Mission
Julian Cho Society’s mission is “to provide support to the 39 Maya villages to pursue The Future We Dream by protecting Maya rights, caring for natural resources, and promoting cultural, social and economic development.”
Securing Land Tenure
Who the Maya people are, and their struggle for land rights and climate justice across southern Belize.
Our Purpose
Mission, Vision & Goal
Vision
The Future We Dream articulates the Vision of the Maya people as “A peaceful, hardworking, self-determining people, rooted in our culture, open to the world and new technologies, living in community, and collectively stewarding the wellbeing of our people and lands.”
Goal
Secure, guarantee, and enhance land tenure and associated rights for the Maya people (Q’eqchi’ and Mopan) in southern Belize in accordance with the implementation of the Caribbean Court of Justice Consent Order agreed between the Government of Belize and the Maya people.
Strategic Thematic Areas
Program Areas
All Maya people, young and old, feel rooted in Maya spirituality, confident about their identity and awareness of their world, actively shaping their future, adopting new technologies on their way. Maya existential values on reciprocity with the land, collectiveness, unity and peace have been taken back, revitalized and safeguarded.
Maya community members, women and men, young and old, as well as their elected leaders understand and value the Maya governance system and confidently take up their role and space for dialogue and listening to arrive at community decisions on matters related to community affairs and resources. An increased awareness, understanding, valuing and confidence of Maya communities in the Maya governance system, which regards the community as maximum authority on local decision-making.
The health, integrity and customary tenure of Maya ancestral lands are better legally secured and protected, while supporting livelihood security for all. Raal cho’och is about protecting and stewarding the wellbeing of the land, forests and rivers, reflecting the well-being of the community, the individual and those, coming after us; the well-being of the people depends on the land and the well-being of the lands depends on its people; the Maya ancestral lands belong to its people and the Maya people belong to their lands; this reflects a symbiotic relation between equals.
National and international solidarity partnerships and networks have been operating and assisting the Maya people in the realization of their vision by providing critical advocacy and material support, foremost in achieving their vision and mission.
