PODER

Juan founded PODER (Program of Opportunities, Development & Ethical Entrepreneurship) with support form The Resolution Project. It is a development organisation supporting disadvantaged indigenous communities in rural regions. It began in Costa Rica but is primarily focused in Belize at the moment. 
Since studying Agriculture Science with a focus in Soil Microbiology at Delaware State University, Juan has started a new project remotely, to promote sustainable agriculture in his local community with the aim of improving livelihood.
Juan built a relationship with a cooperative of farmers in his hometown in late 2018. Through the collaboration, he developed the concept for agriculture, cultural and natural resource protection. Juan gained the support and partnership of a local NGO called Ya’axché Conservation Trust who offered their capacity to manage the project. This was the first project the cooperative had managed to get off the ground since their establishment 25 years ago. It launched in August 2019 having secured funding earlier that year from GEF/SGP Belize.
The cooperative developed a scheme of training on sustainable agriculture and biodiversity protection for 2,500 acres (1,102 hectares) which had previously been used unsustainably with a slash and burn method. The 30 farmers in the cooperative are participating in the project, which also trains their families in GPS mapping, conservation, farm management and organic methods. This aims to improve biodiversity and protect the area’s eco-systems, and provide stable and sustainable agriculture for a community totalling 900 people. The next stage the group hopes to implement is an agritourism initiative for the Community and its surrounding.
Juan has tapped into the One Young World Community in the Caribbean and Central America, speaking at events in Costa Rica and Trinidad and planning future initiatives with fellow Ambassadors.