On the 8th of August 2005 Acción Cristiana Guatemalteca (now Acción Cultural Guatemalteca) ACG, completed its 16th year as an organization. In order to celebrate, the members of the directive group organized a sporting event on the 7th and a social/cultural event on the 8th here in the municipal seat of Santa Cruz del Quiché. August 7th found boys, girls, youth, men, and women organized into a mini-marathon. It was very emotional to watch the girls and women run. Their feet have traversed slopes, paths, hollows, and mud in order to visit the communities yet on this day they were put to the task of reaching the end of a race. In addition to the race, two soccer tournaments were held, one for the women and one for the men. In both activities, ACG’s scholarship students were active participants.

In the social and cultural event there was a grand reunion where we listened to the words of the direct group and representatives of the micro-credit and savings project who were invited from ACG’s communities surrounding Santa Cruz. In addition we conducted the delivery of the prizes in a drawing contest for the youth of the Art and Painting project. These drawings came from 41 ACG youth in communities representing ACG’s 3 departments. Two painters from Chichicastenango who were present at the event to judge the contest determined the prizes. At the end we had an ecumenical celebration and shared a meal.

These 16 years have served us in bringing together an organization that has helped us to give life to many dreams that have accumulated over the years. These dreams included educational opportunities, productive projects like micro-credit, and in the defense of human rights. The communities of ACG have many needs, the same as other communities in the rural areas. We have taken into account that only with good organization can we achieve a better situation for our people.

For a better life in our communities!

Long live our 16th anniversary!