Fact sheet Guacamaya Foundation
Objective
To improve the welfare of the native inhabitants of Guatemala and to preserve the cultural and natural richness of this country.
History
In 1992 Michael de Groot finished his study of economics with the thesis: sustainable exploitation of the tropical forest. A few years later he developed a small project in Guatemala. His work was financed by the Guacamaya Foundation (established by Michael,two lecturers at the University of Amsterdam, a professor from the University of Wageningen and a few of his friends).
In time the focus of the project changed from sustainable exploitation of the tropical forest to sustainable agriculture and poverty alleviation. He lived in El Corozal, a small Maya village, where he developed an educational centre. In 1999 Michael married Hilda, a Guatemalan women, and in 2000 their daughter Esmeralda was born. To give Esmeralda the chance of a proper education Michael and Hilda decided to return to the Netherlands. The management of the educational centre was transferred to Juan Tzalam, a very intelligent and motivated man who had assisted Michael from the start of his work in El Corozal. Michael, Hilda and the board of the Guacamaya Foundation now support various activities in Guatemala with funds from the Netherlands.
Activities
Ongoing
El Corozal
The educational centre in El Corozal is used to show various sustainable and productive systems of land use. Juan Tzalam, who manages the centre, organizes a number of courses mostly in the field of agriculture, construction and carpentry.
Parraxe and Tarrales
On the coffee plantations Parraxe and Tarrales the level of education is improved by the development of several activities. In the so called chicken garden children take care of laying hens and grow vegetables. They learn in practice about this very productive and sustainable way of producing eggs and vegetables. Furthermore their nutrition is improved because the eggs and vegetables are used to produce a tasty and nutritious soup. Other activities include excursions and different hands on activities to improve the creativity and self confidence of the children, as well as to widen their perspective on the world.
Finished
The foundation has provided all families in El Corozal with a granary to safely store corn (the staple food), the families who have chickens were given materials to build a solid chicken coop, 23 schools were given materials to fence the area of the school in order to develop a school garden, and 5 schools were constructed with assistance and funding from the foundation.
A number of educational activities have been organised in two villages in the southern part of Guatemala. School children from Sumpango have visited the Ixchel museum and have participated in a weaving course. School children from Chinautla have visited the Popol Vuh museum and Iximche (an archaeological site).
Planned
El Corozal
A dance group in El Corozal will be supported with costumes, masks and a marimba, to perform the traditional deer dance. In El Corozal also a community museum dedicated to the Maya culture is being developed.
Elsewhere
A number of schools on coffee plantations and the Sierra de Sacranix will be included in the educational project which is executed right now on the plantations Parraxe and Tarrales.
How can you help?
With a gift to:
Guacamaya Foundation
Dassenrade 41
2544 MJ Den Haag
The Netherlands
contact@guacamaya.org
Bank information:
BIC-code: PSTBN L21
IBAN: NL06PSTB0004654272
ING Bank Amsterdam,
Foreign Operations,
Po Box 1800
1000 BV Amsterdam
The Netherlands