Category: WALC

As I lurched over the bumps in the dirt road in the back of the tuktuk, I glanced around eagerly, looking for anything I might recognize. The mountain, wispy clouds stretched over the thick foliage, which rose over the farm fields to the right of the road looked familiar, but once we’d passed through the gate onto Community Cloud Forest Conservation (CCFC) property, the views had changed.

It was November of 2025, five years after I had intended to return to CCFC to volunteer with the Women in Agroforestry Leadership for Conservation (WALC) program. The first time I’d visited, I’d come during spring break in 2019 with Dawn Bowen’s Grassroots Development in Guatemala geography class from the University of Mary Washington. In those six years the change in tree cover is astounding. 

WALC’s goal is to address climate change and cloud forest deforestation by focusing on the education of women and girls. The girls in the program, aged 12-28, participate in a range of classes and activities designed to build self-esteem and leadership skills and become positive changemakers in their communities.

What impressed me most about the WALC program was how by this point in its evolution (18 years after Rob and Tara first conceived of it), it basically runs itself. All the teachers and coordinators for the program are WALC alumni, and even some of the courses have been designed by the teachers. It’s an excellent example of how sustainable development must be tailored to the specific community it serves and the specific challenges they face. 

I was just happy to be there and help in whatever way I could. I quickly found my niche as a documentor, taking photos and posting on the CCFC social media accounts. I loved having the chance to interact with the girls. I was even able to interview a few first time and returning participants to hear firsthand the impact of the program on their lives. Having worked with Girl Scouts around the world, I found the young women of the WALC program were very much like girls anywhere else: smart, funny, strong, hard working, silly, curious, kind, optimistic, and full of potential. 

The challenges facing these young women include difficulty continuing education after the sixth grade, malnutrition, lack of opportunities, and changing climate. The WALC program addresses these problems by teaching about nutrition, health, agroecology, water conservation, soil health, biodiversity, climate change, women’s leadership, and more. Not only do girls that go through this program gain more opportunities by continuing their education, but it also helps them to imagine the possibilities of many different futures, providing wonderful role models in the teachers, coordinators, and guest speakers. 

Each participant left with eight tree seedlings with which to start her parcel, knowledge of conservation and agroforestry, and confidence and leadership skills to bring back to her community. Upon completion of the program and reporting on her parcel, each girl will earn a scholarship to help her continue her education.

Returning home to Colorado after attending both the November and January WALC sessions, I’m heartened to know the future of the villages, Guatemala, and the world is in the hands of these thoughtful young women.

Krista Beucler is a writer, artist, and traveler passionate about adventure, the outdoors, photography, cats, and gluten free food. She graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a BA in English: Creative Writing, a double minor in Spanish and Museum Studies, and a certificate from the Peace Corps Prep Program. She earned an MFA in creative writing from Drexel University. Her interests are as eclectic as her qualifications.

WALC participants from the fall of 2017 met Saturday to begin a composting project in their village. Last fall 15 young women from five villages in the Puruhla mountains of Baja Verapaz took part in CCFC’s WALC program. All fifteen are currently finishing their 2018 school year and most plan to participate in WALC again this fall. On September 22, seven of these young women began a composing project that they hope to spread to the villages in their region. “Why throw something away that is useful?” says Brenda Aracely of Panzal. Last fall was Brenda’s second year in WALC. Brenda plans on returning in October for her third year.

Thanks to the opportunities and leadership skills gained by these young women through the WALC program, composting and agro-forest gardening are catching on in their region.

Families receive two containers, one for inorganic trash (marked in red) and one for organic material for composting (marked in green).

CCFC’s relationship with Lilly Briggs goes back to 2011 when CCFC first began to use Cornell Lab’s BirdSleuth curriculum for it’s Kids & Birds Program. Later Lilly came to CCFC to do her field research for her Ph.D. at Cornell University. Lilly’s research focus was CCFC’s WALC program.

On a recent visit to CCFC, Lilly presented her finished version of her Ph.D. dissertation to the CCFC library along with the most recent version of the BirdSleuth curriculum.

Thanks Lilly! Your research provides important feedback and affirmation for the efforts of WALC.

