People of Maize
(Life in the Guatemalan Countryside 10 years after the civil war)

Photographs

Pyramida v San Franciscu

24 years ago this ancient pyramid was a dominant part of the village San Francisco. The soldiers destroyed the village but they did not touch the pyramid. So today, it stands as a silent witness to the atrocities that happened here during the civil war.

New generation, new hopes

Children of the witnesses

Life in the villages; how they live now?

Life today is the same as it was before; the war didn’t bring any positive changes. They are still very poor. The only source of living they can make is to work the land, and the only product they can sell is coffee which nowadays has dropped to very low prices. Job opportunities do not exist in the countryside so the men go to Mexico or to the USA in search of work. Improvements are being brought by international organizations but are still slow. The Guatemalan government has little interest in the development of rural Maya areas.

Men and women

The roles of women and men are traditionally and strictly set up in the villages. Men work in the fields; women look after the household and children. Men are the heads of family and also decide about public business in the village. Alcohol and smoking is tolerated for men but not so much for women. More women are illiterate and speak less Spanish than the men because they do not have the opportunity to leave the village for work as men do.

Wedding

Candelaria is 17, she moved to the parent’s house of her future husband 2 years ago. During this time she had to work very hard and get on well with his parents in order to prove herself. She passed the test. Her husband did not find another woman. She was lucky. The family has accepted her and arranged a wedding for the young couple, in this case in the Catholic Church.

If Candelaria had failed she would have to move back to her parent’s house with her children that were born during this 2 year period. Also she would not have any rights to gain support from her former partner.

It is normal practise for a Maya girl to move to the family of her boyfriend when she reaches 14 or 15 years. If she does not find someone by her 18th birthday she is considered old and her prospective chances to get married are very low.