Guatemala Activities, September 2025

By Simha Harari

AGREEMENT WITH THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION TO BOOST THE NATIONAL CADENA INITIATIVE PROGRAM 

On September 5th, we signed a Collaboration Agreement with the Ministry of Education, marking the formal beginning of the National CADENA Initiative Program. Our CADENA CJG President, Verónica Levy, expressed her enthusiasm for this agreement, which will allow us to implement the program in public schools countrywide. 

Through training, mentorship, and a national contest, we seek to empower students to develop projects that positively impact their communities. We thank the Ministry of Education for its openness and support of this initiative. 

 

DISASTER RISK FINANCING TRAINING 

From September 9th to 11th, we participated, representing the Guatemala Hub, in the Disaster Risk Financing Workshop organized by Start Network in Bogota, Colombia. 

We learned more about the network’s main mechanisms, Start Fund and Start Ready; tools that boost immediate responses and anticipatory actions in the face of disasters and crises. 

 

REPRESENTATION AT THE NUTRITION IN EMERGENCIES SECTOR COMMITTEE 

On September 12th, we participated in the meeting of the Nutrition in Emergencies Sector Committee, held at UNICEF’s offices. During the session, participants presented the Ministry of Public Health’s 35th Epidemiological Week update, as well as the progress made by humanitarian interventions driven by United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations. 

 

STRENGTHENING COOPERATION WITH HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL

On September 22nd, we collaborated with HelpAge International at a session where our CADENA President, Verónica Levy, met with Bikash Chandra Manna, Emergency Response Manager, and Francisco Osuna, Humanitarian Program Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean. 

During the meeting, we discussed emergency preparedness and response, access to safe water and sanitation, and community resilience. 

 

CADENA INITIATIVE FINAL AT THE VALLE VERDE CARRETERA SCHOOL

On September 26th, we celebrated the CADENA Initiative Final at the Valle Verde Carrertera School in Guatemala City, where second-grade students presented their solutions to social problems. 

We congratulate the winning projects:

1st Place: Ch’orti’ (Risks) – Fabián Olivero de la Riva, Anika Fernández Colina, Santiago Barahona Berganza, Ximena María García Piccinini

2nd Place: Amanik’i – María Andrea Arriaga Meillón, Danika Kozina Juarez

3rd Place: Eco-grills – Paula Beltrán Vettorazzi, Valentina Nicol Cruz Chavarría, Ricardo Morales Corado, Sebastián Angulo Rivas

Honorable Mention: Eco-color – Ian Kristoff Gimpell Silva, Isabella Letona Aguilar, Sebastián González Flores

We thank the school’s teachers and authorities for their support and celebrate the participants’ commitment.  

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