Manuela: A Visionary Young Leader

My name is Manuela Ixquier Ajú, a maya-kiche´ woman, I am 20 years old and am the eldest of 6 brothers and sisters. I had the opportunity to study and in 2011 I graduated as a primary education teacher.

A year ago I thought about the importance of teaching to read and  write to adults, who for various reasons couldn’t go to school. That is why I organized a group of 15 women for alphabetization. I also give classes in the Telesecundary Basic Education Institute of Pasaquijuyup Ixtahuacán community since January 2013.

My community is located in a zone with very steep hill slopes, far from the city. Each year en the rainy season we have problems because of landslides, which affect the Maxan leave plantations, our principal source of income.

Due to this problem the organizations CARE and Wetlands International selected Pakim community to work with from February 2012, in the Bio-rights Project, to promote the conservation of the natural resources and reduce the risks to disasters.

During the first visit by the staff of the Project, I joined to help them as translator, and I struck to me when they said that it was necessary to count on a community organization consisting of men and women, and that is why I was interested to closely participate to learn new things and contribute ideas that will benefit my community.

I was surprised when I was proposed as a candidate for COLRED members, because before I wouldn’t participate in meetings and the first thing I thought was to ask permission to my father. But I was determined to accept the position, even if he wouldn’t agree.

Now I participate in all the meetings, I propose ideas and the others listen to me. We already made the risk map to understand our community better, and I participated in training workshops where I learned what causes disasters, and what we should do to prevent them.

With the members of the COLRED we explained our neighbours the causes and effects of disasters, which is why many families have already made terraces around their homes, and nursery tables for passion fruit seeds.

I feel good because I know I am not wasting time, but I am participating and learning new things, to later explain to my community how to reduce disaster risk. I am sure that with mutual support, and with the support of the project we can reduce our vulnerability.