SCDRYS is a Guatemalan Non Government Organization is working with the=20 victims of the war in the Quich=E9 Mountains. The war left many orphans and= =20 widows following many massacres by the army. The population of young people= =20 traumatized as children by seeing the murder of family members are now of=20 the age to marry and begin families of their own. Many have severe=20 emotional problems. No other organizations are currently working with these= =20 victims. SCDRYS is developing a plan for preventive medicine in conjunction= =20 with a plan to improve self esteem. =20 We are looking for sponsors and volunteers for this plan. If you know of= =20 individuals or organizations who might participate with us, please forward= =20 this message and we will be glad to provide more information. =20 SCDRYS (Sociedad Civil Para el Desarrollo Rural Replicable y Sostenible),=20 Guatemala 1. What is SCDRYS? It is an Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) formed by Mayan men and women= who=20 struggle for their survival in the Mountains of Quich=E9 (Chinique,= Zacualpa,=20 Joyabaj, Canill=E1,=20 San Andr=E9s Sajcabaj=E1). SCDRYS, are rural communities affected by the= war of=20 1980-1985 and who cultivate their small land properties (1 acre) as a way of= =20 life,=20 exploiting the forest and migrating to the coast cyclically. 2. Organization We are integrated by a leading council and rural representatives. This was= =20 the traditional=20 form in which Quich=E9s' towns gathered together to resolve their communal= =20 problems. =20 This is why we are trying to revive and renew this form of organization that= =20 promotes the=20 consent and participation of everyone. 3. Objectives Each community has a rural leading council in which, men, women, youth,=20 adults, and=20 elders participate. The objectives of each leading council vary according= =20 to the basic=20 necessities of each one of them. They all fundamentally pursue a common=20 goal which can=20 be summarized as follows:=20 - Encourage participation in decision making. - Revive traditional forms of cooperation and mutual aid that our ancestors= =20 used. - Promote the rational use of natural resources. - Promote a change in attitude and mentality in families who were victims of= =20 the=20 war. "We feel that we are useful and that we can, that we are important, and= =20 that we are=20 worthy as human beings". "Make ourselves feel that we are strong because we= =20 have the=20 strength of hills and mountains". "We were rebels and we will continue=20 being so by=20 respecting human beings and every manifestation from heaven to the heart,=20 and from the=20 heart to the earth". - Encourage the spirituality and culture of the Mayan village and revive the= =20 customs and wisdom of our grandparents. Defend our culture and reject the= =20 adoption of=20 the values of another culture. "We want to take back the past of our=20 nation, the nation=20 that by history belongs to us. We will recover those values that we are=20 ashamedly losing.=20 Together we will go back and work the land like the gods and spirits of the= =20 mountains saw=20 it before - Make our communities autonomous and not dependent though the study,=20 analysis, reflection and intervention of our reality. We will accomplish=20 this by doing=20 replicable growth activities (easy to copy) with other neighboring=20 communities on the=20 mountain and steadily promoting projects. (projects that after institutional= =20 intervention=20 could be administered by the communities). We believe that community=20 participation is=20 the way to reach this objective. 4. Who integrates SCDRYS? Farmers, men, and women leaders and representatives of the small towns in=20 the mountains.=20 "We are farmers because we are poor; we don't have land; the good land is=20 down there.=20 We cultivate corn and beans; what we harvest every year is not enough; it's= =20 only enough=20 for three months. In February we have to go down to the coast to earn money.= =20 We go=20 down there for a period of time and come back up to our home with corn to=20 eat. The=20 women stay home taking care of the animals and the little children". "I go= =20 down to the=20 village to sell firewood to earn money, I buy gas, brown sugar, and=20 peppers". This is why=20 we say we are farmers. When we get sick we cure ourselves with what the=20 land produces;=20 we also take aspirin or alkaseltzers, that is why we say we are farmers". 5. How are we organized? SCDRYS is organized by a regional council; 3 area councils and 20 municipal= =20 councils. =20 Every area council has the assembly as the highest authority integrated by= =20 representatives=20 from all the municipal councils. These councils serve as a base of the=20 organization that=20 materialized our objectives and work philosophy. Each council is integrated= =20 as follows: - Coordinating committee (by zone, local) - Secretarial committee - Treasury committee - Education and training committee - Support committee Each committee in each of the local area councils is integrated by a working= =20 team=20 (minimum 2, maximum 3). Each of these members lasts 2 years in their post.= =20 They are=20 replaced alternately (one stays and one goes out) in an assembly for such=20 purpose, in=20 which each committee presents a report that contains: Accomplished= activities,=20 conclusions and recommendations. In short, is a report that narrates the=20 history of the=20 council, (systematization). We develop literacy activities especially with the youth of both sexes. We= =20 develop=20 workshops to discuss our main problems and possible solutions, (example: the= =20 land) 6. Future actions Short term: We plan to develop a program on popular education, focusing on= =20 the change=20 of attitude and mentality in respect to the revive of our customs and=20 traditions. We are=20 also interested in increasing the production of agricultural goods through a= =20 specific plan. - A training plan for the appropriate use of natural resources is a= permanent=20 interest of the population. We will search with interest cooperative=20 institutions. - We also want to start a new program to support the nutritional needs of=20 pregnant=20 and nursing women; in addition to a formal program of health and nutritional= =20 education. =20 The implementation of this program in the country side will include the=20 basic needs of the=20 different communities, (portable water, drainage, etc.)