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Reference Story and Foundation
New Dawn Association of Santiago Atitlán is a humanitarian organization, operating in the community of Panabaj which is located two kilometers from Santiago Atitlán in the department of Sololá, Guatemala. Its inhabitants are indigenous people who speak Tz'utujil and have preserved many traditions, customs, beliefs, foods and clothing. There is also a great natural wealth in the beautiful Lake Atitlán and its landscapes.
Panabaj and Santiago Atitlan were victims of the country's internal war that lasted 36 years from 1960 to 1996 between two camps: the National Army and the Guerrilla (civilians against the violent actions and abuse of authority of the army). For Panabaj and Santiago Atitlán the war lasted a decade, from 1980 to 1990. The war left many traces of the following:
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many orphaned children
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widowed women
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poverty
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sexual violence
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trauma
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More than 200,000 deaths nationwide
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More than 45,000 refugees and people who disappeared
After the cessation of the war in Panabaj and the other surrounding communities, the people rebuilt and fought in the aftermath of the war.
But on October 5, 2005, Hurricane Stan strongly affected the communities of Panabaj and Tzanchaj in the municipality of Santiago Atitlán, by provoking a landslide from the Toliman volcano and partially from the Atitlan volcano. 900 families were affected and an estimated 300 people lost their lives. Children were orphaned, families lost children and spouses, and there were many material losses as well.
In the midst of this disaster, what is now known as the New Dawn Association of Santiago Atitlán (ANADESA) was born. It began as a social assistance proposal between a group of people from the Mennonite Church in Guatemala City and the affected families in Panabaj and Tzanchaj.
The cooperation between neighbors evolved and ANADESA was constituted as an organization three years later, receiving support from the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Guatemala City.
ANADESA acquired legal status and the projects were converted into educational and community development proposals with a sustainability perspective.
ANADESA is currently working with an education project that specifically provides school reinforcement and support, as well as with young people and women providing training and training workshops for community development.
