SLT Pivot

SLT

Pivot

The trips that had been programmed to take place after March 15, 2020 had to be cancelled or postponed in order to protect the health and integrity of the communities. De La Gente pivoted by investing in the creation of virtual tours and online courses in order to allow for the community to keep making an income during lockdown .

Once the service learning pivoted into the online world many new opportunities materialized, such as a virtual experience for Indiana State University where the students could take part in community service, coffee market and culture in Guatemala.

First Virtual Experience was with Indiana State University!

One of the online service learning programs that was started during 2020 was the De La Gente Coffee Course, a program made up of 10 sessions dedicated to provide analytical information for the students to learn about the coffee industry in Guatemala and how it relates to the international market.

Participated as guest speakers for Windermere Prep School Coffee, Culture, Community Service

The course covers subjects ranging from environmental issues to the history of coffee in Guatemala. In addition to the De La Gente Coffee course there were also pre-recorded workshops created including subjects such as Guatemalan textiles, Guatemalan kite making, cooking a traditional Guatemalan meal, a coffee roasting workshop and the decolonization of coffee markets. These courses are a huge step in the diversification of income for the cooperatives we work with. Allowing them to showcase their skills and profit from them online from the safety of their own communities.