Location – Antigua, Guatemala
The Project – De la Gente in Guatemala works with coffee farming communities to create economic opportunity that improves the quality of life for their families and communities. This particular project focuses on crop diversification in the coffee producing communities of La Suiza and Santa Anita which have been affected by La Roya coffee fungus. Roya is having a devastating effect on coffee harvest throughout Central America, reducing yields by as much as 70%.
Our support – Through the LATA Foundation’s work with De la Gente, a careful roya management has enabled the La Suiza coffee cooperative to have its first successful coffee harvest for a few years and is exporting for the first time. In addition with the construction of a new greenhouse, purchase of seeds and training on cultivation of other food crops, the community is starting to produce its own food crops making it less reliant on coffee as a course of income for food purchase.
How can you help? – Donate £35 to buy 130 coffee seedlings! Donate here
Further information – In the past we have also provided the equipment to set up a cottage industry producing natural cosmetics. Visitors to Antigua can visit De la Gente’s coffee, craft and cosmetic projects and these tours help to provide funds or other projects, sales support and business advice for producers, craftsmen and women.