• 2011 - Konojel's Story Begins

    With funding from a departing resident, a San Marcos businessman cooked hot meals for malnourished residents of San Marcos. When he was no longer able to do this, a young American took it upon himself to continue to provide meals to more than 60 residents a day.

    Joined by others, this act of kindness developed into a nutrition program for the elderly, pregnant women, and young children and then expanded to an after-school enrichment program.

  • Our First Endeavor...

    With courage, and through the great response of many people with a shared passion for working together to create sustainable changes in a community we love, the team took the next step, and Konojel’s Restaurant was born.

    The success of this social enterprise allows us to keep working and making new programs to transform the San Marcos la Laguna community. 

  • 2017 - Moving forward

    We decided to increase our efforts including in our education goals development. And so we started the computer center, which gives access to internet and tools for all students in this territory.

  • 2018

    We started working on programs for long-term transcendental changes, and this is how all efforts, dreams, work, and beliefs take us today into the development of programs such as the Healthy Babies nutrition program and Young Leaders changemakers program, making a change in beneficiaries' wellbeing and lives.

    We were able to make this possible all together, and this is why we are “Konojel”

  • Today

    Konojel continues to work towards long-term community stability and sustainability through programs that center around local-led solutions. We continue to work holistically toward ending malnutrition through education, dignified work, and resource access.

Meet the Team

The Konojel team are locally based in San Marcos la Laguna, Guatemala. We are proud to be a woman-led, indigenous operation. Konojel is supported by the All Together Foundation.

  • Co - Executive Director

    I have studied health and business. I had worked alongside different organizations around the lake as a Volunteer Manager, Clinic Manager, and Restaurant manager.

    I realize at these organizations committed to social causes that I love working with communities and I’m committed to social development. I do believe, with this experience I can be a great asset to working with people on the achievement of their dreams.

    Create new programs for San Marcos la laguna community.

    I love to read and cook, and climbing volcanoes around the lake.

  • Co - Executive Director

    I am a Psychologist specialized in the educational field and I have a strong conviction in the social basis of education. I firmly believe that contextualizing teaching can generate significant changes.

    I have participated in other organizations where we provided support to children, adolescents and women mainly.

    Konojel is an organization that allows us as women to create networks to enhance our skills and mutual learning.

    I enjoy reading, dancing and traveling, and find satisfaction in being part of this community organization.

  • Healthy Babies Manager

    I have a high school diploma with orientation in the medical field, I have worked as a librarian, first aid personnel on turistics areas and being in charge of the municipal office of environmental gestion.

    I like what I do at Konojel because I like to interact with other people, as well to be a source of help and support for people and my community.

    I wish for Konojel to be a witness of the impact that we can make and achieve with the programs that are being implemented now, and to grow for the development of the community.

 
 

  • Head Cook at Konojel Restaurant

    I started working with Konojel org around 2017, I was able to be part of this amazing team and grow together, having bigger dreams and reaching new goals.

    I love to embroider and I wish someday I could have my own entrepreneurship business

    I’ll like to learn more about gastronomy and English as 3rd language, I love my job and I do believe I this is giving us better opportunities

    In the future I would like the restaurant to grow more and improve our menu and be creative.

  • Young Leaders manager

    I have a high school diploma in music, and university studies in pedagogy. I worked as a teacher for 3 years at the local educational institute with high school students. Education is the base for making positive changes.

    Konojel worked along with the San Marcos community, this inspired me to keep believing and taking actions for social development.

    I would like to see in the future different projects and incidence in other towns around the lake that could benefit more people and that we could see positive result at our home town

    I like to share time with my family and currently I’m studying singing.