2020 – 2021 Grants

This community is one of extreme poverty and needs assistance to improve the productivity of the crops and pastures. Water is scarce and water management is difficult. Climate change has seriously affected the cultivation of both coffee and food, rainfall has been reduced to only four months per year. They have been able to distribute the water through a system of channels to the producers by flooding, which can cause erosion of the soils and under-utilization of the water resources. This grant will build small reservoirs that benefit 4 or 5 families and allow them to store their water quotas and install a sprinkler irrigation system. This would make it possible to have enough water at the time of the flowering of the coffee and to achieve an increase in production and quality, as well as ensure water for production of vegetables and quinoa and kiwicha. Funds will be used for materials (cement, pipes, plastic liners, sprinklers and hose) to construct the reservoirs, as well as qualified workforce, transportation of materials and some technical advice.

Project goals are to improve the efficiency of the irrigation system providing water to land of the four families; improve their water and crop resource management, improve their crop productivity (coffee, fruit trees, vegetables, etc.(, as well as improve their family incomes and decrease dependency on outside foods.

In past year the coffee producers in this area have been hit by coffee rust, but they are making extraordinary efforts to renovate their coffee farms in order to maintain the income to support their families need to substantially improve the quality of their coffee and balance their income by achieving a better market price. To do this, they need to improve their wet mill beneficio infrastructure. They have a good quality coffee plants due to the quality of the soils and the microclimates that exist in the region. Unfortunately, the quality decreases every step of the way during the harvesting process due to not having the wet mill infrastructure needed to process the coffee crop properly. This project seeks to support coffee producers with the implementation of the wet mill beneficio infrastructure consisting of two ceramic lined fermentation tanks and seven cement drying patios and solar dryers.

Results will be measure by recording the quality of the coffee delivered by the producers; the quality of the coffee in the cup; prices obtained for the coffee; participation in coffee quality competitions and the income received from the sale of their coffee.

In past year the coffee producers in this area have been hit by coffee rust, but they are making extraordinary efforts to renovate their coffee farms in order to maintain the income to support their families need to substantially improve the quality of their coffee and balance their income by achieving a better market price. To do this, they need to improve their wet mill beneficio infrastructure. They have good quality coffee plants due to the quality of the soils and the microclimates that exist in the region. Unfortunately, the quality decreases every step of the way during the harvesting process due to not having the wet mill infrastructure needed to process the coffee crop properly. This project seeks to support coffee producers with the implementation of the wet mill beneficio infrastructure consisting of two ceramic lined fermentation tanks and seven cement drying patios and solar dryers.

Results will be measured by recording the quality of the coffee delivered by the producers; the quality of the coffee in the cup; prices obtained for the coffee; participation in coffee quality competitions and the income received from the sale of their coffee.

In past year the coffee producers in this area have been hit by coffee rust, but they are making extraordinary efforts to renovate their coffee farms in order to maintain the income to support their families need to substantially improve the quality of their coffee and balance their income by achieving a better market price. To do this, they need to improve their wet mill beneficio infrastructure. They have good quality coffee plants due to the quality of the soils and the microclimates that exist in the region. Unfortunately, the quality decreases every step of the way during the harvesting process due to not having the wet mill infrastructure needed to process the coffee crop properly. This project seeks to support coffee producers with the implementation of the wet mill beneficio infrastructure consisting of two ceramic lined fermentation tanks and seven cement drying patios and solar dryers.

Results will be measured by recording the quality of the coffee delivered by the producers; the quality of the coffee in the cup; prices obtained for the coffee; participation in coffee quality competitions and the income received from the sale of their coffee.

In past year the coffee producers in this area have been hit by coffee rust, but they are making extraordinary efforts to renovate their coffee farms in order to maintain the income to support their families need to substantially improve the quality of their coffee and balance their income by achieving a better market price. To do this, they need to improve their wet mill beneficio infrastructure. They have good quality coffee plants due to the quality of the soils and the microclimates that exist in the region. Unfortunately, the quality decreases every step of the way during the harvesting process due to not having the wet mill infrastructure needed to process the coffee crop properly. This project seeks to support coffee producers with the implementation of the wet mill beneficio infrastructure consisting of two ceramic lined fermentation tanks and seven cement drying patios and solar dryers.

Results will be measured by recording the quality of the coffee delivered by the producers; the quality of the coffee in the cup; prices obtained for the coffee; participation in coffee quality competitions and the income received from the sale of their coffee.

In past year the coffee producers in this area have been hit by coffee rust, but they are making extraordinary efforts to renovate their coffee farms in order to maintain the income to support their families need to substantially improve the quality of their coffee and balance their income by achieving a better market price. To do this, they need to improve their wet mill beneficio infrastructure. They have good quality coffee plants due to the quality of the soils and the microclimates that exist in the region. Unfortunately, the quality decreases every step of the way during the harvesting process due to not having the wet mill infrastructure needed to process the coffee crop properly. This project seeks to support coffee producers with the implementation of the wet mill beneficio infrastructure consisting of two ceramic lined fermentation tanks and seven cement drying patios and solar dryers.

