Storm Eta Emergency Response in Guatemala

Last project report, we told you about how one of our colleagues in Colombia joined our team in Guatemala for the 'Together We Are Resilient' program, aimed at increasing the capacity of integral protection and psychosocial workers. A few months on, our Senior Project Officer Susy has an update for you.

"In 2022, IsraAID Guatemala ran a protection course for 32 frontline workers from 14 different organizations across Alta Verapaz. The organizations work with vulnerable community members across a variety of needs – including supporting children who have experienced abuse; prevention and education about violence; and related topics, such as advancing gender equality and community economic development.

The course was a resounding success. It focused on dignity, security, and rights as the ‘golden triangle’ of protection, including children’s rights and legal rights, as well as a self-care component for frontline staff. Many of the participants requested further information and training for their colleagues, I recently met with six of the organizations to hear how it’s made a difference in the last six months. I was delighted to hear that the frontline workers are continuing to practice self-care using the techniques IsraAID taught, as well as how they are focusing their work more directly in alignment with humanitarian principles and the ‘golden triangle.'

Working with Karen from the Colombia office to develop the course was excellent. Collaborating with a peer on the same level helped me transmit ideas to participants. We continue to work together, sharing documents and presentation materials, and using each other as sounding boards for everything and anything." 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our work with vulnerable populations in Guatemala, it really does make a difference.