Meredith Larson joined PBI in Guatemala in August-December of 1989 after attending Liam Mahony’s speaking tour. Her experience allowed her to form connections with Guatemalan human rights defenders she cultivates to this day. While her field work included a frightening experience, her story exemplifies the power of international coalition-building and concludes with a happy ending during her time as a PBI volunteer.
Meredith first learned of PBI through Liam Mahony’s fall 1988 speaking tour. She was already active on human rights issues, and a flyer for his tour piqued her interest. Liam’s event at the university was packed, but Meredith was able to speak to him afterward and learned how to apply to a PBI team.
She joined a small dinner two months later for Guatemala human rights leader Amílcar Méndez in Boston and coincidentally met Liam again at the dinner. PBI in Guatemala was then accompanying Amílcar, as it did for many years, and Amílcar clearly conveyed how valuable PBI had been for him and his family.
“These two experiences solidified my interest in volunteering with PBI - I sent in my application. I was thrilled when I was accepted into a PBI training. I trained in Montreal in spring 1989 with some of the most amazing trainers I’ve ever had. The several-day experience was intense, and I learned so much.”
Years later, she has reflected on some of the reasons why PBI has a place in so many hearts. Meredith remains in touch with Amílcar Méndez, as are several other volunteers – a testament to how PBI has played such a direct role in not only helping protect human rights and the lives of those who defend human rights, but also through its work, it has built an interconnected community of volunteers, staff, supporters, and the accompanied across so many countries.
Our interconnected community was also evident at a dinner Meredith attended in Canada, ten years after she accompanied a young couple fleeing Guatemala.
“At the dinner, another young couple from Guatemala began relating a story about PBI after learning I was a former field volunteer. It turned out to be the same story I had lived ten years before - they were the cousins of the young man in the couple that fled, and they had a wonderful update for me - that all was well with their cousins.”
In late 1989, Meredith and two Canadian colleagues were attacked by men lying in wait for them near the PBI Guatemala office. In extraordinary PBI fashion, multiple people across the U.S., and in other countries, immediately responded through the Emergency Response Network; numerous government officials in several countries heard that response, and a few months later, 111 Members of Congress in the U.S. Senate and House took action to express grave concern about the human rights situation in Guatemala, including the attacks on PBI. Thanks to the tremendous support from the broader PBI community, space was created for PBI to continue its important work in Guatemala.
“And thanks to all of you, as you have been a part of this community and helped PBI maintain its important work on behalf of human rights.”