Guatemala 2009 - Colomba, Quetzaltenango

Guatemala 2009 - Colomba, Quetzaltenango
Project 5 weeks: Februarys 2009

Colomba, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala:
Colomba is a rural community in the department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. They are 92 families, working together collectively to produce organic coffee and other crops.

The campesinos, won our right to land after a long struggle which included more than two years of regular occupation of the finca La Florida.

They work together collectively, producing organic coffee, tomatoes, pepper fruits, beans, corn, cacao, and raising sheep. Normally, we work from 6 AM to 1 PM for the collective and after that we each work our own piece of land.

The Project:
They have also initiated an eco-tourism project that contributes to pay our debt and offers a source of income to many of the families here. Volunteers have mad many important contributions to this community.

At the moment most of our land is not cultivated and therefore covered with jungle. The community´s land is so big that it takes more than a day to walk around it. Even though La Florida is only three hours from Xela by public transportation, the location is very remote with only one road connecting it to civilization. The community is situated in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. At an altitude of 800 meters above sea level we enjoy a pleasant mix of the cold of the highlands and the heat of the coast.

Project Results

• 1.Expected Result      1.      Sendero Reto Juvenil walking trail

  Actual Result              1.      A walking trail around 10 minutes long including 101 steps made from bamboo, cleaned and constructed in 1 week

  2.Expected Result      1.      cafeteria room for tourism, located on ground floor of the casa grande

  Actual Result              1.      New windows constructed. 2.      New sections of floorboards, painted entirely white with 3 internal murals and 3 external murals incorporating the local produce and fauna. Macadamia, coffee, banana, bamboo and cocoa and bees.

  3. Expected Result     1.      creating a beautiful garden around Casa Grande Eco lodge suitable for tourists

  Actual Result              1.      A beautiful cleaned and organised garden, with flowering bushes. 2.      Set paths with white washed stone sides. 3.      Short term bamboo fencing to keep animals out. 4.      Also cleaned the church garden and white washed steps.

  4.Expected Result      ·        Cooking in the Panaderia, expecting yummy, cakes and bread.

  Actual Result              ·        The girls learnt all about wood firing with some delicious  results and good friendships made ·        The group were able to financially support the community while feeding ourselves.

Expected Impact from project