Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods in Guatemala

Dear GlobalGiving Supporters,

We’re thrilled to share some exciting milestones from our project, which have been made possible thanks to your continued support.

Last year, we partnered with communities in Guatemala and Honduras to grow 90,146 plants and establish 115 hectares of new agroforestry systems. We also provided hands-on training to 356 farmers, helping strengthen their knowledge in sustainable land use and climate resilience.

Beyond the fields, we supported communities in generating $155,241 in income through Payment for Environmental Services (PES), honey sales, and small enterprise development. These efforts not only improve livelihoods but also promote long-term stewardship of natural resources.

We’d like to introduce you to Bertha, whose story is a powerful example of the impact your support makes possible:

In the remote community of Santa María Tzejá, Guatemala, the gentle hum of bees is more than just background noise — it’s the sound of resilience and opportunity.

Bertha, a dedicated beekeeper and caretaker of her family’s apiary, recently completed her honey harvest for April and May. With equipment provided by EcoLogic — including a pavilion canopy and a four-frame extractor — Bertha and other local producers no longer have to rely on expensive rentals from outside the community.

“Before, the cost of renting an extractor and paying for labor made honey production feel impossible,” she shares. “Now that we have the equipment, it's not only easier, but we're motivated to grow.”

With her husband’s health declining due to diabetes, Bertha has taken on full responsibility for the apiary. The honey she harvests now brings vital income — and even serves as a natural treatment for her husband’s skin wounds.

“The bees are helping us survive,” she says with quiet pride.

Thanks to your support and EcoLogic’s ongoing assistance, more community members have been inspired to join the beekeeping group. With shared tools, technical training, and peer support, these producers are not just earning more — they’re building skills, restoring ecosystems, and cultivating a stronger, more sustainable future for their families and forests.

Bertha’s journey embodies EcoLogic’s mission: when rural people are trusted with the tools and knowledge to lead, they create lasting change.

Thank you for standing with us and making this work possible.

In solidarity,

Mario Ardany de Leon

EcoLogic Program Officer, Guatemala