The following blog post was written by Krista Beucler, a volunteer assisting with WALC's November 2025 and January 2026* sessions.

This past November, Community Cloud Forest Conservation (CCFC) welcomed 140 young women and girls aged 12-28 from 56 communities in five Guatemalan departments to its campus in Cobán, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.

These young women and girls traveled from far and wide to attend November's Women in Agroecology Leadership for Conservation (WALC) session, and the session ran from November 23 - December 6.

Participants traveled all the way from the border of Belize in the east, from Quiche in the west, from Petén in the north, and from Baja Verapaz in the south. 

Fifty-eight girls joined the program for the first time, while 82 were returning participants. CCFC also enjoyed a new partnership with the organization Fundaeco, which sent six participants. 

Now in its eighteenth year, WALC's goal is to address climate change and cloud forest deforestation by focusing on the education of women and girls.

The girls participate in a range of classes and activities designed to build self-esteem and leadership skills, with the ultimate goal of becoming positive changemakers in their communities.

WALC graduates taught all of the practical courses, which included agroecology, soil fertility, water conservation, reforestation, hardening, tree seedling care, women’s leadership, cleaning and hygiene of the home and kitchen, cooking and nutrition, and baking and production.

These courses were supplemented by a range of guest speakers like the Asociación Altaverapacense de Orquideología (Alta Verapaz Orchidology Assocation), the Asociación Centro Don Bosco (John Bosco Center Association), and experts in biology, agroecology, health, and nutrition.

Each girl left with eight tree seedlings to start her parcel, knowledge of conservation and agroecology, and leadership skills to bring back to her community.

After completing the program and planting her parcel, each girl will earn a scholarship to help her continue her education. Your generous gifts make these scholarships possible.

Learn more about WALCDonate to a WALC scholarship

*CCFC hosted another WALC session in January 2026 from January 5 - January 16.

A Colorado native, Krista Beucler is a writer, artist, and traveler passionate about adventure, the outdoors, photography, cats, and gluten free and vegetarian food. She graduated from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA with a BA in English: Creative Writing, a double minor in Spanish and Museum Studies, and a certificate from the Peace Corps Prep Program. She earned an MFA in creative writing from Drexel University. Her interests are as eclectic as her qualifications.