Time to say goodbye

The study tour 2011 is over. It’s time to say good bye to and thank everybody who participated in many ways in the study tour. It has been wonderful to share this experience with all of you.

Study tour souvenirs

In these 7 days I have learned much not only about our project partners, but also about Oikocredit members and investors and my colleagues in the region, especially Guatemala. I go back home with many thoughts in my mind: there is no perfect project but there is Oikocredit as long term partner for development. Being a social investor means creating real partnerships that go beyond financing especially in challenging times.

Study tour 2011 participants (Photo: A. Vargas)

Guatemala is a country of challenges and hard working women and men aiming for a better future for them, their families, their communities, and their beautiful environment.

Culture and nature in the Maya Biosphere Reserve

Today I spent the day enjoying culture and nature in the Maya Biosphere: I will visit the ancient Maya ruins of Tikal. Tikal is located in a core zone of the reserve; where no sustainable forestry is allowed to preserve the primary forest. Because of its economic and touristic importance, the area where Tikal is located can be exploited for tourism under strict conditions.

Study tour participants on top of highest temple in Tikal

There is a clear difference when a forest is well preserved. While driving to the entrance of the archaeological area one could see some wild animals alongside the road. I saw a dead very dangerous and poisonous native snake and many colourful turkeys and other birds and animals. In the park, we spotted a female grown up monkey feeding and carrying her baby. In Tikal Park animals are not afraid of humans because nobody will harm them.

Sunny snacks

It was a long trip. Not because the distance, but because of the road. Let’s be fair: the road is in good condition, but it is steep and has many curves. Deep in my heart I did not mind it much because I enjoyed watching the landscape: from the Altiplano to the dry area – where we will visit a project partner tomorrow – and again up to the tropical forest.

Guess what? During a stop, Carlos, the country manager, opened a box of fruits and local nuts snacks: Maya Mix by Alimentos Campestres - our project partner!

The snacks tasted better because they’re produced using solar energy. Everybody in the group loved them. It’s a shame we cannot buy them in Europe, the US or Canada because they would become very popular in not time. Is anybody looking for business idea?

Getting started

At noon the last participants arrived from Antigua. As early birds, they spent some days in this city and around Atitlan Lake.

First lunch together in Guatemala city

The introductory meeting took longer than expected. After going over the agenda and practical and logistic matters, Oikocredit’s regional and country offices reps gave presentations on the operations with a focus on environmental matters. Andreas, an Oikocredit member from Germany living in Guatemala as journalist, gave some insights into the country from tips for intercultural relations to the concept and identity as indigenous.

The day closed with a dinner at a restaurant close to the hotel. It was nice Guatemalan food, which I have started to appreciate very much.

I look much forward to hit the road tomorrow. Can I have another tamal, please?

Oikocredit Guatemala and regional staff (Photo A. Vargas)

A study tour to the Maya world

After closing my suitcase, I realized it has only been 9 months since I went to Uganda for the Study Tour 2010. Because of the positive feedback, a new study tour was planned in 2011 with a focus on Oikocredit’s financing to project partners actively working on environmental issues and supporting vulnerable groups in rural areas.

Selecting Guatemala was not difficult. The country's portfolio includes project partners working in rural areas supporting indigenous groups and women and other partners involved in sustainable natural resources management, use of clean energy, and fair trade.

Guatemala is a well-known touristic destination because of its rich nature and Maya culture. At the same time, this beautiful country has a highly unequal income distribution, a tragic past of a civil war, and yet the percentage population living under the poverty level is striking, especially in rural areas.

Next Sunday Along with 15 investors and members of Oikocredit, the Guatemala team and staff from the regional office in Costa Rica, I will start a new journey to the hidden - for the regular tourist – Maya world, the real Guatemala. It is in these impoverish areas where in spite of the many challenges, Oikocredit continues financing grassroots MFIs, fair trade coops and environmental-friendly companies, which bring hope and opportunities through credit to the people and the environment.

It is time to witness again how the funds from our members and investors contribute to improve the lives of many Guatemalans in rural areas.