Results will be measured by recording the quality of the coffee delivered by the producers; the quality of the coffee in the cup; prices obtained for the coffee; participation in coffee quality competitions and the income received from the sale of their coffee.

Families in these communities base their food on products such as rice, noodles, etc., and do not incorporate the products they have in the area. They are neglecting local food resources with high nutritional value such as legumes of grain, vegetables and small animals, mainly “the cuyes” and chickens that can provide the much-needed daily dietary protein.

The pandemic has begun the process of further evaluating the products that are, or can be, produced in the communities. This is a program the Café Femenino Foundation has supported for many years through different initiatives such as the cultivation of quinoa and kiwicha and vegetables, as well as the small breeding animal program that encourages the consumption of protein and reduce malnutrition. The women will be trained on all aspects of the program becoming an active promoter of the economic and social development of her family, organization and community, strengthening mutual aid, solidarity and cooperation between men and women, as well as the opportunity to share experiences.

The program will provide workshops covering topics such as the nutritional importance of cuye-chicken meat and eggs; constructing and installing modules for both cuye and small hens and offer competitions featuring the use of the cuye, chicken meat and eggs and other grains and vegetables produced in their communities. This program offers the possibility of generating additional income and enhance the exchange of produce/products within the community.

Families in these communities base their food on products such as rice, noodles, etc., and do not incorporate the products they have in the area. They are neglecting local food resources with high nutritional value such as legumes of grain, vegetables and small animals, mainly “the cuyes” and chickens that can provide the much-needed daily dietary protein.

The pandemic has begun the process of further evaluating the products that are, or can be, produced in the communities. This is a program the Café Femenino Foundation has supported for many years through different initiatives such as the cultivation of quinoa and kiwicha and vegetables, as well as the small breeding animal program that encourages the consumption of protein and reduce malnutrition. The women will be trained on all aspects of the program becoming an active promoter of the economic and social development of her family, organization and community, strengthening mutual aid, solidarity and cooperation between men and women, as well as the opportunity to share experiences.

The program will provide workshops covering topics such as the nutritional importance of cuye-chicken meat and eggs; constructing and installing modules for both cuye and small hens and offer competitions featuring the use of the cuye, chicken meat and eggs and other grains and vegetables produced in their communities. This program offers the possibility of generating additional income and enhance the exchange of produce/products within the community.

Families in these communities base their food on products such as rice, noodles, etc., and do not incorporate the products they have in the area. They are neglecting local food resources with high nutritional value such as legumes of grain, vegetables and small animals, mainly “the cuyes” and chickens that can provide the much-needed daily dietary protein.

The pandemic has begun the process of further evaluating the products that are, or can be, produced in the communities. This is a program the Café Femenino Foundation has supported for many years through different initiatives such as the cultivation of quinoa and kiwicha and vegetables, as well as the small breeding animal program that encourages the consumption of protein and reduce malnutrition. The women will be trained on all aspects of the program becoming an active promoter of the economic and social development of her family, organization and community, strengthening mutual aid, solidarity and cooperation between men and women, as well as the opportunity to share experiences.

The program will provide workshops covering topics such as the nutritional importance of cuye-chicken meat and eggs; constructing and installing modules for both cuye and small hens and offer competitions featuring the use of the cuye, chicken meat and eggs and other grains and vegetables produced in their communities. This program offers the possibility of generating additional income and enhance the exchange of produce/products within the community.

Families in these communities base their food on products such as rice, noodles, etc., and do not incorporate the products they have in the area. They are neglecting local food resources with high nutritional value such as legumes of grain, vegetables and small animals, mainly “the cuyes” and chickens that can provide the much-needed daily dietary protein.

The pandemic has begun the process of further evaluating the products that are, or can be, produced in the communities. This is a program the Café Femenino Foundation has supported for many years through different initiatives such as the cultivation of quinoa and kiwicha and vegetables, as well as the small breeding animal program that encourages the consumption of protein and reduce malnutrition. The women will be trained on all aspects of the program becoming an active promoter of the economic and social development of her family, organization and community, strengthening mutual aid, solidarity and cooperation between men and women, as well as the opportunity to share experiences.

The program will provide workshops covering topics such as the nutritional importance of cuye-chicken meat and eggs; constructing and installing modules for both cuye and small hens and offer competitions featuring the use of the cuye, chicken meat and eggs and other grains and vegetables produced in their communities. This program offers the possibility of generating additional income and enhance the exchange of produce/products within the community.

To encourage entrepreneurship and improve the family income they have put together plans to plant and harvest beans. Beans are a good source of protein, but also strengthen their economy as the women and families produce more food. The beans can be planted on the plot of land and produces at 3 months. The beans can be consumed by the family, as well as be sold to provide additional income for the family.

This new project is planned as a cost-share: the grant will fund the cost of the bean seeds and the fertilizers; the Cooperative will provide funding for the training workshop materials and the labor to plant and harvest the beans will be provided by the Cooperative Associates.

