Every year El Directorio Guatemala organizes two networking events, aimed at strengthening the capacities of nonprofit organizations and facilitating collaborations between them, however, these events generate many and diverse opportunities for attendees. Such was the case in September 2023, in one of these events, sponsored by the Luis von Ahn Foundation and in which FUNDAIS participated, these two entities met. 

Both the Foundation and FUNDAIS had the same focus of interest, access to education for Guatemalan children and adolescents. Between the conversations that took place, a relationship began, which blossomed into a new funder for FUNDAIS. How nice to join forces! And that is the goal of EDG, to create spaces where these connections happen, where organizations find support, of any kind, and where foundations find real organizations, honest and committed to the development of Guatemala. 

We will never tire of saying that.... Together we work better!

"We affirm that this workshop came to strengthen the environment, turning it harmonious, safe and pleasant for the team."

In order to generate change and impact on girls and boys, Girl Rising prioritizes the training of their educators. This is why the partnership with Regina Solares was necessary and productive, which consisted in receiving 6 sessions about emotional intelligence. The main objective was to provide training for the team of educators and mentors on self-care, emotional management and personal wellbeing. It was a very pleasant experience that helped the team to connect with their emotions, find different tools to manage them and help them understand the importance of this good management for their personal and work wellbeing. About 12 people participated.

And to think that it all started in an event organized by El Directorio Guatemala!

The relationship between Limitless Horizons Ixil and Girl Rising began in 2022 at an event organized by El Directorio Guatemala, where the organizations discussed their shared vision towards gender equality. The relationship was further strengthened in an EDG Networking event the following year, and from this a collaboration began in which Girl Rising provided resources including manuals for mentors to use with students, a book of stories about women who have gone through difficult situations in different parts of the world, informative audios and videos, and magazines of success stories adapted to the mentoring curriculum. Likewise, a Limitless Horizons Ixil team of mentors received training as part of the awareness-raising process to address gender and inequalities issues.

This alliance has been developing for two years and is not over yet because this year (2024) educators and mentors will continue to participate in follow-up sessions and workshops on the use of the material received for its correct implementation in their classrooms.

The work continues, and we'll see the fruits soon because... together we work better!

In the closing circle of El Directorio's March 2023 networking event, the founder of one NGO shared, "It's amazing how many NGOs there are that operate so close to us but we don't really know each other." This was the seed that would grow into a collaboration between La Puerta Abierta Atitlán and AlbaNueva to provide a training where organizations from the town of Santiago Atitlán could come together to learn and connect with each other.

Two months later, they held an intensive workshop on "Prioritization and Task Management" with 14 participants from 6 different organizations, including Mayanza, Inc, OneTwoTree, Asociación Salvando Madres and MAIA Impact. Participants worked together to practice applying new tools to manage their time and tasks, and left with new connections in neighboring organizations.

The director of La Puerta Abierta said it best: "An intense and super productive day. We learned a lot of strategies to manage our time and accomplish our tasks without forgetting ourselves."

"After attending the March event (2022) where I met the newest leaders of SERniña, an organisation that Sueños had been hoping to partner with for several years, we were able to arrange a meeting within a few weeks and finalize a partnership. Since the beginning of September 2022, SERniña has been working with our 10-14 year old students, visiting Sueños twice a week for two hours each day to implement their SERniña and SERniño program".