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From February 17th to 19th, the Training Center of Spanish Cooperation in Antigua Guatemala hosted the interdisciplinary seminar “Tejiendo Saberes” (Weaving Knowledge) of the Ixchel project in Guatemala. During this event, some of the project’s results were presented, along with reflections on the activities carried out and the definition of the next steps.
This project is funded by the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and focuses on research processes and social aspects within the context of volcanic risk in Guatemala. “This is a project about risk management, but it takes into account community knowledge, local knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, aiming to improve the science behind decision-making and also placing all the work within a human rights framework,” commented Eliza Calder, the project director in Guatemala, who highlighted the importance of local and indigenous knowledge in risk management.
Within the framework, activities focus on several components, including risk understanding, volcanic impact models, thematic maps, and social strengthening and organization. The ICC has contributed by leading community organization processes in the direct and indirect influence areas of the Fuego volcano, in conjunction with the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) and municipal risk management agencies.
The event featured the participation of national and international experts in volcanology, sociology, representatives of governmental organizations, and community leaders, who discussed the risk associated with volcanic effects through their experiences, worldview, and visual art. The ICC presented two studies addressing the effects and impacts of lahars on communities located downstream of the natural drainage of the Fuego volcanic complex and the work done in strengthening community capacities through the organization of Local Disaster Reduction Coordinators (COLRED).
At the end, Eliza Calder expressed her pride in the work done: “I feel very proud of what we all did here. What we did here requires a community; it wasn’t one person or another; everyone here, the community at this event, facilitated the things that were achieved. What we did wasn’t easy; it was hard work, so I want to say thank you, thank you for being willing to be open and try new things, thank you for being open to listening with respect to new things because sometimes it’s hard to understand and see other perspectives, thank you for listening and staying with us.”
The “Ixchel” project has left a significant mark on volcanic risk management in Guatemala, integrating scientific and community knowledge to strengthen the resilience of affected communities.
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