Qachuu Aloom, Guatemala - Youth Programs
In rural Guatemalan there are few possibilities for youth, especially girls to complete middle and high school. This youth program will help identify Qachuu Aloom’s 2011 scholarship recipients. Upon completion of the 10-month program, individuals who most identify with Qachuu Aloom’s mission of sustainable community development will be invited to participate in our scholarship program.
February
-Analysis of Guatemala’s history, the armed conflict and impact on the social fabric of Mayan Communities.
-Youth in Modern Guatemala-analysis of problem (violence, gangs, loss of culture)
-Solutions
March
-Mayan Spirituality, language, dances, music, art, weavings and stories: and how they apply to youth today.
-Self-esteem
-Conflict Resolution from Mayan Cultural Perspective
April
-Introduction to Permaculture
May
-Observing Nature
-Garden Preparation
June
-Water
-Rain catchment, filters, tanks, and soil conservation
-Identification of Personal Projects/Investigations (example: garden design, reforestation, art, music, or language project, water systems, interviews with elders etc.)
July
Traditional Food Preparation
Reforestation (How to start a tree nursery, the importance of native trees)
August
Seeds
Seed Traditions
Seed Saving
Seed Cleaning
September
Biodiversity, Culture and Food Sovereignty
In 2009, Women farmers and seed savers from Qachuu Aloom designed and taught their own workshops for other aspiring Guatemalan women farmers. Women from the Alta Verapaz region visited our center to participate in a 4 month farming course. All the workshops were taught by women in their own gardens! The visiting women returned home to their villages excited to establish their own gardens.
It was such a proud moment for the women of Qachuu Aloom to be able to share their skills and hard work with other women, and to evolve from Qachuu Aloom project participants to leaders and teachers of sustainable agriculture.
There is nothing like a peer-teaching model to inspire action and change!