| El Edén “Eden” Barillas, Huehuetenango, Guatemala Size: 280 acres |
 Download a Summer 2010 Village Update |
In April 1999, Agros purchased property in the municipality of Barillas, Huehuetenango, northwest of the Ixil Region near the Mexican border. The families who initially moved to El Edén were already organized and approached Agros for assistance.
They have now completed the construction of their homes, latrines and both a mainline and house-to-house water system. The property was left with coffee and cardamom crops which the villagers began cultivating again as an export crop. There is a local rustic schoolhouse that serves as an education center for the children in the community.
One of the most remote Agros villages, El Edén is a 40-kilometer drive on a rough road from the municipal capital of Barillas.
In June 2010, direct support from Agros ended in El Edén. Direct support includes the weekly visits Agros staff makes to the community for trainings, technical assistance and other community activities. After long-term partnership with Agros, the community has reached sustainability milestones, preparing them for self-sufficiency and continued growth. Agros staff will continue to be in touch as the families finish making land loan repayments. Please read our Graduating Communities document to learn more about how a village graduates from the Agros development process.
