Spring 2025 Update
Eco-filters – Ecolibri has focused on clean water initiatives, including testing for contaminants in Lake Atitlan. Almost 18 months ago, Ecolibri donated and delivered Eco-filters to over 30 families and the grade school where many of their children attend. Working with the school coordinator, Nohemi Perez, Ecolibri is replacing the filters to ensure families can continue to provide clean water to their children.
Music Workshop – Vocational training and extracurricular experiences have become a special focus of programs sponsored by Ecolibri. In March 2025, professional musicians visiting the area held a music workshop at a school in San Juan La Laguna. Students and teachers loved the opportunity to sing and play with professional musicians. Ecolibri hopes to raise money to pay for a music teacher at the school.
New Students – As Ecolibri students graduate and pursue work or post-secondary education, we are committed to providing support to new students entering elementary school with basics like school supplies, clothing, shoes and backpacks. Ecolibri will support these new students and is looking for new sponsors to help us! If you or someone you know would like to sponsor a student for as little as $1.00 per day, contact us!
Summer 2024 Update
Photography Workshop – a big highlight of the summer was a photography workshop facilitated in June by Ecolibri volunteer instructors, Tara Pavlik and Felix Griffin. For three weeks, they trained more than 30 elementary and high school students on the basics of photography, culminating in an exhibit of the students work at their school in the village of San Juan La Laguna. Parents, teachers, and volunteers all enjoyed viewing the work of these budding photographers! Ecolibri provided used cameras from donors – and at the end of the workshop students were given disposable cameras for their final project, a photo essay of their daily lives.
Vocational Training – Ecolibri Founder Dita Zakova held an artist residency earlier this year which showcased the work of photographers from Latin America, the US, and Europe. This residency inspired the photography workshop for Ecolibri students conducted by Tara Pavlik and Felix Griffin. Dita is planning additional workshops and training opportunities in hospitality, writing, music, and basic skills like carpentry. She is tapping the expertise of local and international volunteers to provide training and skills development to residents of villages on Lake Atitlan. Please consider donating to support vocational training opportunities! Your donations will help offset the cost of art supplies and building materials, such as tools and lumber.
spring 2023 update
Food Relief program
In March, 2020, Guatemala experienced the first cases of coronavirus and shut down roads to the small villages of the Lake Atitlan region. Day laborers and those making their living fishing the waters of the lake lost their jobs and villagers were cut off from daily food supplies. EcolibriUSA partnered with its affiliate, Ecolibri (ecolibri.org) to deliver a truckload of 300 bags of corn to 350 families in the village of San Juan La Laguna in April and May. EcolibriUSA and Ecolibri continue to fundraise for more food to feed families in the area. Ecolibri is committed to continue its relief efforts in partnership with EcolibriUSA to alleviate food insecurity.