Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Lake Atitlán is one of the most visited destinations in Guatemala; situated in the Western Highlands, this is one of the most scenic and cultural destinations in the country. There are three main ethnolinguistic groups that call this region home; the Kaqchikel, Quiche, and Tz’utujil Maya have all inhabited the lake for hundreds and in some cases thousands of years. Around the lake there are several different ecosystems that provide habitats for an incredible amount of biodiversity in both the flora and fauna of the region. Despite the incredible beauty that surrounds this unique, picturesque landscape, there are many underlying socioeconomic problems that affect the indigenous people and environment here. According to the World Food Programme, over 46% of children under 5 in Guatemala are stunted due to acute malnutrition. In many of the villages we work in, this number is even higher. Lack of economic opportunities in the country is also driving many people to migrate to the USA in search of a better and more prosperous life.
With fewer jobs available, many local people are forced to exploit the natural resources that surround them, driving them to cut down forests to expand the agricultural frontier and sell the wood from native trees. Loss in forest coverage has led to many freshwater springs drying up and has contributed to the decrease in biodiversity within many of the ecosystems of the region. In 2019 WellKind Guatemala was founded to try to address these social and environmental issues in some of the most vulnerable communities of Atitlán.
WellKind is a grassroots, local non-profit that works with indigenous Kaqchikel Maya communities in the Sololá Department of Guatemala. Founded in 2019 to address ecological and economic challenges of the local communities, WellKind now works in over 8 municipalities, benefiting over 5000 people, with programming in native tree reforestation, economic development via artisan cooperatives, and nutrition training for young mothers. Our team of young community leaders works daily to empower their communities and to enhance the region’s economy, ecology, and community.
One of our key initiatives is helping local families plant Native Trees and sustainable food forests. These reforestation projects diversify Existing Forests, boost families’ diets, and provide environmental benefits like erosion control and carbon sequestration.
Aside from Reforestation, we focus on other initiatives in Water Security, Local Economic Development, Nutrition Training, and Environmental Education. WellKind has trained over 140 women in artisan craft production, supporting them in gaining meaningful work that pays fair-trade wages to produce woven and beaded products. These women come from 6 different communities and are mostly single mothers that use the money they earn to feed their families and put their kids in school. Additional programming in Savings, Microloans, and Nutrition training support the artisans in further empowerment and skill-building for their futures and the futures of their families.
advancing Sustainable Solutions
Our Ecology programs advance reforestation, water conservation, and environmental education, all of which protect the natural resources of Lake Atitlán while enhancing water and food security.
We’ve helped families:
Plant over 80,000 native wood and fruit trees that provide food for local people and will sequester more than 2k tons of CO2 each year—the equivalent of taking 300 cars off the road!
Reforest 5 local natural water springs in 3 different communities, providing the villages with potable water and ensuring the longevity of the spring and water flow for local people to use.
Use fruit trees and food forest systems to treat gray water and prevent it from flowing into the rivers and into Lake Atitlán where it ultimately ends up.
Build a native plant nursery that provides easy access to high-quality trees within the community.
Brighter Future
"My whole neighborhood has been transformed in the last year. Everyone here now has fruit trees on their land, and we exchange our produce amongst ourselves. All I want is a better future for my kids, and I believe that reforestation is a key part of that vision for a healthier future."
- Catalina Tepaz Sipac
NOURISHING THE LOCAL ECONOMY
Our Economy programs provide trainings and start-up materials to help Kaqchikel women establish sustainable local businesses. Since 2020, we’ve helped:
17 women start profitable greenhouses and mushroom growing facilities
140 women organize a cooperative of artisan crafters to make beaded and crochet products, earning fair-trade wages to support their families from the comfort of their homes
Start three Savings Groups within the artisan cooperative, where artisans save money and also participate in inter-group lending for micro-finance to support each other
Our Impact
WellKind launched its pilot program in the town of Tzununá on July 1st, 2019. We commemorated this occasion by planting a native fruit tree to symbolize the seeds of change in the community. Since then, we have worked with 440 families (2,607 people) in eight Mayan communities on Lake Atitlán, supporting them in their vision of economic and environmental sustainability. Our program is led by 14 Kaqchikel women who are members of our leadership training initiative.
Together with these women leaders and local families, we have planted 35,606 trees, built 35 organic family gardens, and recruited 140 women to earn fair trade wages in our artisan co-operative business. We have helped 17 women start sustainable local businesses and supported 155 people through vocational education programs.
