A Note From Jeff – Trip To Guatemala

A Note From Jeff – Trip To Guatemala

Here I am standing at 8,000 feet above sea level as I’m struggling to catch my breathe after a long hike through this lush and green countryside. Insects are buzzing around my head and I’m ready for lunch. Finally we stumble upon this peak in the Ixil region of Guatemala — the region where our farmers live. The farmers you’ve had a hand in helping. When I see their faces, I’m overwhelmed. The bugs, long hike, and altitude sickness are all worth it to see the change that’s been made in these farmer’s lives — all from a cup of coffee.

The People

The people in the Ixil Region are quite possibly the most humble and resilient people I have ever met. They are so thankful for things that Americans would consider as “the basics”. Clean running water, a sturdy roof over their heads, a school for their children, and a sustainable job, are just a few reasons why they are thankful to be a part of Agros. Land ownership, I would say, is the most important to them.

Their land means everything to them and because the opportunity to own land has become a reality, these farmers have made headway in creating generational change.

One of the world’s worst civil wars in human history took place in this very region just a few decades ago. From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, militias infiltrated the Ixil Region, massacring thousands. Now, those relatives who have survived rally in their amazing human spirit and have learned to carry on. They no longer have to worry about armies coming in and stealing their land. There has been an increase of access to natural resources such as clean running water and road development. Education is beginning to flourish and sustainability has settled in. The children of these relatives will never have to experience what their parents or grandparents endured, thanks to Agros.

The Goat Initiative

You might be wondering, what on earth is a Goat Initiative? I am excited to share with you, that along with coffee farmers sustaining themselves, another means of income has taken place in the Ixil Region. Goats are an incredible resource for milk, cheese, and yogurt production. Their milk is very nutritious and easy on our bodies to digest. Unlike cows, goats also do not compete with the food supply and are much easier on the land. A woman in her 60’s got an amazing idea that has transformed the lives of many others. She realized, that goats have an incredible amount of wealth in their abilities to produce a variety of necessities. When she had 14 goats herself, she knew that was all she needed to sustain for her family. With her goats, she was able to produce goat milk and sell it to families in need with infants needing nutritious milk. With this knowledge, she decided to start a goat raising operation. She then helped organize and collaborate with other organizations, such as USAID, Heifer International, Save the Children, Zero Hunger and Agros, to build a sprawling facility with multiple buildings just for goats! From breeding and raising, to production operations of milk, cheese and yogurt, villagers are now able to sustain themselves by the means of goats! The wealth that will come from this operation will last years, even generations. Another amazing aspect of this operation, are the graduating kids of the school system now beginning to run the operation. Generational change has broken the path of destruction and tragedy, filling this region with hope and means of sustainability.   

Maria, the Seed of Greatness

Some people are meant to achieve greatness rather than skate through life doing the bare minimum. Maria, a 21 year old woman of the Agros village, is one I like to call the ‘Seed of Greatness’. Maria was introduced to Agros when she was about 5 years old. From there, she and her family were able to access natural resources, start working and send her to school. Her teachers told her she could be different. She didn’t have to get married right away and start having a family. She could be a role model for other girls, by going to college, taking it seriously, and starting a career.

At just 21 years old, Maria has done that. She earned herself a scholarship through Agros to go to college and recently graduated. She is now a director for an entire school. Guatemalan women primarily stayed in the home and many started having children as young as 12 years old. Maria did something that no other woman in this area of the Ixil Region had done before. She takes time in her days at the school to sit down with the kids and tell them her story. She reiterates constantly how she was able to break the mold and be different. I told Maria, during an emotional private conversation, “You don’t know how important you are. You are a mirror for other girls. They look at you and see what they could become.” If it weren’t for an Agros worker who worked with her family, she would be living like many others. There is no doubt in my mind that Maria, is in fact a Seed of Greatness.

Land, Hope, Life

During my stay in Guatemala, I learned so much about how the human spirit can endure and the hope it can bring. The Guatemalan Agros villagers are so proud and humble of what may seem basic to the average American. They are not materialistic, nor do they want pity. They want to be heard, and be pulled out from the shadows of poverty. I’ve said this before, poverty makes one invisible. Once you are out of the shadows, learn to sustain yourself and buy your land, there is no stopping what you can do. Young girls like Maria are mirrors of excellence for other young girls to not just dream, but follow her path. These children who are graduating from Agros schools are paving the way for more generational change and hope. The land, so near and dear to the villagers’ hearts, is a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Agros and people like you, the coffee lover member, have made this a reality for many villagers.

Returning Home

Leaving Guatemala, I felt inspired by the farmers who have overcome such hardship and heartache. Their perseverance and dedication to become sustainable members of their villages is an amazing feat. Maria is just one example of the opportunities now available to all Agros children. Land ownership is becoming a reality for those who never thought their dreams would come true. The Agros farmers growing Guatemala coffee have become a success story in a region where it was thought to be impossible. Thanks to coffee lovers like you buying ethical coffee, generational change has occurred and will continue for years to come.