Community-Led Decision-Making
For all of our programs around Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, we work together with our network of local indigenous women leaders. Provided with stipends and free professional and leadership trainings, they reach out to their community, set strategies for the various projects, and increase participation and beneficiary involvement.
Reforestation Program leadership responsibilities include:
Reporting on tree health and survival rates.
Helping to distribute trees to families and farmers.
Assisting in the transportation of trees from nursery to community center.
Helping to coordinate tree planting workshops
Artisan Program Leadership Responsibilities include:
Distributing threads to artisans
Taking finished products to the client
Organizing and distributing the work evenly among members of the cooperative
Community Vision
That local women are empowered to be change makers and lead the way to a brighter future. In a society that is very male dominated we are helping to create the space for women to take charge. Each of our programs has its group of women leaders that help guide us to better or programming.
OUR IMPACT:
We built a greenhouse that is run by 8 local women who sell seedlings, seeds, and other garden inputs to their community.
A total of 18 women leaders have received stipends for their work with WellKind in the communities of the Tzununá Valley.
WellKind hosts monthly talks for all the women leaders involved in the program to talk about infant nutrition, domestic violence, and family planning.
Meet the Leaders
Maria Benita
“I have enjoyed being a leader of the Artisan program that WellKind has. It has allowed me to connect with my neighborhood in a deep and meaningful way. This opportunity has also allowed me to learn more about Artisan work. The money I earn from the leader program has helped me support my husband and family. I have seen that the impact of this program has allowed people to plant more trees on their land and gain money in doing so.
Sebastiana Simaj
“I am thankful to WellKind for the opportunity they have given me to form part of the reforestation leaders group. Working with my group of women I have bettered my communications skills and my public speaking. When I visit the different families' reforestation sights I enjoy giving them advice and helping them with their space. In the future it would be great to continue doing this work and growing my leadership skills.”
Juana Mendoza
“I used to be very shy and it was hard for me to do public speaking. Now, thanks to the leadership program, I feel a lot more confident about myself and my role. I'm very excited about continuing my work as a leader for WellKind’s reforestation program. It has helped me a lot as a monthly income to support my husband. It is truly a blessing to have this program in my neighborhood helping my community.”