Martha Brito, a young leader from Aldea Xemamatze, Guatemala, has brought transformative change to her community through her passion for agriculture and her commitment to women’s empowerment. Inspired by her grandmother and mother, Martha has dedicated her life to teaching sustainable farming practices and fostering confidence and dignity among women in her village.
“Food at home, without depending on market products, is a blessing. We only need to buy the basics; everything else we can grow ourselves.” These words embody Martha’s philosophy and the success she has achieved through her efforts to build self-reliance in her community. From a young age, she has witnessed how agricultural training and a focus on health and dignity have reshaped her reality and that of many families around her.
A Generational Cycle of Learning
Martha’s journey as a leader began in her childhood when she lived with her grandmother, a pivotal figure in her life. Her grandmother instilled in her the value of community projects and the importance of working together to overcome challenges. Coming from a low-income family, Martha benefited greatly from training on making organic fertilizers, preparing homemade insecticides, and caring for crops. These skills enabled her to improve agricultural production at home and understand the significance of growing food to maintain a healthy diet.
Her mother, Catarina Brito, has also played a crucial role in shaping her path. As a community promoter, Catarina inspired Martha to join her in supporting others. Martha recalls accompanying her mother on visits to neighboring communities, encouraging people to harvest more and adopt sustainable practices. Alongside her agricultural education, Martha also learned to prepare traditional foods, guided by her grandmother’s teachings about the importance of nutrition in combating child malnutrition.
Empowering Women in the Community
As she grew older, Martha took on the role of a facilitator in her community, sharing her knowledge and skills with others. She organized workshops on using organic fertilizers and homemade pesticides, empowering women to take control of their agricultural production. In 2023, she expanded her efforts by leading a workshop on dignity for the women in her village. This course emphasized the importance of self-confidence and the right of women to lead and have their voices heard.
Martha’s dream is to establish a pig farm to provide further support to women in her community. “It’s a project I would love to make a reality because there are many women who need help in these areas,” she says. Her vision reflects her commitment to uplifting others and creating opportunities for economic and social empowerment.
Learning Beyond Borders
In 2022, Martha had the opportunity to travel to Japan for a nine-month program focused on agriculture and animal husbandry. During this time, she gained valuable insights into crop cultivation, pig care, and goat farming. Adapting to a new culture, language, and cuisine was initially challenging, but Martha embraced the experience and shared her journey with fellow participants. Her determination and resilience made her a source of pride for her colleagues, and the knowledge she gained has had a lasting impact on her work back home.
Honoring the Past and Building the Future
Today, Martha continues her daily activities with dedication, feeding her chickens, caring for her animals, and maintaining her household. Each action reflects her gratitude for the teachings of her mother and grandmother. Her efforts to empower her community extend beyond agriculture, as she seeks to inspire future generations with the values of collaboration, self-reliance, and respect for the land.
Through her leadership and vision, Martha has become a beacon of hope and change in Aldea Xemamatze. Her work exemplifies the power of knowledge and the transformative potential of empowering women and communities to shape their own futures.
