About Us

"If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."
– Lilla Watson, Australian Aboriginal activist and organizer

.Statement of Philosphy and Purpose


Breaking the Silence (BTS) is a voluntary network of people in the Maritimes who began to organize in 1988 to support the efforts of Guatemalans struggling for political, social, economic and environmental justice. We recognize that injustice is connected to structural inequalities both within and between countries, and BTS is committed to supporting structural transformation both in Guatemala and in Canada. Our work is guided by the understanding that we all deserve to be treated as equals, and that we need to build long-term relationships based on solidarity and mutuality. We respond to the needs and issues defined by our partners and by other Guatemalans with whom we work, and we support them in taking charge of their own lives. Our relationships are built on friendship, sharing, and dialogue as we work, learn, and grow together.

As a community of people who share this commitment to solidarity, we undertake advocacy and lobbying; organize delegations; send interns, volunteers, and human rights accompaniers; promote fairly-traded coffee; and raise awareness within our own communities through speaking tours by Guatemalan leaders and other political campaigns.

Guiding Values

  • We believe that the strength of our commitment to each other, as the BTS community in Canada and Guatemala, increase our capacity to support one another
  • We understand solidarity to be a relationship between equals, based on mutual respect, sharing, and support.
  • We are committed to continually strengthening our relationships with our partners, and to maintaining a dialogue about out mutual concerns and priorities in light of our capacities as a voluntary network.
  • While we strive for equality, we also repsect and celebrate diversity, both in Canada andi n Guatemala.
  • We are committed to being as participatory and inclusive as possible in all aspects of our work.
  • We recognize that structures of oppression in the global South are rooted in the structures of the privilege in the global North, and that, in order to have change in Guatemala, we must also be working for change in Canada. We are linked with our partners and with other Guatemalans working for social justice in a shared struggle.
  • Recognizing our privilege as Canadians, we wish to respond to financial needs of our partners where possible. However, project support is a small element of our program commitment to political advocacy and solidarity.
  • We strive to continually grow and learn as individuals and as a community through reflection and transformative learning.
  • When we enter into partnerships (whether int the South or in the North) we strive to ensure clarity regarding the meaning of our participation and our mutual responsibilities.

Operating Policies


1. We take direction from a process of dialogue with our Guatemalan partners and other Guatemalans with whom we work in terms of priorities, programming, and moral, political, and financial support needed/given.
2. Initiatives that BTS committees or individuals take on behalf of BTS need to be discussed with and approved by the BTS Coordinating Committee and/or the AGM.


Funding Policies


As a voluntary network, we have limited fundraising capacity and want to carefully balance fundraising efforts with other forms of solidarity work.

Therefore:

  1. We encourage BTS members to seek outside funding for BTS projects (in consultation with BTS).

  2. BTS will examine fundraising requests from our partners in light of all of BTS's commitments, as well as the BTS Statement of Purpose and Philosophy and Guiding Values.

  3. Donations to BTS need to be directed to projects that fit with the values, priorities and organizational capacity of BTS at the time that they are given.

  4. Recognizing that BTS has ongoing costs related to our solidarity work, we encourage donations to the general BTS fund. (Cheques can be made out to Tatamagouche Centre, with "Breaking the Silence" on the Memo line.)


Structure of BTS

  • Membership is made up of individuals and committees who share the purpose, philosophy and guiding values of BTS.
  • Local committees exist throughout the Maritime provinces (presently Halifax, Antigonish, North Shore, PEI, and Fredericton).

 

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