On November 15, the trainees from Guatemala and Honduras spent the day proposing, discussing and working on their final presentation based on what they learned in their time in Japan.

The result of this work was presented on the morning of November 16 in two groups. The first group was conformed by Mr. Jorge Saúl Rodríguez Bonilla from El Caoba and Mr. Edgar René Castillo Solís from El Remate who made an Action Plan from the communitarian perspective. The core of their proposal was the creation of a Cooperative for the Association of the Communities. This will include the communities of: El Caoba, El Remate, El Capulinar, El Ixlú, Socotzal, and El Porvenir. The cooperative will provide the communities with a more defined structure to voice their needs, strengthen tourism engagement and sell local products.

The former group’s proposal is supported by the action plan made by the local institutions. This group was represented by Mr. Dimas Pérez from Tikal Archaeological Park, Mr. Rudy Cacao from Flores City Hall and Ms. Kathleen Aquart from the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT). Their proposal leaned towards supporting the communities with workshops, formation and training of personnel, and further empowering them by providing a tourist center so that the local people may sell their products.

The presentations were followed by an individual speech by each of the trainees regarding how they can approach the problems in their respective locations based on what they learned from Japan.

To conclude the program, there was a closing ceremony from 11:30 to 12:00. Prof. Yoichi Nishimoto, Director of the Center for Cultural Resource Studies and Mr. Tomoki Nitta, Director of JICA Hokuriku Center addressed the audience to express their impressions and final remarks of the program. Mr. Carlos Carbajal and Mr. Saúl Rodríguez followed by giving a final speech. Lastly each of the attendees received a diploma for their completion of the program.

• JAPANESE