Project Description
Creative Solutions
Creative Solutions
The Garden’s Edge supports emerging change-makers by funding small, innovative projects that improve health, ensure food security, generate income, boost local economies, and foster local leadership.
Creative Solutions Projects provide long-term support for small-scale business initiatives focused on cultural and environmental preservation, including skill-building in:
- Leadership development
- Budgeting, grant writing, and project management
- Technical assistance
- Mentorship with elders for knowledge sharing
The following are examples of projects we have supported over the years:
The Garden’s Edge supports emerging change-makers by funding small, innovative projects that improve health, ensure food security, generate income, boost local economies, and foster leadership development.
Creative Solutions Projects provide long-term support for small-scale business initiatives focused on cultural and environmental preservation, including skill-building in:
- Leadership development
- Budgeting, grant writing, and project management
- Technical assistance
- Mentorship with elders for knowledge sharing
The following are examples of projects we have supported over the years:
Traditional Granola
Claudia Garcia, looking for healthier snack options in her local market, used her Creative Solutions grant to create granola with local seeds, dried fruit, and honey, baked in a traditional adobe oven. Her goal is to provide families with a nutritious alternative to the ready-to-eat highly-processed and sugary cereals found in the market.
Traditional Granola
Claudia Garcia, looking for healthier snack options in her local market, used her Creative Solutions grant to create granola with local seeds, dried fruit, and honey, baked in a traditional adobe oven. Her goal is to provide families with a nutritious alternative to the ready-to-eat highly-processed and sugary cereals found in the market.
Physiotherapy in Rabinal
Daniel Chen is from the village of Guachipilin. He recently earned his bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy. Through a series of Creative Solutions Grants he has equipped a small clinic in Rabinal where he attends patients. From a very young age, Daniel recognized his calling to help people heal with his hands. It’s unusual to meet someone his age (26) with such a clear gift and dedication to helping people heal.
Physiotherapy in Rabinal
Daniel Chen is from the village of Guachipilin. He recently earned his bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy. Through a series of Creative Solutions Grants he has equipped a small clinic in Rabinal where he attends patients. From a very young age, Daniel recognized his calling to help people heal with his hands. It’s unusual to meet someone his age (26) with such a clear gift and dedication to helping people heal.
Educational Workshops
Through a Creative Solution Project, from the Garden’s Edge Sabina Sosof facilitated and organized workshops with indigenous youth and communities related to Central American History topics. Focusing on the preservation and revitalization of cultural traditions. These efforts seek to empower the new generations with tools to build a future where culture and nature coexist, so that young people can create a family economy in the face of the labor challenges. The youth were able to participate in educational workshops and tours based on ancestral knowledge. They took a weaving class and they made a traditional piece of textile. They are looking forward to putting their products out in the market to generate some income!.
Educational Workshops
Through a Creative Solution Project, from the Garden’s Edge Sabina Sosof facilitated and organized workshops with indigenous youth and communities related to Central American History topics. Focusing on the preservation and revitalization of cultural traditions. These efforts seek to empower the new generations with tools to build a future where culture and nature coexist, so that young people can create a family economy in the face of the labor challenges. The youth were able to participate in educational workshops and tours based on ancestral knowledge. They took a weaving class and they made a traditional piece of textile. They are looking forward to putting their products out in the market to generate some income!.
Sewing Classes
Rosa Perez, had received a couple Creative Solution Grants. She’s taken classes to improve her sewing skills and now is able to make other patterns and designs with her new sewing machine.
“The way the Garden’s Edge works allows us to work at our own pace. This is helpful because we can work on our time, integrating our jobs and family well. Other organizations sometimes require us to do projects on a specific schedule which many times does not work for us. “Clothing design and sewing has been very important for me because it is an opportunity to both meet the needs of people in the community and my own needs”. – Rosa Perez
Sewing Classes
Rosa Perez, had received a couple Creative Solution Grants. She’s taken classes to improve her sewing skills and now is able to make other patterns and designs with her new sewing machine.
“The way the Garden’s Edge works allows us to work at our own pace. This is helpful because we can work on our time, integrating our jobs and family well. Other organizations sometimes require us to do projects on a specific schedule which many times does not work for us. “Clothing design and sewing has been very important for me because it is an opportunity to both meet the needs of people in the community and my own needs”. – Rosa Perez
Weaving Classes for Children
Olga Burrero, a woman from Rabinal, was interested in teaching the history of weaving and culture to children to create awareness of its value and at the same time its preservation. In the last few years, the impact of globalization has changed the view on how youth perceive the traditional dress of the Achi people. In the class children learned about the importance of weaving and the different types of weaving made in different regions. For example, each figure hides or represents an important meaning connected to culture or life.
Weaving Classes for Children
Olga Burrero, a woman from Rabinal, was interested in teaching the history of weaving and culture to children to create awareness of its value and at the same time its preservation. In the last few years, the impact of globalization has changed the view on how youth perceive the traditional dress of the Achi people. In the class children learned about the importance of weaving and the different types of weaving made in different regions. For example, each figure hides or represents an important meaning connected to culture or life.
