GUATEMALA DINNER

The Gainesville Friends Meeting has been supporting the Guatemala Friends Scholarship Program for close to thirty years. Mona usually organizes a dinner at which contributions are collected to support the project. This year there will be a virtual dinner on Sat. Jan. 30, 5pm to 7pm. If you would like to get into the spirit of a shared Guatemalan meal you may like to try one of these recipes. 

Black Bean Soup

Ingredients:
2 cups of black beans
½ onion, cut in half
2 garlic cloves, peeled and whole
6 to 7 cups of water
2 teaspoons of salt

Cook slowly for 4 or more hours. This soup is usually served with white rice and corn tortillas.

Another Suggestion from Jean.

Pollo En Jocón (Tomatillo Chicken Stew) Recipe By Cesar Dias: chicken thighs are cooked with tomatillos, the meat shredded, then simmered in a sauce made by sautéing green pepper, onions, garlic, blending the boiled tomatillos and the sauce mixture with cilantro and thickening it with the toasted pumpkin a sesame seeds.

See https://growingupbilingual.com/pollo-en-jocon-tomatillo-chicken-stew-recipe-guatemala/ for the recipe.

Corn tortillas, tomatillos, and jars of Pico de Gallo (fresh salsa available in the produce section) are available at the Public on SW 34th Street near University Avenue.

Jean, who will convene the zoom meeting, will send you the link on request by email. 

Progresa  2020 Fall Update

Here is a bit of information from the website on one of the Graduates of the Guatemala Friends Scholarship Program.

Victor Choy

“I am a civil engineer who graduated from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala. I received this degree thanks to the financial and moral support offered me by the Asociación de los Amigos Cuáqueros (PROGRESA). After finishing my internship in the municipality of Patzicía they hired me under contract to work in the department of municipal planning. In this department, I will have the responsibility to develop designs for sewer drains, potable water, bridges for cars and foot traffic, graveyards and other projects. Besides this in August of 2013 I opened my own consulting office in civil engineering, thus initiating another of my goals, which is to form my own company. As for the academic side of things, I have managed to participate in various training programs and obtained a certificate in the design of plants for residual water treatment. I also have the goal of initiating studies for my master’s degree as a Sanitation Engineer in 2014.

Finally I would like to thank all the Friends who have helped to finance the program, PROGRESA. Because of your help, many of us, who don’t have families who can help financially, are able to reach our dreams and goals of self-development and at the same time participate in the development of our communities. Thank you everyone!”

"Victor is now the City Engineer for his town of Patzicía, Chimaltenango; a part time job, and is working on building his own private practice.  He did the design and drawings for the recent upgrades to the Progresa office in Parramos."

Checks can be made to Gainesville Meeting with the memo line to “Guatemala Scholarship” and sent to:

Annie McPherson, treasurer

702 NW38th Street 

Gainesville Fl 32607