By Pueblo a Pueblo | Beekeeping
Like many of our supporters around the world, you are probably participating in widespread social distancing efforts to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19, or the Coronavirus, in your community. As the virus spreads throughout Guatemala, Pueblo a Pueblo is doing the same.
Senior Beekeeping Technician Genaro Simalaj has been working closely with our beekeeping partners in San Pablo La Laguna. In January, they wrapped up the second year of the project cycle with a series of training sessions on business management.
Mid-February, Genaro also kicked off training with a brand new beekeeping group right here in Santiago Atitlán! These beekeepers-in-training got started with a workshop on the basics of beekeeping and received the protective gear they’ll need to keep safe while tending their hives.
In the weeks since our Santiago Atitlán took this exciting first step, however, we have seen interruptions to our activities due to the current global pandemic.
In accordance with national measures imposed by the Guatemalan government, Pueblo a Pueblo has suspended all in-person meetings and educational sessions to minimize the risk of exposure to our partner communities and our own team. Our staff, Genaro included, will work remotely until further notice.
At Pueblo a Pueblo, we recognize our ability to protect our most vulnerable friends, neighbors, and family members through social distancing. By limiting our contact with others, especially in large group settings, we can ease the burden this virus is likely to place on our rural Guatemalan community.
While our team cannot visit project partners to provide technical support for the time being, beekeepers-in-training will continue apiary maintenance as much as is possible while observing proper social distancing measures. We are confident that beekeeping will remain an effective means for economic empowerment once this crisis has run its course and look forward to the day our team can resume its activities alongside our project partners.
This pandemic has brought challenges to families and communities around the globe. It is already affecting Pueblo a Pueblo’s ability both to achieve our project goals and to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff and beneficiaries.
As we work to execute a swift and effective response, please consider making a donation to this project today. Thank you in advance for your generosity—the future of our efforts to support families here on Lake Atitlán depends on it.
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