Our Partnership with WellKind Guatemala

Along the northern shore of Lake Atitlán, 99% of residents are indigenous Kaqchikel Mayan and 70% of those people live in poverty, 66% of children under age 5 are stunted due to poor nutrition, and only 8% of women are employed.  Environmental issues compound the region’s economic and social challenges. Lake Atitlán is Central America’s largest drinking water source.  However, threats to environmental and human health include untreated sewage, habitat degradation, loss of forest cover,  and vulnerability to climate change. There is a clear need for locally-led initiatives that enhance both economic opportunity alongside ecological restoration.

We’re partnering with WellKind Guatemala to empower 950 local community members to lead social and environmental programs that enhance diversity, resilience and integrity of the local economy, ecology and community.  The project is led by 19 Kaqchikel women who are members of WellKind’s leadership training initiative. Through this project, WellKind’s fair-trade artisan cooperative is expanding from 120 to 180 members, and 10 women are being supported to start a new business.  In addition, 10,000 multi-purpose trees are being planted to provide erosion control, water filtration, carbon sequestration, nutrition, and sustainable firewood for an estimated 3,500-4,000 people.  Finally, a model vegetable garden will be established at WellKind’s office to demonstrate high-yield permaculture gardening on a small plot.