One hundred twenty five young women from 43 remote mountain villages arrived at CCFC for the 25 day workshop.

As CCFC gets ready to receive another group of enthusiastic leaders-in-formation, it is a great moment to look back and see how far we’ve come.

Here is a photo from WALC, fall 2014. Notice the building behind the students. The roof was not yet complete and the walls and windows were not yet finished.

Here is a photo from WALC, fall 2015.

Here is a photo from WALC, fall 2016. Building finished and in full use. We had nearly 100 students sleeping in the building that fall.

Every year WALC has grown and improved.

Students who took part in WALC last fall (October and November 2016) received their academic scholarships at Las Victorias National Park, Cobán, Alta Verapaz. These students are beating all the odds, staying in school and following their dreams of higher education. All students receiving checks submitted documentation demonstrating their  passing grades and their continuing attendance in their schools.  Within the demographic of these young women, students have a 75% annual dropout rate after sixth grade. WALC students have a lower than 5% dropout rate. CCFC is proud of these of these young and their resolve to prepare themselves through education.

Many parents accompanied their daughters to this celebratory event.

As our WALC scholars continue their schooling through the 2016 school year, we watch in silent admiration. These 7th-12th grade students earned their tuition by participating in a 25-day leadership training workshop and service-learning workshop during their summer vacation (fall vacation in the Guatemalan school year). In the 2015 — 2016 WALC cycle CCFC is awarding 229 scholarships. In 2016 we have at least six WALC alumnae studying at university. These young women are really beating the odds.

The final scholarship distribution / WALC follow up visit took place in July of 2016. We were impressed by the number of WALC participants that took us to their gardens and fields to show us what they received and planted. Students have grown and multiplied the seeds, starts, plants and crops that they received through WALC. Truly gratifying.

Cecelia Humbler Teyul left her first 25 day WALC workshop with seeds, plant starts and a lot of inspiration. On the day that she received her final scholarship distribution, she gave CCFC a tour of her gardens. Here’s Cecelia proud of her Naranjilla bushes that she planted from the seeds she took home with her.

Cecelia shows off her kitchen garden with heirloom beans.

Cecelia — an abundant squash harvest coming on. Q’eqchi’ Maya heirloom squash is high in vitamin A and keeps well in storage for weeks. One nutritional deficiency of the Q’eqchi’ diet is a lack of of vitamin A. By promoting and propagating heirloom crops such as this squash, CCFC is addressing an nutrition problem and contributing to regional food security.

Maralena Ical Chub and her sister Ana Floridalma Ical Chub plant taro, naranjilla, aracach, onions and papaya together in her agro-forestry parcel. Maralena took home naranjilla seeds and taro and aracach starts. Visiting her parcel, Maralena was more than happy to show us the results of this investment.

Maria Rax receives her scholarship. Maria went back to 7th grade after having sat out for two years. She is proud to be back in school and grateful for the opportunity to study. Maria earned her scholarship by participating in WALC’s 25 day workshop.

WALC students gather in regional groups for follow up and to receive their certificates of participation.

October 25, 2016 marks the first day of the 2016 — 2017 WALC cycle. We are currently finishing our follow up with our 2015-2016 scholarship recipients. Our current cycle is ending with 229 scholarships given. We are looking forward to another great year.

Our building is taking shape. Our hope is that by October 25, we will be able to use the 1,628 square feet of finished building (the tail of the new building) to house and serve meals to our new group of WALC participants.

Thanks to your support CCFC continues to offer life transforming educational opportunities to young women from villages along the edge of the cloud forests of Guatemala’s central highlands.

Below: getting it under roof for October 25.

CCFC’s leadership training program for young women is getting a new name and a new friend. In order to better reflect the nature of our program, what was known as CALT is now WALC. WALC (pronounced walk) stands for “Women in Agroecology Leadership for Conservation.” The content of this successful program remains the same but the name better communicates the focus of the program. We at CCFC have seen the difference a 25-day leadership workshop can make in the lives of young Q’eqchi’ Maya women and the difference a work study scholarship can make in helping these young women follow their dream of an education that for many is simply out of reach.