Project Report
| Jan 22, 2014
Growing the Dream
![Manuel Laynez Anay, President General, ASO-Ixil]()
Manuel Laynez Anay, President General, ASO-Ixil
Dear Supporters,
Today we want to share the story of the origin of ASO-Ixil, our project partner in Guatemala.
The dream of a Maya Ixil farmer’s coop started with childhood friends: born during a civil war, fear and hunger were the everyday experiences of their childhood. In childhood games they organized their friends to create jobs, and provide food for hungry children and old people. They dreamed and planned to make opportunities that their parents did not have.
When he was 8 years old, Manuel Laynez’ mother gave him a piglet. He raised the pig and sold it. With the profit he bought 4 more pigs. Manuel’s pig business paid for his school tuition and began the path toward his vision of a farmer co-op.
Twenty years later Manuel was a university student studying Business Administration. He walked 22 miles through the mountains to catch a bus that took him to Antigua, Guatemala where he had a scholarship for a conversational English Program. His instructor in that program and Bright Star Philanthropy Partners became the catalysts that helped bring to reality the dreams of childhood into a Non Profit Association of 99 farm families: the Association of Farmers for the Social Development of the Maya Ixil.
Manuel Laynez is in the above photo by himself. The type of jacket he wears is unique to this community of Maya Ixil. They are woven on a backstrap loom and it takes months to weave the fabric for a jacket.
In the group photo below, left to right:
Gaspar Rigoberto Caba Gallego Director of Communications
Manuel Laynez Anay, President General and legal representative
Henry Escobar Caba, Vice President and Agronomist
Noe Olegario Santiago Caba, Director of Finance CPA
The photo is taken on the steps of the Catholic Church in Chajul, Guatemala. During the childhood of these 4 young men, this church was occupied by the government army which committed atrocities against the civilian population.
![ASO-Ixil Board Members]()
ASO-Ixil Board Members
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