Taking our empowered voices out into the world in Guatemala with Starfish

Greetings All, After the mayor had been monologuing at us for nearly twenty minutes, Ingrid raised her hand and said with confidence and determination, "we're doing all that we can for women's safety, we need you to also give your support in making this are safe for women."

I'm just back from Guatemala where I am working with the organization Starfish to support rural Mayan young women to empower their voices for positive social change in their lives, their communities and the world. I am designing a program using theatre as a tool for women to empower their own voices for positive social change. With the mentors for the young women we took our empowered voices out into the world by visiting two officials in the community-- the mayor of Pana and the director of education in Solola--to share concerns that are important to the mentors. Recently a Starfish student had been raped in Pana so the subject of our visit was safety for women. Though the official frustratingly laid the responsibility for action back on the women themselves, saying such change has to begin in the home, it was still powerful to let him know our concerns. Also the press was there to do a story on the visit which helps to spread the concern for women's safety further. We are working on creating a toolbox for women's vocal empowerment in both Spanish and English. I wish you all strength and joy in your work you are doing! With love, Beth Osnes