The municipality of Colomba Costa Cuca lies in Quetzaltenango (Xela), a region known for its abundant natural resources, pleasant climate and coffee production. However, it is also a region suffering from high unemployment, poverty, and marked by land disputes. The community where you will be working was created as the result of a farmers struggle for land that lasted for over 20 years. In 1984 a group of landless workers in Colomba formed a labour union designed to combat the violation of civil rights and to improve the lives of the farmers. In 2004, after long and tough negotiations with the government and the bank, the members of the labour union were able to buy the land for their community.
Although proud owners of their land, the 40 families of the community still live in poverty. Having been abandoned for over eight years, the organic coffee production of the farm falls short from providing sufficient income for the community, highlighting the importance of alternative sources of revenue. It is to meet this need that the labour union started the eco-tourism project in 2006. The mission of the project is to provide the women, men, youth and children of the community with a better future and to enhance the integral development of the community, conserve the surrounding natural habitat and exchange experiences and knowledge with local, national and international visitors.
The vision of the Eco-Tourism Project is that by the year 2015 the community will have a Spanish school for foreigners and host 700 visitors per year, offering high quality ecological accommodation, locally-sourced food, adequate transportation and a wide variety of tourist services for both visitors and volunteers. You can help turn this vision into reality by volunteering your time with this hard-working and inspiring community.
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