, offering a sincere prayer for purified hearts, societal harmony, and a world free of disasters. Marleny Guamuch, the first staff member of Tzu Chi Guatemala, introduced the spirit of the Bamboo Bank Era. After Mayor Saul made the first donation, the team followed suit, echoing his gesture.

The mayor expressed in his speech: "Whether rich or poor, it is a greater blessing to give than to receive. Giving hands will never be empty." Following this, the mayor and his team personally handed out stationery to the students, who received them with gratitude, respect, and love.

After the ceremony, volunteers Clara and Guo-xiong Chen handed out the various items one by one, each child received a brand-new backpack and other small stationery items. New volunteer Norma Yessenia Galindo Garcia helped distribute glue as each child beamed with smiles on their faces.

A total of 492 students benefited from this stationery distribution. It is hoped that through this assistance, the spirit of helping others will be instilled in the hearts of these children, paving the way for a brighter future.

Story by Ci Tian Wu,  Ru-lu Bai