Zacarías lives with his wife and seven children in the village of Jolomijixito III, in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, where he was born and raised. As a farmer, he has been passing down the traditional practices he learned from his parents to his own children. So when he attended a sustainable farming agricultural training led by World Renew’s local partner, ADIP, he was surprised that many of the topics—especially those related to soil conservation—were new to him.

Learning New Ways to Care for the Land

Since participating in the first training session, Zacarías has enthusiastically put soil conservation techniques into practice. After learning about crop diversification, he also planted fruit trees on his land. “I am proud of my plot because it reflects [my] efforts,” he says.

But the changes are not just for his own benefit. “I’m now forced to improve my land management and do it in a sustainable way because my children have grown up and they someday will own this land,” he explains. For Zacarías, caring for the land responsibly is closely tied to caring for the future of his family.

Faith, Growth, and Gratitude

The impact of the training continues to shape Zacarías’s daily life. “I am very grateful to the brothers of ADIP and the people who support them . . . they promote such valuable trainings that makes us grow and improve our daily activities,” he says.

Beyond practical skills, the experience has deepened his faith. “[They] motivate us to follow God. Now I work my land, always thinking that everything I have and the opportunities to learn come from God and that he sees and recognizes my effort.”

Stories like Zacarías’s reflect how practical training, strong partnerships, and faith can come together to support families and communities as they work toward a more sustainable future.