Sol y Verde: Cultivating a Resilient Future
In the lush heart of Guatemala’s Petén region, a quiet revolution is taking root—a revolution that intertwines the wisdom of the past with the aspirations of tomorrow. The Evoca Foundation is proud to announce its partnership with Sol y Verde, a grassroots organisation devoted to ecological restoration, education, and community resilience. This collaboration represents a shared commitment to fostering a future where environmental restoration and social equity walk hand in hand.
Cultivating Resilience Through Ecological Restoration
At the core of Sol y Verde’s mission lies a profound yet straightforward goal: to harmonize human life with the natural world through the principles of permaculture and the ancestral knowledge of the Mayan people. By promoting regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty, Sol y Verde not only restores ecosystems but also empowers communities to break free from the cycles of poverty and reliance on fragile governmental systems.
Their work gives us hope in an increasingly unstable world, offering a replicable model of environmental and social resilience that extends far beyond Guatemala’s borders.
Confronting the Climate Crisis Head-On
The Global South, particularly Guatemala's Dry Corridor, is on the front lines of the climate crisis. The escalating frequency of extreme weather events—hurricanes, droughts, and beyond—has decimated infrastructure, eroded arable land, and plunged communities into deeper poverty. Traditional farming practices, once the backbone of rural life, are becoming obsolete in the face of climate unpredictability, forcing campesinos and indigenous Mayan families to abandon their homes in search of more secure livelihoods. This migration, both within and beyond Guatemala’s borders, fractures families and leaves women and children particularly vulnerable, intensifying the already harsh challenges they face.
Innovative Solutions Rooted in Tradition
Sol y Verde’s approach to these challenges is as innovative as it is rooted in tradition. By merging the ethics of permaculture with the time-honored wisdom of the Mayan culture, they are pioneering solutions that restore the environment and Guatemalan cultural heritage. Their initiatives range from reforesting depleted jungle landscapes to supporting farmers in transitioning to regenerative agricultural practices.
These efforts bolster food security and enhance economic resilience, laying the groundwork for a future where communities can thrive in balance with their surroundings.
Educational Initiatives for a Brighter Future
Education stands as the cornerstone of Sol y Verde’s vision. In a country where access to education and basic literacy is often out of reach for many, particularly the youth, Sol y Verde’s Ecological Centre is a beacon of hope. This center is dedicated to providing free, practical education in agroecology and bioconstruction, equipping students with the skills necessary to implement sustainable practices and become stewards of the environment. By creating learning environments that are not only safe but also environmentally conscious, Sol y Verde is setting a new standard for educational infrastructure in the region, one that aligns with the rhythms of nature.
Community Building and Fostering Collaboration
Beyond their environmental initiatives, Sol y Verde is committed to empowering local communities. Their programmes, particularly those led by the women’s group Fronteras Entretejidas, provide training in crafts, planting, and construction, using Indigenous knowledge and natural building materials. The result is the creation of affordable, climate-resilient spaces that serve as community hubs and centers for education. This holistic approach strengthens the fabric of the community while fostering a shared sense of purpose and resilience.
Celebrating Achievements and Envisioning the Future
The achievements of Sol y Verde are a testament to the power of grassroots action. They have transformed degraded land into a thriving permaculture forest, planted thousands of trees, and educated hundreds of people in sustainable practices. Their work has attracted international volunteers and established a vibrant network of collaboration.
Central to our partnership is the development of the Ecological Centre, a project that revives indigenous building methods while addressing the educational and economic challenges of the region. This center will stand as a living tribute to the region’s traditional architecture and will give hundreds of community members a safe place for learning.
Join Us
The Evoca Foundation is enthusiastic about the future that Sol y Verde is helping to shape, and we are honored to support their mission to build a resilient community on the edge of the Maya Biosphere. Together, we are planting the seeds for a future that is both equitable and flourishing. We invite you to join us in this transformative journey.