February saw the time of year for Peace Brigades International Guatemala training again, only this time Kindling's logistics role was very different from normal. The co-ordinator of the training team brought her 6 month old son Eduardo with her from Guatemala, so alongside logistical support Helen was the childcare for the 10 days.
Peace Brigades International (PBI) is a non-governmental organization (NGO), that fields teams of international accompaniers / observers in areas of conflict. The objective of PBI's presence is to protect the political space of human rights defenders and other civil society activists that suffer repression for their nonviolent work in favour of human rights, peace, and social justice. Kindling's Helen and Matt were part of the team out in Guatemala in 2005/06).
In the last few months there have been two emergency activations of the PBI network in Guatemala, for threats or acts of violence against the human rights defenders that the team accompanies, and the level of violence (including land evictions of whole communities) is high. Having a good team of people and creating awareness of the current situation in the country is considered by the human rights defenders to be key in allowing them to continue their work.
PBI training days are pretty long (9am – 8pm), and having never met each other before, it was a bit of a challenge for both Helen and Eduardo! However despite teething and having a cold Eduardo was an amazingly happy and sociable baby and they both survived and a great old play.
The training is also a good chance to practice Spanish (the week is in Spanish, and at meal times and in the evenings part of our role is to share our experiences of Guatemala), and to catch up on news of the people Helen and Matt accompanied during their year there.
The training had the added bonus this time of taking place at the Redfield Community - an intentional community of 14 adults and 7 children living in a huge old mansion house just outside Winslow (near Aylesbury), so Helen got to do a bit of Kindling research in the week too.
The community has owned the place for 30 years, they are self sufficient in fruit and veg for about 5 months a year, have a small herd of sheep, run living in community courses and Lili is based there. It's a great venue for a training and the food (cooked by the community members) was incredible. a really lovely bunch of people who made us feel very welcome (and kept Helen sane in baby world!)
As a result of the 10 days PBI Guatemala found 7 new volunteers who are lovely and will make a great team. On a personal note Helen was relieved to find both that it is possible to live in an intentional community for the long term and stay happy, to re-affirm her decision to remain mother of none but aunty of many!