printBecome a Human Rights Accompanier in Guatemala
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Public Education and Advocacy in the U.S.
The work of the accompanier does not end upon leaving Guatemala and returning to the United States. Rather, this transition marks the beginning of a new phase in accompaniment work – that of educating and advocating based upon one’s unique experiences as an accompanier.
Typically within a month of the accompanier’s completion of his or her time in Guatemala, the accompanier visits the Sponsoring Community with whom he/she has worked to share the accompaniment experience. The Sponsoring Community arranges slide shows, talks, and interviews for the accompanier to provide information to the wider U.S. community about the current situation in Guatemala. During these engagements, the accompanier can distribute brochures or fact sheets and ask people to DO SOMETHING, whether it’s to join a Sponsoring Community, donate money, write a letter to the editor or respond to a NISGUA urgent action. Beyond the Sponsoring Community visits, we encourage returned accompaniers to maintain ongoing contact with G.A.P. and NISGUA. Such contact involves opportunities for congressional advocacy, educational activities, press and radio interviews and writing articles for NISGUA publications.
The annual G.A.P. Gathering is a wonderful chance for former accompaniers and Sponsoring Community members to meet, reunite and re-energize. We urge recently returned accompaniers, in particular, to attend the Gathering. See the G.A.P. Calendar for information about the dates and location of this year’s Gathering.