Petrona’s story of health, good food and life

Our partner Taa’Pi’t works with indigenous families in the Lake Atitlán region of Guatemala to reintroduce traditional foods, cooking techniques and agricultural practices based on Ru Kuuyx qa Way qa Kuyaa, the Mayan expression for directing recognition, acceptance and gratitude to the vital energy that arrives in each home in the form of seeds, vegetables, fruits and liquids.

Petrona Cocon is one of the women who benefited from this project and she shares her reflections here.

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The Taa’ Pi’t Ru Kuuyx qa Way qa Kuyaa (Essence of our Food and Drink) project has greatly influenced my life, both in health and in finances. There I learned the importance of good food hygiene, to disinfect all the vegetables we eat and also about economics.  

We used to consume a lot of canned and packaged foods, fast food, products like soft drinks and other types of food that, besides being expensive, were not nutritious for our health. This cycle [of workshops] has also helped me to contribute, even if only a little, to care for the lake [Lake Atitlán] because the products we buy in the commercial stores and consume are a source of garbage. I have learned to make good use of our natural resources, the foods produced by Mother Earth and the lake, because without the lake there would be no life.

So, the Taa’ Pi’t project has greatly benefited my life and is important to me and my family.  Because they are healthy, they have not gotten sick as much since we [have avoided] contaminated food and have collaborated to produce less inorganic waste. Taa’ Pi’t has been a blessing to my life and that of my family and my community because, little by little, we are learning to value the natural riches God has given us.