Our organisation and team
In 2023, we became a formally registered non-profit (asociación civil), with the support of the Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture (MAGA). As a relatively new grassroots organisation, our project is mostly made up of volunteer community members. We are managed by a core group of 4, a board of 7 local directors, and a general assembly. Our women’s group is made up of 29 local women, and our youth group includes over 200 students.
Our management team
Baltazar Giron
Director
After being forced to migrate from his home country of Honduras, Baltazar spent years travelling Central America gaining experience in agriculture and construction. He eventually settled in Guatemala, feeling called to protect the Maya Biosphere Reserve and its vulnerable communities. In 2019 he founded Sol y Verde, as the culmination of decades of experience and dreams. He oversees all aspects of the project, teaches and leads our community outreach.
Emanuel Giron
Director
Born and raised in a rural campesino village in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Emanuel is the son of Baltazar and shares his father's dreams. He is a permaculture technician and carpenter, specialising in training rural communities. He leads the practical implementation and operations for all of our work.
Jasmine Ward
Agroecology Lead and Projects Coordinator
Born in the UK and living in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Jasmine is a Forester specialising in tropical restoration. She completed her masters research on Mayan practices for forest restoration and has 10 years of international experience. Jasmine coordinates our nature restoration projects, manages our volunteer program and serves as the Secretary on the Director’s Board.
Lou Elena Bouey
Infrastructure and Partnerships Development
Born in France and living between England and Guatemala, Lou is a systems designer and architect who focuses on creating resilient, creative and community-driven spaces. She’s worked with NGOs and grassroots groups of displaced communities across the Mediterranean and the US-Mexico border since 2016. She leads our construction projects, in particular our Education Centre, and manages our partnerships.
Our Directors Board
Baltazar Giron | Director
Baltazar represents our organisation, oversees its main activities, teaches and expands our local network. He is the founder of the project.
Emanuel Giron | Co-Director
Emanuel co-leads the project with his father, and is a trained planting technician. His focus is on project development.
Yesenia Coronado | Treasurer
Yesi, who’s known Baltazar and Emanuel since she was little, runs our local harware store and has led many of our village’s public realm improvements.
Jasmine Ward | Secretary & Forestry
A forest engineer by trade, Jasmine works on the managing team of the project, and coordinates our meetings and project deliverables.
A forest engineer by trade, Jasmine works on the managing team of the project, and coordinates our meetings and project deliverables.
Carlos Soto | Community Restoration
Carlos runs one of our region’s largest sustainable milling workshop and is passionate about forest restoration and community support.
Maria Perez | Public Relations & Aquaculture
Maria works at the Ministry of Agriculture and specialises in aquaculture, particularly tilapias. She’s been essential in getting our non-profit status at Sol y Verde.
Andrea Valiente | Education and Youth Programme
Andrea has a background in earth science, leads ecotourism tours all around the country, and runs our educational programme with local schools in the area.
José David Ocheata | Public Relations & Apiculture
José works at the Ministry of Agriculture and specialises in bee-keeping. He’s an expert at understanding ecosystems and caring for insects.
Partnering Organisations
University of Tabasco, Mexico
We've partnered up with the University of Tabasco's medical research team and students to develop Green Pharmacies, a medicinal plant and culture project which aims to preserve indigenous knowledge of traditional medicine in Guatemala and Mexico.
We've partnered up with the University of Tabasco's medical research team and students to develop Green Pharmacies, a medicinal plant and culture project which aims to preserve indigenous knowledge of traditional medicine in Guatemala and Mexico.
Choose Love / Choose Earth, USA
Choose Love provides humanitarian aid to, and advocacy for, refugees around the world. Their climate campaign arm, Choose Earth, are funding our capacity building to develop our migration and climate resilience programs.
Choose Love provides humanitarian aid to, and advocacy for, refugees around the world. Their climate campaign arm, Choose Earth, are funding our capacity building to develop our migration and climate resilience programs.
Evoca Foundation, United Kingdom
Evoca works across education, climate action, and supporting women and girls. They are partially funding the construction of our Laboratory Kitchen and our Ecological Library. Read more here.
Evoca works across education, climate action, and supporting women and girls. They are partially funding the construction of our Laboratory Kitchen and our Ecological Library. Read more here.
Since 2018, the following organisations have supported us on the ground through grants, in-kind donations, knowledge exchange, small funding or staff support.
If you’re interested in collaborating with us, as an individual, a professional, or an organisation, please contact us using the links below.
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