In Guatemala the women spend about 6 hours a day cooking and making tortillas, beans and other foods for their families using a griddle on an open-fire. They are constantly inhaling the pollutants emitted by the burning firewood causing respiratory disease and, in some cases, death. This grant will provide kitchens designed with a combustion chamber that will ventilate smoke out of the kitchen area, the reinforced iron plate and the fireplace is designed with a surface large enough for them make the tortillas and hold several pots. With proper maintenance, the new kitchen will produce less or no smoke and use less wood, reducing the use of natural resources.

The grant funds will cover the cost of the purchasing 100 iron plates for the kitchen upgrades and the smokeless chimneys. The Cooperative of Nahuala will purchase materials and beneficiary will provide the labor to install the kitchen upgrade.

The Cooperative provides technical assistance to it’s members, especially the women who are working their land without the assistance of their father or husband, making sure that they have the knowledge and organic products needed to use on their coffee plots. They currently produce more than eight hundred liters of fertilizers in their Biofactory. They support the women with the use of liquid fertilizers for the control of diseases of theircrops, the women are very involved in the agronomic issues allowing them to have good production now and in the future and ensuring the well-being of their health and they are taking care of the environment by not using chemicals. This program also suppors the training of young people, women in different communities, always considering the well-being of their families and not losing the quality of their products.

The Biofactory has been indispensable in the organization since the have had the organic certification and they are requesting the funds to provide the salary for the Biofactory coordinator that works with the women supporting them with training and fertilizers allowing them to produce the quality products and not lose their organic certification.

Improve the ongoing producation of organic biofertilizers by increasing the number of worm fertilizer farms to increase the organic liquid and solid fertilizers they harvest to control pests and disease such as coffee rust, fertilizers for flowers as well as fertilizers for growth. Project is taking place on the partner's organic farms. Goal is to produce more organic worm-fertilizer to improve the quality of their organic coffee, vegetables and other plants. This grant will purchase worms and worm compost, as well as pay for project manager to harvest the fertilizer every three months.

Due to the pandemic the suspension of education has affected a lot of the students and families in the area. Many of the young people do not have access to a smart cell phone, much less a tablet, in which to connect to their teachers, get assignments and stay connected to their instructors due to economic situation of the parents. They don’t have the financial resources to purchase the cell phones and/or tablets needed by the students.

This project will purchase 23 tablets for students to use; the space will be given by the organization and they will organize the students into groups and will provide the Internet resources so the students can work. As an organization they have a vision of purchasing the technological resources needed, the library will be scheduled so that small groups of students can access the equipment and stay current on their studies. This is a cost-sharing project and they are asking only for the cost of purchasing the 23 tablets.

As a group the women are requesting support for this project what will enhance their knowledge of natural medicine that can save the lives of their family members and members of the community. The experts on medicinal knowledge, including the Ministry of Healthy, will start by educating the women on the plants and how the plants were used by their ancestors, They will be taught how to plant and care for the medicinal plants in their homes, as well as the healing uses of each plant.

Some of the plants to be grown will be ginger, aloe vera, chamomile, verbena, etc. 75 women, including the young women, will benefit from these workshops and seeds/plants. The information will be shared with the young in order to share the knowledge of their ancestors.

The cultivation and sale of oyster mushrooms has proven to be an excellent opportunity for the women coffee producers to provide the, much needed, additional income for their children and families. There are 135 active women in the organization and the additional resources are needed to expand the project to 75 more women; each woman would be given seven pounds of seeds to start the oyster mushroom production.
The mushrooms will be produced for their own use and also sold generating additional income, as well as contribute to reducing malnutrition in the children in their communities. Funds will be used to purchase the oyster mushrooms seeds, materials needed for the production of the mushrooms and the other supplies needed to successful grown and harvest the oyster mushrooms.

The community library has been an immediate source for children at primary and secondary levels of school. The Child Aid Institution together with the Nahualá Cooperative have funded the provision of books as well as reading and writing programs in participation with local schools. Since 2007, funding for these important programs has become increasing difficult to provide. With support of this project, the community library will be able to continue providing quality education programs for children and their families. This grant is the core of the education for this community and surrounding communities. It serves to educate not only the children, but also the interested adults.

The women have not had been trained on to use and communicate using modern technology. This proposal is to purchase the Notebook and accessories needed to setup a training and communication station for the women. They will then be trained on office procedures, technical and financial management, as well as workshops on communication tools and online events and online meeting rooms.
There will be 30 women receive the technology training and the management of improving their coffee production.

A workshop series is being developed to train young women coffee producers on post-harvest handling of coffee such as: milling, washing, drying, etc. Educate them on the various post-harvest standards, including how to process the final product to the highest quality consumable product. Many young coffee farmers do not have a complete understanding of the process from field to consumption. These workshops will also train in coffee quality selection and processing such as roasting and understanding flavor profiles.

There will be 5-7 young women from each village trained to reach the target of 50 young women coffee farmers.
The projected outcome is:
Workshop 1 – ability to process coffee from cherry through drying, canopy vs sun dry.
Workshop 2 – training on roasting, cupping and packaging.