ALDEA

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ALDEA believes in the power of Mayan communities to overcome poverty and disadvantage to secure thei

We do this through projects dedicated to: increased production of nutritious foods; nutrition education; increased access to water and sanitation; reduction in indoor air pollution; increased access to family planning; empowerment of women to actively participate in decision-making; and empowerment of young people to improve their long-term health and that of the next generation.

10/12/2026

We’re excited to welcome two new communities, Choabaj Grande and El Limonar, to the ALDEA–ABPD partnership!

Community members in both communities have democratically selected local women to serve as community promoters. Six women in Choabaj Grande and five in El Limonar have begun training to support families and connect them with information, resources, and services.

In El Limonar, the promoters are also learning to gather information about community knowledge, attitudes, and practices to help ABPD better understand local needs.

These are the first steps in a multi-year partnership grounded in listening, local leadership, and working together to address community priorities.

10/09/2026

In El Rosario II and Los Corrales, pregnant and breastfeeding women are strengthening both their physical and emotional well-being.

Through a session on self-esteem, self-worth, and emotional well-being, women reflected on the importance of self-care and managing emotions during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

They also learned about healthy nutrition and received prenatal vitamins and fortified atole, a traditional corn-based drink fortified with additional nutrients, as nutritional support.

10/08/2026

When women gain knowledge and confidence, they can share what they learn with the people around them.

Meisy Estrella Tubac Sunuc has participated in our leadership, empowerment and nutrition activities in El Rosario since July 2025.

Through training in communication, emotional well-being, nutrition and women's empowerment, she has gained practical tools that she now shares with her mother, sisters and other family members.

Her experience shows how community-based learning can extend beyond one participant, helping families strengthen their knowledge, share ideas and support one another.

Your support helps ALDEA continue working alongside community members and local leaders to build healthier households and stronger communities.

This October, help us reach our $60,000 goal. Your gift will be matched dollar for dollar until the first $30,000 is raised.

Donate today and double your impact: https://aldeaguatemala.org/guatemala-tours/60-for-60-fundraiser/

10/06/2026

What kind of future do young people want for their communities?

During an International Youth Day activity in Los Corrales, Vilma Camey Gutiérrez created a painting around the themes “dream, participate, or transform.” She imagined a community where people and nature live in harmony, with healthy rivers and protected forests.

Her vision reminds us that community-led change begins with listening to the people who know their communities best, including the young people who will help shape their future.

This October, your gift to ALDEA’s 60 for 60 campaign helps support local leadership and community-led solutions.

Help us raise $60,000 by October 31. ALDEA Advisors will match the first $30,000 in gifts, dollar for dollar.

Donate today and double your impact: https://aldeaguatemala.org/guatemala-tours/60-for-60-fundraiser/

10/01/2026

For the past month, we’ve been sharing stories from ALDEA Advisors about what brought them to ALDEA, what they’ve learned from communities in Guatemala, and why they continue to believe in this work.

Their stories reflect what’s at the heart of ALDEA: lasting change grows from partnership, local leadership, and the knowledge and priorities of communities themselves.

As we look toward our 60th anniversary in 2027, we’re launching our 60 for 60 Fall Campaign with a goal of raising $60,000 by October 31 to sustain community-led development in Guatemala.

And thanks to our generous Advisors, the first $30,000 will be matched dollar for dollar.

Help us carry ALDEA’s 60-year legacy forward and build a strong foundation for the next 60 years.

Give today and double your impact:
https://aldeaguatemala.org/guatemala-tours/60-for-60-fundraiser/

09/29/2026

In El Rosario II and Los Corrales, children receive regular growth monitoring to help families identify early when a child may need additional nutritional support.

Last month, 176 children received nutritional supplements, including 61 children under age two. Both communities reached 100% of their monitoring goal for children in this priority age group.

Regular monitoring gives families an opportunity to stay informed about their children’s growth and take action early when additional support is needed.

09/28/2026

Meet Cindy Swatek, an ALDEA Advisor

For Cindy and her family, ALDEA’s work has a deeply personal connection to the country where their children were born. A visit to an ALDEA community in 2014 sparked a lasting commitment to the organization.

As we look ahead to ALDEA’s 60th anniversary year in 2027, we’re taking time this fall to hear from some of the people who have been part of ALDEA’s story.

We asked our Advisors—longtime supporters with deep connections to ALDEA and Guatemala—to share why they support ALDEA and what has kept them connected to this work.

“Our family stands with ALDEA Guatemala because this organization is creating meaningful, lasting change in the country where our children were born. We first learned about ALDEA during a village visit in 2014, and we have been supporters ever since. Seeing their work firsthand is truly life-changing. I will never forget a little girl who grabbed my hand, led me behind her home, and proudly turned on a sink with clean, running water... a simple thing we often take for granted, but one that had completely changed her life. ALDEA made that possible. On another visit, I heard a young woman speak about how ALDEA’s empowerment training had helped her recognize her own strength and possibilities. With tears in her eyes, she said, “I AM A WOMAN. I HAVE RIGHTS.” She talked about believing she could do anything, even become the mayor of her town. That is the power of ALDEA: creating hope, opportunity, and the belief that a better future is possible.”

Thank you, Cindy, for sharing these powerful moments and for your family’s continued commitment to ALDEA and the communities at the heart of this work.

09/25/2026

We’re excited to invite you to Guatemala June 12–14, 2027, as we celebrate ALDEA’s 60th anniversary and 20 years of partnership with Asociación BPD.

Join friends, supporters, partners, and community members in Antigua for a special weekend of connection, celebration, storytelling, and looking ahead to the future together.

✨ Registration is now open!

Learn more and register:
https://aldeaguatemala.org/guatemala-tours/june-12-14-2027-60th-anniversary-celebration/

09/24/2026

Caring for Family Is Everyone’s Responsibility

In Los Corrales, 18 men have begun a new learning process focused on family health and well-being.

Their first session explored the role men can play in family nutrition, caregiving, and preventing malnutrition, while creating healthier environments at home.

Participants shared that the experience is helping them think about shared responsibility and become more involved in the well-being of their families. They have also expressed interest in continuing to learn and participate.

09/23/2026

Meet Dale Gatz, an ALDEA Advisor

For more than 20 years, Dale has been connected to ALDEA and its partner organization, ABPD, in Guatemala. Over that time, he says the experience has changed his own life in ways he never expected.

As we look ahead to ALDEA’s 60th anniversary year in 2027, we’re taking time this fall to hear from some of the people who have been part of ALDEA’s story.

We asked our Advisors, longtime supporters with deep connections to ALDEA and Guatemala, to share why they support ALDEA and what has kept them connected to this work.

“Many things about my 20+ years of experience with ALDEA and our sister organization ABPD in Guatemala come to mind, but let me relate just one. My support for this work has, I believe, contributed to the well-being of many people far from us geographically, culturally, and economically. But what this experience has done for me over the years far outweighs what I have done through these years of involvement and support. It has broadened my perspectives, taught me to respect the dignity and humanity of people very different from me and my culture, and humbled me to experience a bond beyond my ability to express it. My life has been immeasurably enriched by the generosity of some wonderful people.”

Thank you, Dale, for more than two decades of commitment to ALDEA and ABPD, and for sharing how the people at the heart of this work have enriched your own life.

Address

99 Wall Street #970
New York, NY
10005

Website

http://www.ALDEAGuatemala.org/

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