The Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation seeks to promote change in the communities through different projects that seek to create opportunities to improve peoples’ quality of life.
Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation is the social arm of Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI), a multi-Latin company with a history of more than 100 years of generating economic, social and environmental value in all the communities where it operates. Under the leadership of the Chairman and President of CMI Foods, Juan José Gutiérrez and the Chairman and President of CMI Capital, Juan Luis Bosch, the corporation has developed projects that seek sustainable development.
Among these projects is the Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation’s Nutrition Program, which aims to bring about generational impact by working towards reducing the current rates of chronic malnutrition, following the principles of Food and Nutritional Security.
The program focuses on San Cristóbal Totonicapán in Guatemala, one of the departments prioritized in Guatemala for the prevention of chronic malnutrition at the national level due to its high rate of child malnutrition.
One of the Program’s areas of focus, in addition to improving nutrition and bringing nutritious food to the communities, is to boost income generation by empowering women and promoting self-sustainability and entrepreneurship.
A success story of the Nutrition Program is “Típicos y Variedades Isabelita”, a group of women weavers that, led by Amalia Tayún and her family, generates job opportunities for more than 18 women and their families in San Cristóbal Totonicapán.
This business was possible thanks to the alliance between Producciones Utzil (which means “Happiness”) and Wakami, with the support of the Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation. Currently, they produce a variety of products that range from the manufacture of handicrafts, sandals, huipiles and cortes (the traditional items of dress used by local women), to ornaments and sewing and weaving supplies.
Through community entrepreneurship promoted by the Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation and the Nutrition Program, it will be possible to create a positive impact in the communities of the country and improve people’s quality of life.