Cooperation Project

Resilient Lives in the Western Highlands of Guatemala

Valle del Palajunoj, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

(April 2026 – March 2027)

Local partner : Asociación de Guías de Turismo Comunitario Explorando el Valle ONG

Impact

Strengthening the climate, economic, and community resilience of Indigenous populations in the Valle del Palajunoj through ecosystem restoration, the promotion of ancestral knowledge, sustainable community-based tourism, and the development of local productive initiatives

Target population

1,500 people will be directly impacted by the project, including 750 women, and 7,500 people will benefit indirectly.

The direct beneficiaries are mainly Indigenous women and youth from the Maya K’iche’ and Maya Mam peoples, who are members of community organizations already active in the development of local initiatives related to honey, coffee, community-based tourism, herbal teas, medicinal plants, handicrafts, and agricultural products.

Objectives

Protect and restore fragile ecosystems threatened by social pressures and the effects of climate change.
Strengthen the organizational, entrepreneurial, and management capacities of local organizations involved in community-based tourism.
Promote sustainable productive initiatives that generate jobs and income for Indigenous women and youth in the region

Actions

The project includes the following activities:

Propagation of native species in multifunctional community nurseries.
Establishment of forest and agricultural seed banks with high biocultural value.
Reforestation, natural restoration, and community-based forest fire prevention.
Design, construction, and signage of nature trails to reduce the impact of tourism in fragile areas.
Certified training programs for women, including technical, organizational, and entrepreneurial skills.
Awareness-raising campaigns on the importance of natural resources and Indigenous cultural heritage.
Support for the joint commercialization of products and services developed through community initiatives

This initiative is made possible thanks to the support of Roncalli International Foundation.

Up-to-date information on the progress of our projects will be posted regularly on the website, the Village Monde blog and our social media.