Bamboo Project
Fredy was able to study Bamboo and bamboo construction. He learned about the different types and usages of bamboo. Some of them are used for building and others are used for arts and jewelry like bracelets. He also saw different samples of natural construction with bamboo, and helped construct two bamboo buildings. Freddy planted 7 different types of Bamboo in his community of El Sauce, with the help of other youth who also have Creative Solution Projects. He is hoping that in the future there will be bamboo in his village of El Sauce for a sustainable construction material.
Bamboo Project
Fredy was able to study Bamboo and bamboo construction. He learned about the different types and usages of bamboo. Some of them are used for building and others are used for arts and jewelry like bracelets. He also saw different samples of natural construction with bamboo, and helped construct two bamboo buildings. Freddy planted 7 different types of Bamboo in his community of El Sauce, with the help of other youth who also have Creative Solution Projects. He is hoping that in the future there will be bamboo in his village of El Sauce for a sustainable construction material.
Home Honey Production
This project helps generate income, but also preserve native pollinators that are at risk of extinction. Raising native bees is different from raising European honey bees. Their honey and pollen are highly medicinal and will be shared/gifted to the elders in the village of El Sauce.
Home Apothecary and Traditional Medicine
Aurelia Xitumul Iboy, has received several creative solutions grants to incrementally build her home apothecary and clinic and to broaden her services for patients from her rural community. Aurelia is trained in ear acupuncture and therapeutic massage. In 2023, she began working with a young Physical Therapist named Daniel Vasquez Chen. Daniel travels with Aurelia to rural communities surrounding Rabinal to give physical therapy treatments to families.
Native Tomato Rematriation
Francisco (Chico) Sic Sic, a young farmer from the village of Chichupac, has taken on a creative solutions grant to recuperate native tomato varieties. Where there were once dozens of native varieties, Guatemalan farmers now know only 2-3. The monoculture production of tomatoes over the last 50 years required the application of more and more agrochemicals. The plants became susceptible to disease, reducing the pool to a few hybrid grocery-store varieties. The Garden’s Edge was able to access 3 varieties of native tomato seeds from the U.S.D.A. Seed Bank, that had been collected in Guatemala in the 1970’s, before the introduction of hybrids. These varieties have since disappeared in Guatemala. We planted them in Albuquerque, New Mexico and then re-matriated the harvest to Guatemala where Chico had a great harvest! It is our hope that the beloved seeds that have disappeared from communities all around the world are found and one day returned home.
Youth Leadership Training
Youth Leadership Training
After receiving a series of leadership classes, the group learned how to do a community diagnostic, how to formulate proposals and budgeting basics. Once their small business ideas were fully formed we funded these with Creative Solutions grants of $110 each. The youth received accompaniment and at the end of the program they participated in a field trip where they visited 10 community projects, youth-led businesses, and cooperatives. Inspired to continue exploring their ideas, many of this first cohort have reapplied for a second Creative Solutions Project to take their creative solutions ideas to the next level.
Creative Solutions Projects are flexible as they meet the unique needs of each person. The grants generally begin at $100 with the possibility of scaling up over time. Grants include seed money technical accompaniment and training.
After receiving a series of leadership classes, the group learned how to do a community diagnostic, how to formulate proposals and budgeting basics. Once their small business ideas were fully formed we funded these with Creative Solutions grants of $110 each. The youth received accompaniment and at the end of the program they participated in a field trip where they visited 10 community projects, youth-led businesses, and cooperatives. Inspired to continue exploring their ideas, many of this first cohort have reapplied for a second Creative Solutions Project to take their creative solutions ideas to the next level.
Creative Solutions Projects are flexible as they meet the unique needs of each person. The grants generally begin at $100 with the possibility of scaling up over time. Grants include seed money technical accompaniment and training.
Home Honey Production Project
This project helps generate income, but also preserve native pollinators that are at risk of extinction. Raising native bees is different from raising European honey bees. Their honey and pollen are highly medicinal and will be shared/gifted to the elders in the village of El Sauce.
Home Apothecary and Traditional Medicine
Aurelia Xitumul Iboy, has received several creative solutions grants to incrementally build her home apothecary and clinic and to broaden her services for patients from her rural community. Aurelia is trained in ear acupuncture and therapeutic massage. In 2023, she began working with a young Physical Therapist named Daniel Vasquez Chen. Daniel travels with Aurelia to rural communities surrounding Rabinal to give physical therapy treatments to families.
Native Tomato Rematriation Project
Francisco (Chico) Sic Sic, a young farmer from the village of Chichupac, has taken on a creative solutions grant to recuperate native tomato varieties. Where there were once dozens of native varieties, Guatemalan farmers now know only 2-3. The monoculture production of tomatoes over the last 50 years required the application of more and more agrochemicals. The plants became susceptible to disease, reducing the pool to a few hybrid grocery-store varieties. The Garden’s Edge was able to access 3 varieties of native tomato seeds from the U.S.D.A. Seed Bank, that had been collected in Guatemala in the 1970’s, before the introduction of hybrids. These varieties have since disappeared in Guatemala. We planted them in Albuquerque, New Mexico and then re-matriated the harvest to Guatemala where Chico had a great harvest! It is our hope that the beloved seeds that have disappeared from communities all around the world are found and one day returned home.
