by Edwin Xol, Coordinator for FAES Network of Central American Grant Recipients
Translated by Daniela MartĢ_nez and Libby Mota, Vital Voices Guatemala
Guatemala, October 2009. On October 17, 23 young adults from the departments of Guatemala, PetĢ©n, Zacapa, QuichĢ©, San Marcos, Alta Verapaz, and Retalhuleu received their diplomas for the completion of a course in Local Political Leadership. Seven of these participants were emerging women leaders that were empowered and trained to become the next generation of political actors in Guatemala.
This course, which was carried out between June and October 2009 at the Francisco MarroquĢ_n University (UFM) campus in Guatemala City, was organized by the Network of Central American Grant Recipients of the Foundation for Analysis and Social Studies (FAES), by Vital Voices Guatemala, and by UFM’s the Institute for Political Studies and International Relations (EPRI).
The objective of this Local Political Leadership course is to identify, educate, and train individuals that will become future leaders of social change. This is an educational experience that provides a space for these emerging political actors to reflect and discuss the virtues, responsibilities, and qualities necessary for effective leadership at the local level.
The program consistsed of 45 class hours, divided into ten meetings that were carried out every fifteen days. The content of the course is divided into three modules: 1) Principles of a New Political Leadership, 2) Foundations of Democracy and Development, and 3) Principles of Municipal Management.
Besides counting on the presence of high-level professors, the program was enriched by the participation of political and social leaders, as well as current and former government officials at the national and local levels. As a final project, students created a plan for municipal development, which was evaluated by professor Miguel Castillo, an expert in municipal management, and Ģädgar Ajcip, former mayor of San Pedro SacatepĢ©quez, Guatemala.
The course was inaugurated with the conference “Leadership for the New Age,” by EPRI’s Director Pedro Trujillo. The inauguration was followed by the forum “Women and Leadership in Guatemala,” which included the participation of Isabel GutiĢ©rrez de Bosch, Marta Altolaguirre, Norma QuixtĢĮn, and Rutila Ajanel, well-recognized and influential women leaders in Guatemala’s private, political, and social sectors. The conclusion of the course was hosted by Tono Coro, mayor of Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala, and Selvin GarcĢ_a, mayor of Pachalum, QuichĢ©, who discussed the “The Key to Successful Municipal Management.”
For more information about this course, please visit: http://liderazgolocal2009.blogspot.com