Nongovernmental Organizations

Two outstanding examples of organizations working for the common good of the people of the region are Ecolibri and Friends of San Lucas. Ecolibri is located in San Marcos La Laguana and has strong relations with school officials in the villages of San Juan and San Pedro. One of the primary efforts of Ecolibri is to support educational opportunities for children of the poorest families in the region. For one dollar a day, Ecolibri provides tuition assistance, clothing, school supplies, backpacks and a good meal for young students. For more information, see Ecolibri. On the opposite side of Lake Atitlan, located in the village of San Lucas, Friends of San Lucas supports the work of the San Lucas mission which began in 1963. Mission programs include an elementary school, medical clinic, women’s cooperative, housing and land recovery programs. San Ana Café started as a program of the mission and produces and sells some of the best Guatemalan coffee through “direct trade” to buyers in the United States. For more information, see San Lucas Mission.