“We are thinking a lot about our young people, the Tseltal youth, hoping that they can learn more specialized trades,” Cristina shared. “They could become coffee sommeliers, experts in laboratories here at the coop, and manage their own processing plant for both honey and cosmetics.” In the northern jungle of Chiapas, Mexico, environmental sustainability and livelihoods are intrinsically linked and the next generation of the indigenous Tseltal community hangs in the balance.

Cristina Méndez Álvarez and Alejandro Rodríguez Márquez, the co-directors of Yomol A’tel, explained how this community brings together families, communities, and social enterprises working toward justice, sustainability, and dignity which helps secure lequil cuxlejalil — “the good life” — that seeks to maximize social benefit through sustainability and profitability of the value chains. Part of the Comparte Network, this initiative brings together social and solidarity companies that produce organic and sustainable coffee, honey, and soap in an effort to transform the lives of their members while preserving the cultural heritage of the region.

The Origins of Yomol A’tel

Yomol A’tel, which means “together we work, together we walk, together we dream” in Tseltal, began with coffee. In 2001, a group of 28 coffee producers in the community of Nuevo Progreso came together to imagine a better way to sell their product.

“For many years, since coffee has been grown here, it’s been subject to a network of intermediaries,” explained Alejandro. “We call them coyotes. They set the price of coffee year after year, and it’s even tied to the fluctuations of the New York Stock Exchange. That price changes constantly, and it doesn’t allow families to earn a stable income.”

Frustrated by this injustice, the producers turned to the local Jesuit Bachajón mission in Chiapas — which has accompanied Tseltal communities for decades — and began building their own value chain. Today, more than 360 families are part of Yomol A’tel, growing coffee, honey, and other products locally and selling their products internationally at just prices.

As the organization has grown, so have the dreams of its members — especially the women.

“This growth has also enabled them to diversify their products,” said Cristina. “They no longer only make soaps — now they’re making handmade cosmetics, like creams and solid shampoos. They’ve even begun producing textiles with traditional embroidery, alongside more contemporary products.”

These women, organized through the cooperative Xapontic, use the laboratory spaces at the new “Modulo Integral Yomol A’tel” (MIYA) to develop these products. The MIYA is a multi use building, which was built in part through the support of American Jesuits International, that offers spaces where they can meet, produce, and package their goods with autonomy and dignity. “It’s a dream,” said Cristina, “but one that’s taking shape. It’s a step toward economic independence, not only within the organization, but within their homes.”

Two Types of Sustainability

Yomol A’tel’s work is grounded in a holistic understanding of sustainability — one that addresses both economic survival and ecological stewardship.

“The local economy in this region has become very precarious,” Cristina explained. “That’s why we believe diversification is essential — so that families aren’t dependent on a single product. We’re constantly innovating, using what we have here, while respecting nature’s order and developing sustainable production processes.” In Chiapas, poverty persists despite the region’s rich biodiversity and importance as a coffee-producing area. Coffee represents up to 80% of their economy, making these communities highly vulnerable to market fluctuations and environmental risks.

Cristina added, “We think a lot about family income. We want it to grow steadily, so families can meet their basic needs — food, housing, education.”

But economic resilience is only part of the equation. As Alejandro shared, the land itself is sacred.

“We’re on Tseltal communal lands,” he said. “Families have the right to use this land, and we’ve looked for ways to sustain ourselves without damaging our biocultural heritage. This region is rich in natural resources — in its flora and fauna — and our goal has always been to protect and preserve that legacy.”

Through agroecological practices, families ensure their own food security and use any surplus to create products for the market. “That way,” Alejandro said, “we can cover other basic needs — food, education, health, and housing — without harming the earth.”

Dreams for the Next Stage

Despite their many successes, Cristina and Alejandro shared the ambitious dreams they have for the continued growth of Yomol A’tel and all of the co-ops that form part of their community.

“Part of our collective dream,” Cristina said, “is to continue promoting autonomy from within our territory — to develop infrastructure and skills here, instead of taking the wealth we produce elsewhere.”

Migration is a challenging issue in this region, drawing many young people away from their local communities in search of more stable work opportunities.  “We think a lot about the younger generation,” she continued. “They could become coffee sommeliers, experts in laboratories here at the coop, and manage their own processing plant for both honey and cosmetics. Especially the girls and women. We want them to have opportunities to generate a fair income from their own communities, while also tending to other aspects of life — like health and housing.”

For Alejandro, the future is about growth with purpose. “We’re looking for sustainable growth — for cooperatives that can scale and include more families. That way, more people can live lequil cuxlejalil — the good life — in harmony with nature, with their work, and with each other.”

Our Support for Yomol A’tel

To strengthen the production, and commercialization capacities of the group and its members, the cooperative group of Yomol A’tel is building a processing facility that also serves as a meeting space, called “Modulo Integral Yomol A’tel” (MIYA). The MIYA aims to promote production, commercialization and capacity building of the organizations that make up Yomol A’tel and its members to improve the families’ livelihoods.

American Jesuits International has been supporting this effort in each progressive stage of the MIYA’s development. In 2024, the cooperative was able to work with architects to design the next phase of development of the MIYA and we are in the process of formulating the third phase of this project, scheduled to begin in July of 2025. This new phase will utilize the new spaces available at the MIYA to support Tsetsal women and young people to expand the initiatives of the community and pursue more diversified income sources.