How an unassuming young woman from Guatemala became a local food hero

Raising a family from a young age, María Rebeca Perez de Nebaj has always had to be self-reliant. She is part of the Ixil indigenous community living in the Quiché department of Guatemala. The indigenous communities in this area have suffered from armed conflict and violence in recent history. As a result, livelihood opportunities are lacking in the region – particularly for indigenous women.

Initially Maria Rebeca worked in agriculture on a small farm, but at 19, she bought a sewing machine and quickly mastered the art of embroidering and sewing huipiles, the traditional garment worn by indigenous women in Guatemala. This source of income was crucial for her household, made up of her parents and her two children, where she is the main breadwinner.

But whilst her sewing allowed her to cover part of her family’s expenses, it was not enough to keep her family well-fed. Her income barely covered three meals a day, and she worried that her children’s diets were not nutritious enough to keep them healthy. She toyed with the idea of moving to the north of Guatemala in search of work, but as a single woman alone, it would have been difficult and dangerous. However, when she heard about the FAO-led Ixil Joint Rural Development Programme beginning in her area, she recognised an opportunity to stay with her family and learn an agricultural trade.  

What a difference a garden makes

The FAO programme, aimed at improving the livelihoods and nutrition of the indigenous communities in the area, taught Maria Rebeca how to produce nutritious food through her home garden. She began by learning to build small greenhouses and grow tomatoes, which visibly improved her children’s nutrition. With what she produced in her garden, she was able to guarantee three square meals a day for her whole family.

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