Amigos de Santa Cruz Foundation

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Amigos de Santa Cruz Foundation

Please visit our website at www.AmigosDeSantaCruz.org to find out more.

Amigos has been helping to improve the lives of the people of Santa Cruz la Laguna and surrounding villages since 1998 through education and economic development.

05/12/2026

Last Friday, the Siqajan School community came together to celebrate Mother’s Day with a race, games, laughter, and prizes for the mothers in our community. 💐

At Amigos de Santa Cruz, we celebrate all the mothers, grandmothers, and maternal figures whose dedication, love, and encouragement help children and families thrive every day. Their support shapes not only individual lives, but the strength of our wider community too. 💛

05/05/2026

A few weeks ago, our first and second graders in Siqajan School participated in the 2026 School Games in Panajachel. These games are about so much more than competition, they’re about learning through new experiences.

For many of the students, this was their first championship sports experience 🏀. They explored teamwork, confidence, resilience, and what it means to support one another.

It was also a first for many families. Parents came to cheer on their children, and our preschool students showed up to support their classmates, creating a strong sense of community and pride.

Go team! 💪

04/23/2026

“Nqaban kuent ru wach’ulew” - a Kaqchikel phrase meaning “We take care of the Earth” 🌍

Yesterday was World Earth Day. In Santa Cruz La Laguna, the lake, the land, and the surrounding environment shape daily life, but also face growing pressure from climate change, pollution, and land degradation.

At Amigos de Santa Cruz, protecting the Earth is embedded in our work across every program.

At Siqajan School, students learn from a young age the importance of protecting the Earth.
Through our Youth and Scholarship Program, students are leading an initiative this year to promote responsible waste separation and build sustainable habits in their homes and communities.
And through our Economic Empowerment program, families in Chuitzanchaj are growing native, nutrient-rich crops using agroecological practices, in partnership with .

Our facilities are also powered by renewable energy through solar panels, thanks to .

Let’s continue to honour the Earth by making conscious, responsible choices every day, at home and in our wider communities 🌱💚

04/16/2026

Last week, our CECAP culinary students stepped into a real restaurant kitchen, Al Jouri Kitchen in Santa Catarina, to apply what they’ve learned in class to a professional environment.

From prepping ingredients to working as a team, they experienced what it’s really like to be in a professional kitchen, taking on responsibility and supporting each other. It was a new challenge, and one they embraced with energy and confidence.

This kind of hands-on training is at the heart of CECAP’s approach: equipping young people with the skills, discipline, and real-world experience they need to enter the workforce, while building a sustainable cycle of training and job creation.

A valuable and exciting step towards their future careers 🍽️✨

03/31/2026

March is coming to an end, but our commitment to women and girls in Santa Cruz doesn’t stop here. 💜

For nearly 20 years, Amigos has supported local women in redefining traditional gender roles and creating their own opportunities in the most remote communities. Having access to education, the ability to generate their own income, and training in sexual and reproductive health is life-changing.

There’s always more to do, but we’re committed to showing up and doing the work all year round. Because when women are supported, entire communities thrive. 💪

03/19/2026

This week at Siqajan School, our second-grade students proudly led the March Civic Act 💛

March’s Civic Act was all about exploring the meaning of respect; for one another, for their culture, and within both the school and wider community. These lessons go far beyond the classroom, helping to build empathy, confidence, and a deep appreciation for each other’s differences.

These monthly Civic Acts represent what Siqajan is all about. Watching our students step forward in front of their community, speak with confidence, and lead their peers is truly inspiring, and a powerful reminder that education is not just about learning, but about shaping how children connect with and see the world around them.

03/13/2026

A meaningful initiative begins in the highlands of Santa Cruz 🌱

This week we gathered with a group of 17 women from the communities of Chuitzanchaj and Pajomel for the first meeting of a new agroecology project in the highland communities of Santa Cruz La Laguna.

These women are coming together to grow native, nutrient-rich food crops using agroecological practices - supporting their families and strengthening food security in their communities.

We’re proud to be partnering with on this project. We’re also excited to see the knowledge, leadership, and teamwork of these women guide the work ahead. 👩‍🌾🤝

03/11/2026

Two days ago in Santa Cruz La Laguna, we joined the municipal government to commemorate International Women’s Day - celebrating women everywhere and honouring the strength of the women in our community.

Indigenous women are fundamental pillars of society: leaders, changemakers, and preservers of culture. Their resilience and knowledge sustain families, traditions, and communities.

Yet there is still work to do. Women in Santa Cruz continue to face barriers to education, economic opportunity, and representation in positions of power.

At Amigos de Santa Cruz, we are committed to developing integrated programming on nutrition, domestic violence, political participation, and entrepreneurship to create an equitable environment where women’s voices are championed, their leadership valued, and their opportunities expanded. ✨💜

03/08/2026

Today we celebrate the girls and women of Santa Cruz La Laguna - students at Siqajan, scholarship recipients, participants in our CECAP programs, artisans, entrepreneurs, mothers, and every woman who shapes this community. Their strength and determination help Santa Cruz thrive.

At Amigos de Santa Cruz, we remain committed to ensuring that girls and women in this community have access to the same opportunities as men, and grow up believing in themselves and in one another. 💜

03/03/2026

At Amigos de Santa Cruz, our Guatemalan Cooking Classes for Visitors are led by local staff and proud CECAP graduates — including the talented Chef Alfredo (pictured above), who completed the Culinary Program 10 years ago and now inspires the next generation with his vibrancy and passion.

During a 2½-hour hands-on class, you’ll prepare traditional Guatemalan dishes like pepián, pulique, tamalitos and mole de platano. Your creations are beautifully plated and served to you as a three-course lunch or dinner with a drink at Restaurant Sabor Cruceño — our rooftop terrace restaurant overlooking Lake Atitlán and its volcanoes.

The best part? Every single booking directly supports local aspiring chefs working toward culinary school.

Message us for more details on how to book. 💛

Address

Seattle, WA

Telephone

+13605676940

Website

https://www.amigosdesantacruz.org/our-impact/

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