General Information
Area
La Florida is situated in the rich highlands of Colomba Costa Cuca, 3 hours from Quezaltenango and Retalhuleu, and 6 hours from Antigua. The closest town is the small town of Colomba, approximately 45min from La Florida by private and 1.5h by public transport. Off the main roads, requiring a 45min walk when using public transport, the finca forms a safe and peaceful setting for visitors to enjoy the beauty of the area and the surrounding nature.
The region of Colomba is known for its abundant natural resources, pleasant climate and coffee production. However, it is also a region suffering from high unemployment, poverty and campesino struggles for unpaid wages and land. Having won their own land and built a community based on the principles of collectivity, equality and environmental sustainability, La Florida sets an example for the other campesino groups in the area.
People
The community of La Florida consists of 40 families, most of who moved to the area during the occupation of land in 2002. Many of the families are in some way related to each other, forming a tight network of relatives and in-laws. The average number of children in a family ranges from three to eight and the households are often made of three generations.
All members of La Florida work together according to the collective principles of the community. The people start their days on the communal plantations, and cultivate their own half-acres during the afternoons and weekends. The work is hard and tiring, and the income is often insufficient to provide for the growing families. The people live in very basic conditions, although the finca provides them with the luxuries of running water and electricity during the rainy season.
The level of education in the community is low. Most of the children attend the primary school, but the youth is unfortunately unable to continue their education in La Florida. Many of the adults only learned to read and write during the occupation of land, and some are still illiterate.
As most of Guatemala, La Florida is a devoted Catholic community, and there is a small church in the village. However, many of the people are of Mayan origin and there also exists respect for traditional beliefs.
Organization
Finca Comunitaria La Florida is a collective community based on democratic decision-making and equality. The community members form part of SCIDECO, a labor union designed to fight for the campesino rights in the area of Colomba, and the organization through which the community finally won their right to land.
SCIDECO is formed of four different communities, Retiro, Guadalupe, La Florida and Rio Negro. Each of the communities is represented in the SCIDECO Coordinating board, elected every two years. The President of the Coordinating Board acts as the legal representative and spokesperson of the organization. In short, SCIDECO is the legal entity representing its members.
The internal organization of the community is composed of the General Assembly, in which each member of the community has a vote and no individual or group has the right for veto. Every two years the General Assembly chooses a Directive Board and a President for the community. Also every two years, the General Assembly elects members for the different Committees in La Florida, whose task is to coordinate the multiple projects run in the community, including Ecotourism.
