Improve Diet of 20 Guatemalan Families

Carmen is one of the members of the women's group in Chumanzana.  She is happy to be in the group because she is learning new things.  She has learned how to grow different kinds of greens and attended a workshops on how to grow mushrooms and pack them for sale.

Carmen  said, " My Aunt Josefa and I attended the workshop in Zaragosa on how to pack mushrooms for sale.  We have started a new crop growing and are waiting for them to be ready to harvest.  Then we will show the other women what we learned at the packaging workshop.  I am very happy to take advantage of the opportunities the Kateri fund gives us to attend workshops that show us things that benefit our families."

"In my house, I had an old bucket that I couldn't use.  The Fund showed me how I could use it to plant cilantro and onions.  Now my family doesn't have to buy cilantro and onions.  We just take them from our bucket garden when we are cooking. "

"Sometimes my neighbors come and buy the ciliantro and onions.  I use the money to buy salt for my kitchen." 

Carmen is learning to use her own resources to improve her life.  With this knowledge, she and her family become more independent.

This project has funding through August 2018.  At that time, the funding will run out.  It will take at least $2000 to continue the project through December.  You are being very generous with your donation, so we ask that you talk to your friends and family to see if there would be someone interested in supporting this need.  They do not need to donate the whole amount.  Many small donations add up to the whole.  Thank you for your support always.  Everything is possible with a little help from a FRIEND!

Tomasa lives in Chumanzana with her six children, four daughters and two sons.  She belongs to the third group of women to join the organic gardening project and construct their raised bed gardens using discarded plastic soda bottles for the frame.  Candelaria Sut, the Kateri manager of the project, has taught the women how to build their garden, grow seedlings from seeds, and transplant then to their gardens and nurture the plants.  The final step is to learn new ways of preparing and eating the crops.

Tomasa says that she is happy to be in the group because she is learning how to grow different kinds of herbs and vegetables.  She has cilantro, beets, cabbage, and cauliflower.  New plants, she did not think of growing before.  It helps her with her family.  She has the vegetables right there in her home and does not have to go to the market to buy which saves her both time and money.

The women in the group have learned to grow their garden in many forms and in small spaces.  They do not have land for large gardens.  Tomasa says that it is all new to her and the new things she has learned are a benefit to her family.  She intends to take advantage of all she is learning from the Kateri Fund.  No one can take the knowledge away from her.  Her children are also involved in the activities.  It is valuable for them, so they can build a better future and improve their lives.

Another thing she likes about the group is that it helped her get over her fear of doing things.  Before she entered the group she was afraid to participate, but now she is not afraid and she is learning new things all the time.  She says, “In truth, I am happy to be in this group!”

This project has enough funding through June 2018.  At that time, the funding for Candelaria’s position will run out.  It will take $500 for Candelaria's salary to continue to lead the project through December. 

You are being very generous with your donation, so we ask that you talk to your friends and family to see if there would be someone interested in supporting this need. 

They do not need to donate the whole amount.  Many small donations add up.  A $10 recurring donation adds up to $120 a year!  We would only need 5 donors at this level.  Let your Friends know!

Thank you for your support always.  Everything is possible with a little help from a FRIEND!