Kneading Change in Guatemala

“Kiniyen” means prosperity in Cakchiquel, a Mayan dialect spoken in central Guatemala. The word is also the name of a new bakery created by families from the community of Paraxaj under the tutelage of the Association for Sustainable Development of Paraxaj (ADESPA), a Coffee Kids partner.

The bakery, which was inaugurated in December 2008, is the culmination of a program that provided baking lessons and business training to a group of more than 30 women and men in Paraxaj. The bakery is located in the nearby city of Acatenango and employs six men and two women.

In the past, baked goods were brought into the local market from outside communities and lacked the freshness of locally produced goods. The “Kiniyen” bakery provides an affordable local alternative and currently operates with a 10-15% profit margin.

ADESPA coordinates a wide range of activities, including: literacy training, artisan projects and health lessons.