Empower Guatemalan Families With Food & Nutrition

Dear friends of Seeds for a Future, 

In the communities where we work, food security is not an abstract concept; it is felt daily. It shows up in whether a child has access to nutrient-rich meals, in how far a family must travel for water, and in the uncertainty that comes when a harvest is lost. And yet, even within that reality, we continue to witness something steady and powerful: families showing up each day to plant, to learn, and to try again.

This quarter, our work alongside 259 families across rural Guatemala has continued to unfold, with meaningful progress and ongoing challenges.

Navigating Complex, Ongoing Challenges

Food insecurity in these communities is shaped by multiple, overlapping realities: water scarcity, rising food costs, climate variability, and limited access to consistent resources. These are not challenges that can be solved once, but conditions that require constant adaptation, presence, and partnership.

In recent months, families have faced crop losses due to frost, higher food prices, and the ongoing strain of limited access to water during the dry season. At times, setbacks come unexpectedly. In one instance, a family’s garden was destroyed by a neighbor’s chickens. Our Field Team returned to replant alongside them, working together to design a plan to protect future harvests.

Moments like these are not uncommon. They reflect the reality that building food security is not a linear process.

Adapting Through Partnership

What continues to stand out is how families and our team respond.

Rather than working around these challenges, the Field Team is helping families build systems that allow them to adapt. This includes introducing water conservation techniques such as mulching, expanding access to diverse home gardens, and distributing thousands of seedlings to sustain planting cycles.

At the same time, we are strengthening local infrastructure. The construction of a new seedling nursery will increase consistent access to healthy plants, an essential step as more families join the program and demand continues to grow.

Investing in Knowledge and Capacity

This quarter, our Program & Data Manager, Moises Pastor, completed an intensive permaculture training focused on soil health, water systems, and regenerative practices. These lessons are already being applied in the field, strengthening how we support families navigating environmental and resource constraints.

Across the team, continued education in agronomy and administration is building both technical expertise and stronger systems of coordination, ensuring that the work remains responsive, informed, and sustainable over time.

Early Signs of Progress

Even within these challenges, there are meaningful signs of progress.

In Pasac, hemoglobin testing among young girls showed improvement compared to earlier measurements, an encouraging reflection of increased access to diverse, home-grown nutrition. Across communities, families are harvesting vegetables, herbs, and nutrient-rich crops that are becoming part of their daily meals.

These shifts, while gradual, point toward stronger health outcomes and increased resilience at the household level.

Looking Ahead

As we look ahead, our focus remains on supporting families through ongoing challenges while continuing to build the systems that enable long-term food security.

This includes expanding infrastructure, strengthening water and soil management practices, and continuing to invest in our team's growth. Progress in this work is built over time, week by week, season by season.

Behind every challenge is a family continuing to show up to replant, learn, and adapt to a changing environment. Your support makes it possible to meet these moments with partnership rather than short-term solutions.

Thank you for walking alongside our field team and the families we serve. 

With deep gratitude, 

Leilani Yats

Links:

• Blog: The Four Pillars for Reducing Malnutrition Among Families