From Puerto Rico to Nebaj, Guatemala: A Volunteer's Personal F2F Experience

Written by F2F Volunteer Dr. Abner Rodriguez, Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus

Located in Nebaj, Department of Quiché, Guatemala, Save the Children, with USAID and other funding agencies, developed the Goat Production Center of the Western Highlands, known by its Spanish acronym CEPROCAL (Centro de Producción Caprina del Altiplano). The project is focused on reducing malnutrition in families with children in Nebaj and other rural areas with the highest poverty rates in the country. In Guatemala’s Western Highlands, chronic malnutrition in children is the result of multiple factors, being the most important the lack of a good source of protein at the onset of the weaning period. Raising goats for milk production is the international agency and funding organizations strategy to alleviate the problem. During the last years, goat milk has been utilized for hundreds of families to improve children’s diets and as a product for local cheese production. In order to be successful, the program needs CEPROCAL to produce the goats that are distributed to the families or beneficiaries. 

Visiting the Save the Children /USAID - Farmer to Farmer program beneficiaries 

On April 2018, I had the opportunity to volunteer with the Farmer-to-Farmer program to train technicians at CEPROCAL in the production of compost using goat manure. Composted goat manure, a value-added product, is later utilized as a nutrient source during the cultivation of corn, beans, and other crops. During my visit, I had an unforgettable time training and working with CEPROCAL technicians and visiting the program beneficiaries. However, my most valuable experience was to know and see how the Ixil people maintain their traditions and culture. The Ixil are a Maya people indigenous to Guatemala. In the early eighties, the Ixil community was one of the principal targets of a genocide operation during the Guatemalan civil war. Today, they are living examples of dedication, resilience, and love for their history, ancestors, and roots. In CEPROCAL, almost all workers are of the ethnic Ixil. Among these workers, I had the pleasure to meet “Chico”, a friendly hard-working, always smiling, young boy that might represent all builders of hope working in CEPROCAL. 

Francisco Alejandro Terraza de Paz “Chico”

Chico is one of the children of a widow mother. He works in CEPROCAL during the day to help his mother, two brothers and two sisters. His daily routine includes cutting and carrying the forage to feed the goats, clean the bars, milk the goats, and transport the milk to the processing plant. During the evening he is a freshman student pursing a degree in agricultural sciences at the University of San Carlos, Nebaj Campus. Chico is only one of many young men working under similar circumstances in CEPROCAL, during my visit, however, I saw all of them working with great enthusiasm, and dedication and with the common goal to enhance the living conditions of their ethnic group and improve their quality of life. All of them very proud to be an Ixil

Chico in a daily routine in CEPROCAL

Upon graduation, Chico’s goal is to have his own farm, help his family and his community, and give employment opportunities to other young people from Nebaj. 

I felt very honored to volunteer for the USAID Farmer to Farmer program in Nebaj, Guatemala training technicians and farmers in compost production using goat manure. However, at the end, I was the one that learned more from this academic and personal experience. Seeing Nebaj, “Builders of Hope” reinforced my believe that as volunteers we have a great opportunity to share our knowledge and assist people with difficult living conditions. We have the opportunity to help build a better world and improve the quality of life of people from difficult backgrounds who have limited opportunities, but the biggest heart and love for life and pride for their culture.