From “cost” driven decisions to a cause ignited conscience society in Guatemala.
Pakka Guatemala
Can I?
Well, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. That is why using the word “may” instead, could be so transformational in our relationships with one another and, nowadays, the Biosphere, or how some of us like to call her Mother Nature.
Picture: Motagua River, Guatemala
Source: Motagua Basin Alliance Facebook Page
With this common sensitivity, values, and a spirit of urgency (since 90% of the water in Guatemala is contaminated according to the Ministry of Environment), starting February, Pakka’s team in Guatemala initiated a dialogue with Jeanne Samayoa, President of the Motagua Basin Alliance. The Alliance originated in 2023 when Rotary International from Guatemala and Honduras, a group of citizens, and Guatemala’s Ministry of Environment got together to take action to tackle the pollution affecting the different rivers that flow into the Motagua River and the Atlantic Ocean in the coasts of both countries. Since then the Alliance has grown to sum up over 73 public institutions, private sector enterprises, NGO’s and academia. In Jeanne’s words: “We are collaborating to clean the Motagua Basin in the next 10 years”. Through replicating the initiative “Community Action for Fresh Water”, with the pilot project “Adopt-a-River” –, developed by Rotary International and the United Nations Environment Programme – UNEP -, organizations like FLAR Mesoamérica, Fundaeco, GREPSA (32 recycling companies), municipalities, Del Valle University, the Presidential Commission for Local Government Coordination, amongst others, are taking action.
As Jeanne shared with us in a special interview, the challenge is substantial and defying. They are using the EPIC methodology (Education, Public Policy, Infrastructure and ecosystem protection and strategic communication) from the Ocean Legacy Foundation from Canada. To regenerate culture into a more responsible and conscious society, they are synthesizing diverse actions to improve education. As she described, “The key is to help people understand this is about their health, their lives, that this goes way beyond the sustainability mindset”. This is also where Chuk’s products become an important solution to the Alliance’s objective. “We can make people understand how Styrofoam and other materials are killing the living organisms in our territories, but we also need a feasible and functional alternative”, she emphasizes. Furthermore, “it is about teaching people that even though Styrofoam and other materials are cheaper, choosing compostable over them brings the economic possibility of generating value with compost, or at least, knowing each plate will disappear in the soil or water. It is about choosing your health, clean water, and generating consciousness.”.
Now, Pakka’s team is working to deliver the Alliance a “Mercadito’s & Tiendita’s Kit” (Mercado means market and Tiendita is a small size shop in a community in Spanish) and finalizing the distributor selection process in order to materialize Pakka’s natural role as a key ally to advance in Guatemala as a sustainability hub in the region.
If you would like to know more about what we are doing, or would like to share your experience and knowledge on India’s own path to protect its rivers, write an email to:
