Paul and Mary McKay with new EPIC Board Member Scott Brink, had a great visit to Guatemala this spring. They saw this fish pond with over 1000 talapia in the community of Chivaquito, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. For Holy Week celebrations, all 50 families participating in this project will eat fish. EPIC’s agricultural programs are teaching people to raise fish in family fish ponds. The family or a group of neighbors dig the pond, and the EPIC program staff provide instruction on caring for the pond and the young fish.

They also visited the Casa Aj’ab’al staff in San Lucas, Guatemala. This local NGO provides women and their children safe shelter from abusers, plus legal and emotional support. The women make and sell beautiful artisan soaps to help achieve economic independence.