A Symbol of Guatemala-Japan Friendship, Commemorative Mural Creation

In Guatemala, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 60th anniversary of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, the Guatemala City Hall, the National Civil Police, and JICA worked together to create a mural art. We hope it will become a beloved part of the local community and stand as a symbol of friendship.

In 2025, we will celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Guatemala, as well as the 60th anniversary of the JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. With these two significant milestones approaching, the idea of creating a "commemorative mural" emerged from the desire to leave a lasting symbol of the bond between Japan and Guatemala in the country.

When planning the mural, we considered how JICA could uniquely contribute beyond just creating an artwork. Our solution was to enhance the urban landscape and support the community by collaborating with residents to repaint walls covered in graffiti in areas with poor security. These murals would symbolize the exchange and cooperation between Japan and Guatemala.

Since 2021, JICA Guatemala has been implementing a "Community Policing Project." This project introduces a Japanese-style community policing model to build and strengthen trust between residents and police officers. It aims to reduce crime by encouraging collaboration among citizens, local governments, and the police to improve public safety, with activities carried out daily.
One such activity is " Neighborhood Cleanup Initiative." As the name suggests, this involves community members working together to clean up their neighborhoods. Areas with poor public safety often have excessive trash, graffiti on walls, and other signs of neglect. These areas are typically avoided by ordinary citizens and can become gathering places for criminals or bases for criminal activity. Through the " Neighborhood Cleanup Initiative” the goal is to clean up these areas, deter criminals, and create a healthier environment. The ultimate objective is to ensure that everyone, from children to adults, can live safely and comfortably.

To create this commemorative mural, we collaborated with the Guatemala City Hall. After explaining our intention to incorporate the theme of "community activity of Space Recovery" we were given access to a 60-meter wall on Cultura Street in the Barrio Moderno district, located in the zone 2, Guatemala City. Barrio Moderno is a pilot area for the “Community Policing Project” and has long struggled with issues like drug trafficking and theft. The wall was originally covered in graffiti, including gang symbols, making it an unwelcoming place for ordinary citizens. However, as the name "Culture Street" suggests, this area was once a vibrant spot where people from both inside and outside of the community used to gather to enjoy cultural events. Residents strongly wished for improved security so that the area could once again become a place where many people could visit and enjoy culture. When I heard this story, I felt that this was the perfect location for our project.

The mural's design was proposed by members of JICA Volunteers who are currently active in Guatemala. Using their ideas, mural artist, Servin Chavajay, who is active police officer, created the main part of the mural art. The details were painted by members of JICA Volunteers, police officers, city hall staff, local children and adults, and many others.

The theme of mural is "Growth and Bonds Between the Two Countries." It illustrates the deep connections formed through the experiences and growth of the Guatemalan people and JICA Volunteers, as well as their prospects. The mural is divided into four themes.

The first theme is "Maternal and Child Health." It portrays the birth of the main character, a Guatemalan, with a JICA volunteer’s presence and support towards her. Maternal and child health has long been a crucial development issue, and many public health nurses and nutritionists are currently working to support the health of pregnant women and infants.

The second theme is "Mathematics Education." The mural shows the protagonist learning mathematics at school. JICA has significantly contributed to the improvement of the quality of education by participating in the creation of the national mathematics textbook "Guatemática" and providing training and teaching materials.

The third theme is "Agriculture." The protagonist is shown planting seedlings with JICA volunteers. Technical assistance has been provided to help people acquire skills and develop the ability to earn a living.

The fourth theme is "Women's Empowerment." The protagonist and JICA volunteer are depicted holding training sessions for women. Many JICA volunteers have been involved in empowerment support, and all projects and programs emphasize the importance of women's empowerment.

Next to the four scenes are symbols representing the culture and connection between Japan and Guatemala. The Japanese cherry blossom, SAKURA and Mount Fuji are depicted alongside the Guatemalan white orchid, MONJA BLANCA, and volcano.

The mural unveiling ceremony was attended by representatives from the Japanese Embassy in Guatemala, Guatemala City Hall, the National Civil Police, local community groups, JICA Guatemala, and many citizens, making it a lively event with over 100 participants.

We sincerely hope that this mural will continue to symbolize the bond between the two countries and that many people will visit and enjoy the artwork.