To date, Groundswell International's REJUVENCER project, operating in Guatemala and Honduras, has established 24 grain banks and 9 community savings and credit groups that will benefit 32 communities. 725 families consume locally produced food using agroecological methods and receive training to improve their nutrition. 1,236 families have created family gardens and diversified plots using agroecological practices.

Guatemala – September 2025. To help address the growing challenges of food security, climate change, and rural poverty, the Citi Foundation is supporting Groundswell International in developing the REJUVENCER project (Ecological Regeneration by Empowered Youth and Empowered Communities). This initiative seeks to regenerate local agricultural systems, empower rural communities, and promote sustainable solutions in the Dry Corridor of Honduras and Guatemala.

 Groundswell received the Citi Foundation's 2023 Global Innovation Challenge , which supports community organizations working to test or scale up catalytic solutions to improve food security globally.

 "At Citi Guatemala, through the Citi Foundation's Global Innovation Challenge, we are proud to contribute to the country's development through innovative financial solutions and a firm commitment to our clients, employees, and the community. Our purpose of generating economic progress and well-being remains as relevant today as it was on day one," said Julio Álvarez, General Manager of Citi Guatemala.

 Guatemala belongs to the Central American Integration System (SICA) region, which encompasses a territory stretching from Chiapas, Mexico, to northern Costa Rica and Panama, including arid zones of the Dominican Republic. This strip, known as the Dry Corridor (DC), and its arid zones face social, economic, and climatic challenges.

 Approximately 21 million people live in rural municipalities in the region; more than 20% of jobs in this region are directly linked to agriculture and the production of staple grains,according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

 REJUVENCER focuses on two fundamental strategies: establishing community grain reserves and seed banks, which help reduce food insecurity and the cycle of debt and poverty; and rapidly regenerating soil biology and fertility without chemical fertilizers.

About the Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in initiatives that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for young people, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant communities. The Citi Foundation's "more than philanthropy" approach leverages the vast experience of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation.

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