AUGUST UPDATE TRAINING TOMORROW'S LOCAL LEADERS

Over the summer, our management team took part in a 6-week leadership development program led by executive coaches. The team focused on improving important leadership skills including self-awareness, communication, collaboration and time management. Now, they are able to role-model these core skills for their teams, helping them to become better managers and stronger leaders.    Did you know? 85% of our staff come from the Santa Cruz communities! Part of achieving our mission includes employing and building a professional class here in Santa Cruz who themselves lead the organization in their own community. Because of this, professional development plays a big role in our work. Providing the opportunity for our teams to continue to learn and grow helps increase core capabilities within the community and improves our effectiveness as an organization.

New Staff Spotlight: Meet Eliseo, Women’s Empowerment Program Assistant Eliseo joined Amigos as an intern in our Santa Cruz Youth Corps in 2020, and was hired as a Program Assistant on our Women's Empowerment Program Team in January of this year. Despite being the only male on the team, Eliseo's charisma and commitment to advancing women's rights and the wellbeing of program participants are evident in all that he does. As part of his current role, he delivers workshops, collects financial data, and provides technical assistance for the women-owned businesses in the program. His favorite part of the job is being able to empower women through workshops and business development. Eliseo is native to Santa Cruz and completed his high school studies in Panajachel in 2019. His dream is to study Business Administration at a university in the United States. Eliseo also has a keen interest in visual arts and advertising. Outside of work, he enjoys learning about and practicing photography and promotional video production. He is currently using those skills to help develop promotional materials for the women-owned businesses that he supports! "Eliseo is up for any task. He is constantly encouraging the women to continue with their businesses, even when it gets difficult!" -Vanessa Vasquez, Women's Program Coordinator

Congratulations to our Guide Course Graduates The Community Tour Guide course in our CECAP Vocational Training Center is entering its final leg! Over the last four months, the students have learned how to create and lead their own guided tours, blending elements of nature, history, and culture to create a rich experience for visitors to Santa Cruz. This is the first course of its kind to be held in Santa Cruz and marks a new chapter in Santa Cruz community tourism, as most tour guides currently working in Santa Cruz come from other regions. This new training program will allow us to open up job opportunities for Santa Cruz locals while promoting sustainable community tourism. Once they graduate, the guides will receive their official Guatemalan Tourism Institute certification and Amigos will support them to find work as local tour guides or start their own community tour business. Please join us in wishing them GOOD LUCK on their final exams! 💪

amigosdesantacruz.org info@amigosdensantacruz.org

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