Building Local Resilience Together: Peace Boat Hosts Guatemala's First Community of Practice on Locally Led Climate Adaptation

When Peace Boat's 123rd Global Voyage arrived at Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, on June 22, the ship became a space for dialogue, collaboration, and community leadership. As part of its ongoing commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), peacebuilding, and locally led resilience, Peace Boat welcomed local community leaders, government representatives, and resilience practitioners aboard for a unique exchange of knowledge and experiences.

Among the guests was Andrea Monzón, a community leader and member of the Guatemala Community Platform of Resilience Practitioners, who had also been sailing onboard Peace Boat between New York and Guatemala as a Guest Educator. Drawing from her own experience, Andrea shared inspiring reflections on community resilience, locally led climate adaptation, and the importance of empowering communities to become active agents of change in the face of environmental and social challenges. Her story highlighted how local knowledge and grassroots leadership play a critical role in building more resilient and sustainable futures.

The visit also brought together members of the Guatemala Community Platform of Resilience Practitioners, alongside representatives from Guatemala's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) through its Directorate for Climate Change Adaptation, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), and invited Peace Boat guests.

A highlight of the gathering onboard Peace Boat was the platform's first Community of Practice on Locally Led Climate Adaptation. The meeting created a collaborative space where participants strengthened relationships, exchanged experiences, and explored ways to advance community-led responses to climate change across Guatemala.

A Platform for Community Leadership

The Guatemala Community Platform of Resilience Practitioners brings together women community leaders from different regions of Guatemala who are actively promoting locally led adaptation, disaster risk reduction, environmental stewardship, and resilient livelihoods within their own communities.

The platform was established to strengthen peer learning, facilitate knowledge exchange, and connect grassroots leadership with public institutions and technical partners. Through regular Communities of Practice, participants share practical experiences, identify common challenges, and co-create solutions rooted in local realities while contributing to national and global climate resilience efforts.

By recognizing the value of traditional knowledge, lived experience, and women's leadership, the platform helps amplify community voices and demonstrates that effective climate adaptation begins with local action.

Experiencing Peace Boat

Beyond the workshop, participants had the opportunity to explore Peace Boat and learn more about its global educational voyages, which promote peace, sustainability, human rights, and intercultural dialogue through partnerships and educational experiences around the world.

During the visit, participants toured the ship and experienced the onboard exhibition "A Message to Humanity," presented in collaboration with the Nobel Peace Center. This exhibition shares the testimonies of the Hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of nuclear weapons.

"Visiting Peace Boat is always a source of great joy and excitement. It is a chance to reconnect with everyone who is part of the Community Platform of Resilience Practitioners in Guatemala. Walking through every corridor and room of the ship takes us on a journey across oceans of wisdom, exchange, unique experiences, and lasting memories. We feel especially fortunate that our dear Guatemalan leader, Andrea Monzón, had the opportunity to share her culture, knowledge, and stories during the ship's most recent voyage, while also learning from so many people from around the world. 
Dear Peace Boat, we will always be here waiting for you with the same excitement and affection as always!”
Maite Rodriguez - Fundacion Guatemala

For many participants, the exhibition complemented the day's conversations on resilience and sustainability, reminding us that building peaceful and resilient societies requires learning from the past while working collectively toward a more just future.

The visit demonstrated how global and local perspectives can come together to strengthen resilience. By bringing community leaders, public institutions, and international partners aboard, Peace Boat continues to create spaces where dialogue, learning, and collaboration inspire meaningful local action with global impact.