Romero Prize for Mayra Orellana: “This powerful woman gives everything every day”

Brick elementary schools instead of draughty wooden shacks. Table stoves instead of open fireplaces. Small loans to create vegetable gardens. Middle school scholarships as a future opportunity. Mayra Orellana and her organization ADICO have achieved a lot for the predominantly indigenous population in the highlands of Guatemala over the past 17 years with the support of Sei So Frei and donations from Upper Austria. Martina Wögerbauer, project assistant at Sei-So-Frei, is particularly pleased that the long-standing project partner is now being honored with this important Austrian human rights award. After all, the charismatic power woman gives her all every day: “Mayra puts her heart and soul into it,” says the 24-year-old from Arnreit, who is responsible for project processing in Upper Austria. “She’s a real professional, quite strict, but warm. That is why our projects are so successful.”

1500 smoke-free kitchens

Although Corona caused hard lockdowns, delivery bottlenecks and price increases in Guatemala, Mayra Orellana consistently continued to build the table stoves, among other things. It works closely with the mayor of Joyabaj, who covers 20 percent of the costs from the municipal budget. So far, more than 1,500 families from 17 villages in its 300 km² community have received a so-called wood-saving stove, which requires up to two-thirds less wood than the traditional open fireplace. After a two-year break due to the pandemic, several wood-saving stoves were handed over at Sei So Frei’s first visit in March 2022. “The women in particular are so grateful to Mayra,” says Wögerbauer. “It’s a huge relief for them not having to inhale smoke for hours.”

The project is being continued: 430 families from six villages have recently applied for a stove.

Honor where credit is due

Franz Hehenberger, Managing Director of Sei So Frei from St. Peter, has enjoyed a long working relationship and friendship with Romero Prize winner Mayra Orellana. “If Mayra receives the Romero Prize in the Linzer Schauspielhaus in a few days, it will not only be a great honour,” says the man from the Mühlviertler, “but also an international appreciation of her outstanding work, which is also recognized in Guatemala”. The signal is clear: “Sei So Frei stands behind Mayra and will continue to support disadvantaged families from Guatemala on their way to a better future with her.”

The Romero award ceremony will take place on October 4, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in the Schauspielhaus Linz. Admission is free, admission only with registration: https://ooe.seisofrei.at/romero2022