We founded COMADEP in Mexico in 1986 with the fundamental objective to support the Guatemalan refugees that were in exile in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Campeche and Quintana Roo. The previous years we had already been working with them, however without a legal status. Starting up the organization of COMADEP was my own initiative and with a group of Guatemalan refugees and Mexican solidary people we started with different projects. At that time we were being financed by international NGO´s, especially European ones.

   We assisted the refugees with humanitarian aid,    trainings and courses and helped them to organize    themselves. Besides, we stood by them in their    political struggle for their save return to their own    country. Currently, we seek to foster the development    processes within the returned villages.

   Our mission is to work with indigenous farmers in    social, economic, cultural and political processes in    order for them to improve their life standards.

   The vision of COMADEP is to be an organization with    technical, economic and political capacity that is able    to subsist with own resources. By conducting    development projects in rural areas we wish to    contribute to democracy and peace in Guatemala.
 

We have managed to get over the critical period of humanitarian help, which at that particular moment was tremendously important. From then on, we have managed to conduct agricultural, educational and commercialization projects.

These really make a difference in the social and economic situation of the participants. We think that in the mid-term the organizations of farmers with which we work can develop their own capacities and foster their own development. This would be the moment in which to start conducting projects with other less fortunate groups.

It should be mentioned that everything that has been achieved during the past 15 years can't possibly be considered the result only of our own capacity and dedication. It all was possible due to the participation of all the people and to all the solidary international help we received. By this means we want to thank all our donors and friends from CANADA, the EEUU, Europa and Guatemala for making our work possible.

Alberto Colorado
General Director
COMADEP