In 1989, ACG was born and began its work related to human rights
and the return of its peoples to their villages. It was a popular organization
with its roots in the communities of the CPR’s, Displaced, Villages
in resistance, and with the refugees.
In 1999 it was registered legally as a Civil Society.
However, in actuality it has had a series of changes as an organization
that works for the benefit of the communities, even though we were registered
as a non-lucrative Civil Society. In practice the Civil Society ACG
is working with the communities with non-lucrative funds. Given this
situation we tried to solicit our resolution as Guatemalan Christian
Action ACG, so that we would not have to pay the taxes, which we would
not be collecting. Since we were only approved as a Civl Society this
justifies the need for us to realize a transition in our organization.
To be an Association the resolution could not be refused in order for
us to be exempt from the payment of the aforementioned taxes.
We can say that in actuality we are only changing the
legal face of the organization because our work has not changed at all.
It can be said that the old ACG is the same as the new ACG. The word
NGO is a term placed by the law on Associations.
Guatemalan Christian Action’s work was focused
on the marginalized communities. 60 percent of the Guatemalan population
is indigenous and 100 percent of the members of ACG are indigenous.
This is the reason that ACG continues its work for the benefit of the
indigenous population. All of our activities have cultural elements
such as our weaving, dance, music, natural medicine, and the growth
of organic animals among others.
Guatemalan Cultural Action will begin with the same
challenge of Guatemalan Christian Action that the poverty in our country
is a problem.
Regarding the legal question: During the last few years
Guatemalan Christian Action has paid certain taxes that Associations
do not need to pay. Guatemalan Christian Action or Association Guatemalan
Cultural Action works for our society and we do not look for lucrative
gains but for a common good in our communities. The mission of the Association
Guatemalan Cultural Action is to work for the integral development of
the poor populations. To be rid of these taxes, in accordance with the
laws of our country, we had to solve the issue through a legal resolution.
This change, for us, is only in name because our actions,
the structure, and our members continue on in the same manner. With
the Association we have a future full of results in the development
of our activities, education, formation, and the economic growth for
our member families. Guatemalan Christian Action will not fade away
but our idea is to use the two faces at this moment and thus contribute
in an efficient manner to the cultural and economic development of our
Mayan population. For the good of the organization, we will continue
with strength as Guatemalan Cultural Action.
In relation to our Inter-religious dialogue we will
continue working with this since a part of our activities that has been
so important is faith. Inside our Association exists much diversity
in the manner of professing to the Creator, God. The Catholic religion,
Charismatic Renovation, Evangelical Religion and Mayan Spirituality
are bases for us to arrive at a unity and good integral development
for the communities. Faith is one of the rocks of Guatemalan Cultural
Action just as it was for Guatemalan Christian Action.
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