Showing up for Guatemalan activists

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page! Here, I'll tell you about why I support NISGUA and give you some more information about the organization.

"I'm feeling nervous," an activist recently told me over the phone, "but I know NISGUA will be there, cheering us on." She was getting ready to join hundreds of other Indigenous Xinka land defenders at a rally in Guatemala City. On May 8th, leaders of the Xinka Parliment handed President Arévalo the results of their community consultations about the Escobal silver mine--a massive extractive project that threatens water supplies and farming livelihoods in three different departments of Guatemala. It took courage for the Xinka activists to show up at the rally given the Guatemalan Attorney General's recent arrests of prominent Indigenous organizers, but they weren't backing down. Four members of NISGUA had the honor of accompanying the historic event, where we translated the Xinka Parliament's press release and live-streamed a press conference with interpretation for English-speaking viewers. A chill ran down my spine as I repeated the bold words of Xinka Parliment spokesperson Marisol Guerra: "As the Xinka People, we deny our consent to the continuation of the Escobal Mining Project!"

It's moments like this that make me love working with NISGUA. Whether we're interpreting for water defenders fighting a mine, or accompanying witnesses taking war criminals to court, NISGUA shows up for Guatemala's activists. We don't do charity, we do solidarity. And we're in it for the long haul; every week, part of my job is to call and text a list of our partners around the country whom we've been accompanying for years. Because our partners trust us, we're able to contribute to some of the most daring, effective organizing in Guatemala.

During NISGUA's May Match campaign from May 15-30, every donation gets doubled by matching donors. This is when NISGUA gets the majority of its funding for the year--not from USAID or grants, but from grassroots supporters like you. Please join me in donating to NISGUA today.

Who is NISGUA?

NISGUA accompanies Guatemalan land and water protectors and genocide survivors who are under threat for their political work. We use physical accompaniment to dissuade violence; facilitate connections between our partners in Guatemala and folks in the U.S. who are similarly impacted by colonialism; organize campaigns against the U.S.'s bloody foreign policy and corporate violence in Central America; and mobilize people for urgent actions if our partners are threatened or attacked.

What will your gift support?

• International accompaniment--NISGUA currently has three international accompaniers who will be here through the fall of 2025, and we look forward to bringing more on board in 2026.
• Cross-border organizing--NISGUA facilitates exchange between movements in the U.S. and Guatemala through virtual meetings, speaking tours, and delegations. Read about a recent delegation here.
• Relationship-building with Guatemalan partners - Staff and volunteers maintain regular contact with our Guatemalan counterparts who are fighting for justice and defending their territories. What we learn from our partners informs every other strategy we employ. Learn more here.

Thank you for your support,

Eleanor/Ellie