We haven't had a Community Service Award in awhile, but things have been happening in the greater Santa Cruz community and it would be a shame to let them go by unrecognized! This current Award goes to the village of Jaibalito for the various Community Projects they have instigated in the past year (they should actually get 4 awards!): http://www.jaibalito.org/#!community_projects/cop5
This is the second award to go to the Community of Jaibalito. In April 2010 they were given the award for being pro-active and instrumental in the capture of robbers who were plaguing the path between Jaibalito and Santa Cruz, helping to make our communities safer for our residents and visitors. Way to go, Jaibalito! If you know of a person or group who you think should receive one of our Community Service Awards, please write via the Contact Form.
Village Clean Up & Recycling Program
For many of the Lake Atitlan villages there is no “local dump” to dispose of trash and definitely no roads to remote trash dumps. Jaibalito, one of the smaller and more isolated villages on Lake Atitlan shares these issues. Residents of Jaibalito decided to take action and bring the community together in a trash clean up and recycling effort. Neighbors pooled resources together (personal time, sweat equity, money, trash barrels), organized a fun trash barrel painting project for local children, hired local women to manage and sort the refuse left in the barrels and every few months we transport recycling materials and rubbish to remote waste management centers. This project has been a huge success. Local children learn the benefits of cleaning up their village and directly participate in the effort. With one simple program an entire village is learning the value of a trash clean up, recycling, and working together! I couldn’t think of a better example of the adage “Think Globally, Act Locally”.
Village Water Supply Project
Water is life and the Jaibalito Community Water Project has made life in Jaibalto easier. Although situated on the banks of Lake Atitlan, the village water supply in Jaibalito comes from the mountain springs above. With small and outdated water pipes, regular water supply was often interrupted by breaks in the water lines, clogs in the pipes or simply an insufficient quantity of water came down to serve the entire village. In May 2012, the Water Project successfully completed its improvements which included repaired and enlarged water pipes that allow a larger flow of fresh water to meet the village’s needs.
New Bridge Project
With the rainy season impending and the small streams that boarder Jaibalito turning into roaring rivers, getting in and out of town on foot becomes a daily struggle for many villagers. The river at the Western edge of the bay of Jaibalito cuts off foot traffic on the path that leads to the neighboring village of Tzununá. With local donations and a team of local builders, this problem has been solved. In May 2012 the new bridge was christened and the entire community came out to celebrate after 2 months of construction. Complete with speeches, music and ribbon cutting, 100s of Jaibalito residents came out to safely cross the Jaibalito/Tzununà bridge for the 1st time. This will be a reliable and safe means of passage for a long time to come.
Animal Spay & Neuter Program
If you ever wander around one of the villages on Lake Atitlan you will see a multitude of seemingly wild dogs and cats. It has become a real problem with the local animal population exploding, leaving many animals malnourished, abandoned and disease ridden. There is an easy solution but it takes work. The Jaibalito community is participating in a spay and neuter program to address this problem. The Ayuda organiztion´s animal clinic stops by every two months with professional veterinarians who are assisted by local Jaibalito residents. So far in 2012 and over 50 dogs and cats from Jaibalito have been spayed or neutered as well as treated for fleas, worms and vaccinated against many deadly diseases. We make an effort to spread the word to pet owners as well as to assist the large population of street dogs.
Looking to purchase gently used 5 lb. hand weights, anyone have some extras hanging around? I'd also be interested in 3 or 8 lbs too. Also, looking to purchase a mirror with a wooden frame (the carved kind made up near Solola). Please contact Tracey at [email protected] or 4824 8618
Dear friends and neighbours!!!
Finally some impressions of our Christmas events! We celebrated twice with a total of about 90 people, even a little dance with the seniors this year, surprise, surprise! There was so much happiness in the eyes of everyone!
Please, receive our great appreciation for your help and financial support, all the gifts, the sweets, the cakes and cookies! I feel sorry that I missed taking pictures of the very gigantic CECAP-cake and the absolutely artistic cake of Casa del Mundo!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GRACIAS!!!
To our great surprise the opportunity to sell our jewelry and Christmas items in your hotels worked very well! The women are proud and there is also a little income for our programs!
LET ME JUST THANK YOU FROM MY HEART AGAIN!!! AND PLEASE CONTINUE HELPING US. WE VERY MUCH NEED EVERY SUPPORT!!!
A PEACEFUL AND HAPPY NEW YEAR - MAY IT FULFILL OUR DREAMS! AND LET US PUT OUR DREAMS INTO ACTION!!!
Yours, Thilda
The Santa Cruz Healing Arts community has put together a comprehensive guide to the healing arts services they offer to the greater Santa Cruz community. This guide is available on the Santa Cruz website's SERVICES page. Please support these and all of the other services that are offered in our local community.
Mature woman (no kids, no pets, non drinker, non smoker). Experienced with local references. Available short to long term.
Kate cel (502) 5653 '7028
Here is a great video produced by Accion Guatemala and Proyecto Kajol promoting environmental awareness at Lake Atitlan especially to our youth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF8LzLnldO0
On 28 of December El Periodico announced that the Guatemalan president had announced that as of January 15, 2013 marihuana would be legally sold in some departments of the country, including Sololá. This was stated to be a pilot, experimental program which would assess the benefits that a more liberal policy might have in the fight against drug trafficking.
http://www.elperiodico.com.gt/es/20121228/pais/222693/
Many Lake residents were rejoicing about this new development. Unfortunately, they did not realize that the announcement was not made in any of the other Guatemalan publications and it's announcement came on the 28th of December which is known as El Día de los Santos Inocentes and is the Guatemalan equivalent of April Fool's Day. ;-)
Believe it or not the origins of this day are based on the Massacre of the Innocents, infanticide and gendercide, allegedly committed by Herod the Great when he tried to kill all of the male babies 2 years and younger born in Bethlehem in an effort to kill Jesus of Nazareth. Why it has evolved to include a day of practical jokes is beyond me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%ADa_de_los_Santos_Inocentes#Feast_days
Photo: PD-US
Below are listed the legal holidays for Guatemala:
- Jan 1
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Holy Week
- May 1
- June 30
- Sept 15
- October 20
- Nov 1, some take Nov 2 instead
- Dec 24, Half day
- Dec 25
- Dec 31, Half day
- May 10 for Santa Cruz Ferria & other days in other locations
Full time is 8 hours of work per day plus an hour for lunch Mon. through Friday; 4 hours of work on Saturday. In addition to the monthly salary and bono incentivo there are:
- Bono Catorce: Payable on the 15th of July; one month's pay per year; year runs from July 1 through June 30 and bonus is to be prorated if the employee did not work that full year.
- Bono Aguynalgo: Payable on the 15th of December; one month's pay per year; year runs from Dec 1 through Nov 30 and can be prorated as above.
- Vacation of 15 days % per year. If vacation is paid in money, employee receives 17 days worth of pay. Payable in February. Vacation is only earned after one year's work.
- Tiempo or Indemnization: One month's pay per year; Accumulated each year and paid when employee terminates work.