Published: April 4, 2023

In Central America, one of the most enduring activities of the KNOW-HOW3000 Knowledge Management Programme has been the Communities of Practice. Two groups in particular have been very active for many years: the Community of Practice Advocacy for Women’s and Youth Rights and the Community of Practice Rural Family.

In 2022, after overcoming several challenges, including continuing to work with communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 14 HORIZONT3000 partner organisations have reached the end of the four-year cycle of their projects. On this occasion a Regional Meeting of the Communities of Practice was held in Santiago Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. It is worth mentioning that this was the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that the organisations met face-to-face.

The meeting was an opportunity to share experiences made with and the impact of the Communities of Practice and the Knowledge Management Programme in general. Hear our colleagues talk about their experiences in this playlist of short videos (with English subtitles)!

Eunice Alas, from Fundación Círculo Solidario in El Salvador, talks about the impact her participation in the HORIZONT3000 Knowledge Management Programme had on her personally and on her organisation.

“Through this process I have strengthened my knowledge in the areas of gender and also in the area of ​​agroecology and human rights. We also had benefits as an organization since we managed to update our institutional gender policy. And currently, we are participating in the creation of the policy for children and adolescents, among other workshops.”

Julia Cajas from Amoixquic Asociación de Mujeres de Guatemala talks about the importance of sharing experiences and learnings between organisations through Communities of Practice.

“I think this is one of the actions that is very important for all organizations, because there we realize the experience we have, we are nourished, we learn and value – and we also recognize the experience of other organizations, their advances and how they have achieved it. The value of this is that we recognize knowledge as something that we must share. This is part of our contribution or some say our ” grain of sand”. In Guatemala we say this is “the grain of corn” that we can contribute to the construction of a Good Life (“buen vivir”).”

Lucas Argueta, from Fundacion Segundo Montes in El Salvador, reflects on the changes generated in the lives of women in the communities, but above all on how participating in the Knowledge Management Programme has made it possible to make visible and open spaces for a more inclusive participation of women.

“We have been able to perceive changes: now we value the knowledge of all of us, we not only listen to the technician but also to the woman or man working in the field. Men have also learned to listen to women: Through this learning we have looked for a way to make visible all that knowledge that women have and all their contribution that was hidden before.”

Marcos Tulio Torres from ADES Santa Marta in El Salvador tells us about the importance of youth participation in Communities of Practice activities and their virtual workshops.

“Over the years I have seen how young men and women, with whom we work in projects carried by the organization, participated in Communities of Practice. For example, they participated in the virtual activities of the Community of Practice, developed in the context of the pandemic. There they were able to learn different agricultural techniques directly without intermediaries. That has generated a strong impact on youth.”