CFCA stories
Communities clean up after storm Agatha
June 21, 2010
Shoveling out from 3 feet of mud is hard work. Rosa
was one of 80 mothers who helped families in
Guatemala clean up after Tropical Storm Agatha.
In spite of the tremendous loss and devastation left behind in CFCA communities in Guatemala by Tropical Storm Agatha, the spirit of community is alive and well.
Days after the storm hit, a group of 80 mothers from CFCA’s Guastatoya Progreso community took the initiative to help their neighbors in El Rancho with the laborious process of cleaning the homes. Guastatoya Progreso is about 20 minutes from El Rancho. Both communities are in the Northeast region of the Hermano Pedro project in the state of El Progeso. The Guastatoya mothers were not affected by Agatha.
Agatha, the first tropical storm recorded this season, swept through Guatemala May 29. Nine sponsored children were killed and hundreds lost their homes. The storm also damaged CFCA communities in El Salvador and Honduras. No loss of life among sponsored members occurred in those countries.
The cleanup process is slow and backbreaking. First, the mothers removed about 3 feet of mud using shovels, pickaxes, buckets, brooms, even their bare hands. They carried the mud to the street in wheelbarrows and other large containers and dumped it in a pile that was hauled away by the city.
“It’s a demonstration of solidarity between the mothers that reflects the values and spirit of service that they have learned as members of CFCA,” Ramiro Calderon said. Calderon is the scholarship program manager for the Northeast region of Hermano Pedro. He was with the mothers during the cleanup.
The activity attracted other helpers, including fathers, mothers who are not part of the sponsorship program and scholarship students. Guastatoya staff members cooked lunch for the cleaning crew.
“It inspires me to see that what CFCA teaches is put into practice,” Calderon said.
Those devastated by the storm are very grateful, especially for the efforts made by the women who left their own homes and families to lend a hand during these difficult times.
“These women inspire us to continue giving our all for the families who need us,” Calderon said. “This is the authentic sentiment of a community of compassion.”
Luis Cocon, Guatemala communications center liaison, contributed information for this story.
