ADAWA
Sustainable and Self Sustaining Community Development
ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
ADAWA (Asociacion civil no lucrativa para el desarrollo Aj Waklesinel) is a Guatemalan registered nonprofit that strives to improve the standard of living in Santa Lucia Lachua Alta Verapaz and our 34 surrounding communities.
The Association is founded by and comprised of members of Maya Q'eqchi' heritage who have witnessed the shortcomings of local legislature in addressing the issues that impact them. Our members believe that education, empowerment, and collaboration are key to bringing about change in their communities.
Our current initiatives are aimed at improving local infrastructure, promoting tourism in the region, diversifying the local economy, improving access to health care and education, and- most importantly- empowering and encouraging our community's growth and development from within.
Our goal is to turn the region of Santa Lucia and the surrounding area into an example of what transparent, collaborative, and sustainable development looks like. We are not an organization trying to help the community- we are the community organizing.
Aj Waklesinel
From the sacred Maya text the Polpol Vuh, meaning “to lift up the people, to be united, that no one is separate, and to move forward together”
ABOUT OUR HOME
The department of Alta Verapaz was severely affected by the civil war and continues to feel its reverberations.
The predominantly (91%) Maya Q’eqchi’ indigenous communities lack infrastructure and opportunity across the board. Widespread poverty, a lack of potable water, poor access to education and health care, and environmental degradation are just a few of the challenges our members face.
The region of Santa Lucia Lachua has many resources that could be harnessed to bring meaningful growth to our communities. Located on the northern transversal highway, the area has been designated an agricultural development zone and has great potential to become a formidable producer of commodity crops such as cacao.
Parque Nacional Laguna Lachua is part of the International Network of Model Forests, and a well-kept secret in a country already known for its breathtaking natural heritage. Ecological studies are being conducted in the lagoon and forest to explore the biodiversity of the region.
The nearby archeological excavation of the ancient Maya salt production site Salinas de los Nueve Cerros also boasts great potential for tourism once open to the public, as do the many local caves (considered sacred to the Maya) that community members hold traditional Mayan ceremonies in.
While rich in resources and potential, without proper planning and development the region’s long-term viability remains threatened by economic uncertainty, environmental damage from unsustainable agricultural practices, and degradation due to neglect. We aim to transform Santa Lucia Lachua and the surrounding area will into a region that is able to responsibly manage and benefit from its own resources.
OUR CURRENT PARTNERS, COLLABORATORS AND SUPPORTERS INCLUDE...
Proyecto Arqueologico Salinas de los Nueve Cerros
Alphawood foundation