Rafa’s leadership journey

“I am a young man of 18 years old, I consider myself intelligent, capable of doing anything, active in various areas: cultural, religious, sports, and social. I am a person who can advise others, my name is Rafael Menchú from the community of Cajubi, Uspantán Quiché“.

What was happening around you before you turned 15?

Before I was 15 years old I was studying elementary school, I have always been the person who had the opportunity to have the trust of my parents. I participated in several organizations, in a folk dance group, I have had a lot of community participation and have been able to influence my community in my family.  My needs were to study, learn more, spend time with people, make friends, not lock myself in my house. I felt bad if one day I didn't do anything productive.

One of the things that got me out of my comfort zone was participating in SERES when I was 13 years old. I had never participated in raising awareness and leadership training and I consider that it helped me get out of my comfort zone and be able to visualize what the reality of the group was like.

I started getting involved in my church, as the previous leader left I took on the leadership, but I  had to start from scratch and learned how to lead a religious group. I looked for a way to help young people from a young age.

For you, what does it mean to be a leader? 

Being a leader is being able to lead a group of people, people who can also help get out of our comfort zone, accompany and be there at all times, create unity in groups, when there are problems be a counselor, have knowledge, maintain their position, defend what is true, knowing the good and the bad and knowing how to listen to others.

I describe my leadership as democratic, I try to ensure that all young people can influence, have a voice, express their ideas, that the young person can create, think a little more, I consider myself to be an example for others, make changes, and I consider that I have generated impacts in my community.

What are some of your biggest learnings and challenges as a leader so far? 

Currently in the youth ministry I am leading 500 young people and in the youth communities 80 young people. I feel a little pressured by the number of young people because sometimes I am looking for links to collect financial aid for our activities, but I am happy to be able to carry out and being able to visit different communities and encourage more young people. 

However, life is not easy for a leader, the leader has to train emotionally and socially, to learn values, and the biggest challenge was to train, know and learn, seek strategies of collaboration and creativity.

What was been the impact of SERES in you? 

It has helped me a lot in being a good leader, as young people we only see our own world, SERES helped me see that there are more people around and how I can generate changes, to become the leader I am now, and have greater knowledge and strategies.

The SERES Catalyzers program was a very important space in my life, because of the impact it had on me, I am continuing it with other young people.

The voice and diction have helped me a lot on how I speak and express myself, using play for peace, icebreaker activities, and integrating different resources to generate changes.

What hope of transformation do you see for your community and country?

I want to impact the educational system, which has been the same for years, changing corruption in our country that the authorities are working for the common good, being able to change the reality of our communities by having more access to highways, supplies and work, helping people so they can train and support themselves.

What is Rafa doing now?

This year, Rafa is one of current fellows, he has been undertaking his first project: 

Political training workshops with 15 young people from the Community of Jacubi, zone 2, Uspantan, intended to empower young people to actively participate in the community, so that the community is inclusive of young people and be part of decision-making. 

“I feel that now it is important for us as young people to participate in our community, but many times adults do not give us the space we need. With this first session I managed to understand that we as young people have to look for those spaces for participation”. - Josue Chitop, participant. 

“Honestly, for me politics was when elections were held for some leader, however now I understand that politics is part of our lives in all areas of our society”. - Fernanda Camaja, participant. 

The purpose of the fellowships is for emerging leaders to create an ecosystem of support for other young leaders and their communities, through coordinating trainings, community events and facilitate collaboration, they are increasing the dialogue and thinking about sustainable development and encourage the development of new collaborations, ideas and action plans. 

If you want to support leader like Rafa, you can be part to our donor circle, write us to development@seres.org for more information.