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Form a Local Sponsoring Community
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Guidelines for Sponsoring Communities

1. Commitment to work within the parameters of G.A.P. as outlined in the Statement of Purpose and Principles & Guidelines.

2. Commitment and ability to coordinate and/or provide Financial Support for the cost of medium- and/or long term accompaniment, sending finances to accompaniers according to G.A.P.'s bi-monthly schedule.

3. Commitment to education and publicity within the Sponsoring Community as well as reaching out to the wider local community. This could include:

• learn about the history and current situation of Guatemala
• organize study groups / public talks
• distribute the accompanier's personal newsletter/updates
• organize and publicize slide shows/talks/events before the accompanier's departure, during the accompanier's time in Guatemala, and upon the accompanier's return.
• work to develop creative ways to engage the wider local community in learning about the Guatemalan community and to deepen the relationship.

4. Commitment to activate an Emergency Response Network should an emergency arise involving the Guatemalans with whom we work, the accompanier, or some aspect of G.A.P. NISGUA provides guidance on how to set up an Emergency Response Network.

In the event of an emergency situation the Sponsoring Community will:

• activate local emergency response network.
• notify local press/media.
• notify Congressional and Senate representatives, State Department, local officials
• notify U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, Guatemalan government; cc: NISGUA.

5. A commitment to undertake advocacy work on behalf of the Guatemalan population affected by genocide. This could include maintaining contact with local elected representatives about the activities of your sponsoring community; keeping them informed about policy debates relating to Guatemala; requesting specific action, such as voting to close the School of the Americas.

6. Willingness to build intercultural understanding and to challenge oneself and Sponsoring Community colleagues to examine the historically unbalanced relations between Guatemala and the United States, as well as individuals of each country.

7. Willingness to send updates on local activities to the accompanier.

8. Designate a G.A.P. contact person responsible for communication with the NISGUA office in the U.S. NISGUA staff cannot coordinate communication with more than one person per Sponsoring Community.

9. In addition, G.A.P. recommends that U.S. Sponsoring Communities and accompaniers very carefully consider how to respond to requests for financial or material assistance in Guatemalan Communities. Sponsoring Communities do not provide any type of material aid to communities involved in the genocide cases. However, some continue to provide material aid in the returned refugee communities they have long-standing relationships with. G.A.P. has development guidelines available upon request.

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