CIELO’s first partner is CEPC Toliman, a community-focused permaculture initiative in rural Guatemala founded and run entirely by indigenous Maya-Kaqchikel people. They are dedicated to protecting the environment and empowering the local community through ecological agriculture projects and training.
Participants include local farmers and families, primarily from Maya-Kaqchikel communities with extremely limited resources. The teaching site includes:
(tilapia and vegetables)
(agroforestry system)
CEPC's work is based on a blend of principles from the Maya Cosmovision and Permaculture, which both stress the importance of working with natural systems. Through on-site projects and training. CEPC's work focuses on:
Project Aloha is an ongoing partnership between CIELO and CEPC Toliman. CIELO’s fundraising has supported CEPC to:
for the agroforestry system (capacity of 4000 seedlings)
provide 12 families with direct food aid during the COVID crisis
with a 3-week nutritional amaranth program
The village of Quixaya (where CEPC Toliman operates) is an incredible story of transformation. After gaining ownership of the land from an exploitative plantation owner, the community converted the monoculture plantation into a diversified agricultural system run by the families who've worked the land for generations.
We are able to do this work because of the support of compassionate individuals around the world. Thank you!
Donations are tax deductible in the US. CIELO is a non-profit and tax exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
