AFP | 2023-10-26

NEJAB, Guatemala -- Amidst the fluttering of chickens in the corral, Rebeca diligently gathers eggs destined for sale in her indigenous village in northern Guatemala.

Her determination to make this endeavor a success reflects her strong commitment to avoiding migration to the United States, a path her two brothers undertook as they grappled with the weight of poverty.

While many other residents of the Mayan municipality of Santa María Nebaj in the Quiché department have departed, Rebeca Pérez, a resilient single mother, stands firm, choosing to stay and provide for her 8- and 11-year-old children through her poultry farm.

Dressed in a colorful indigenous attire, the 28-year-old woman explains, "you can earn a living here, not just there [in the United States]; there are also ample opportunities right here," in an interview with AFP.

Rebeca, along with Jacinto Pérez and Edwin López, is among the 250 farmers engaged in a program established by Save the Children in 2020. This initiative spans seven municipalities within Quiché and provides participants with education on agricultural production, marketing, and commercialization techniques.

This project, a collaborative effort between the NGO and the Ministries of Agriculture and Education of Guatemala, has received financial backing from the United States. Its primary aim is to ensure the nutritional well-being of children in Quiché, one of the country's most impoverished regions, by promoting the sale of locally sourced products to schools.

Jacinto cultivates tomatoes and a variety of other vegetables in Nebaj, which he supplies to ten schools. Meanwhile, in the adjacent municipality of San Juan Cotzal, Edwin focuses on the sale of chickens, as well as the cultivation of corn and beans, utilizing improved seeds provided by the NGO.

Despite the enduring challenges of poverty, impacting 59% of the country's 17 million residents, and the persistent threat of criminal violence that drives an ongoing and illicit exodus towards the United States, none of these individuals envision a future beyond Guatemala.

In 2022, the United States deported 40,713 Guatemalans, a figure more than double that of the previous year.

'Opting for a struggle here'

Edwin attempted this in 2018 when he was 33 years old and had lost his job as a teacher.

"Driven by necessity, I embarked on the journey with the goal of reaching the United States. They [the human traffickers] clandestinely transport you, treating you like a slave, without rest or sustenance," he narrates to AFP.

Nonetheless, he was apprehended by US authorities and spent 27 days in detention before being deported. "Considering all that I went through there (...), I, for my part, had no inclination to return. It's more preferable opting for a struggle here," he remarks.

It hasn't been a smooth journey. His home was ravaged by the devastation wrought by hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020. Nevertheless, he persevered in constructing a new one, using wood. It's the place where he resides, along with his wife and their two children, aged 13 and four, he shared.

In the hilly terrain of San Juan Cotzal, Save the Children educators sought out Edwin to engage him in discussions regarding soil conservation, the use of fertilizers, and even the implications of climate change.

In Nebaj, at the Technical Field School for School Feeding (ETCAE) established in 2023 under the program, Rebeca acquired knowledge on preventing chicken diseases, enhancing egg production, and encouraging the healthy consumption of fresh produce within her village.

From Pulay, a predominantly agrarian community with approximately 2,000 residents, she notes that many men migrate in pursuit of employment. However, this led to the realization that "women can" excel as entrepreneurs, a source of her satisfaction.

She started her business in 2016 with a loan from one of the two brothers who live illegally in the state of Florida (southeast). From a handful of chickens he went on to have 300 and aspires to reach a thousand next year.

"I've already established a market," she proudly affirms, also taking pride in the fact that she employs six other women from her community as egg collectors and packers.

Progressing one step at a time

Jacinto, who also received training at ETCAE, oversees three employees and has formed an association with 12 other small-scale producers, providing assistance with "invoice management."

"Journeying to the United States carries immense risks. For many who embark on this path, they not only stand to lose their money, family, but even their lives. Nevertheless, we persist in making little by little progress here," he asserts.

While the program was not explicitly designed to curtail migration, its effects on the phenomenon are noticeable, as mentioned by Lucrecia Méndez, the director of Save the Children's Agricultural Program.

"Local producers have increased their income to cover their needs and improve the lives of their families, which has contributed to reducing irregular migration," she believes.

Income levels fluctuate, but the NGO estimates "the profit margin falls within the range of 30% to 40%."

Seated in the corridor of his modest wooden abode, nestled between the cornfields and the bean fields, Edwin engages in reading the story 'Theseus in the Labyrinth' to his youngest child, the restless Dylan.

"I want to persist in being there for them and witnessing their growth," he emphasizes, before resuming his labor in the fields.