Be warned, two weeks is simply not enough time to spend at Cyrila's! Fortunately I was able to participate in a variety of activities, but it was just an introduction. Juan and Abelina will welcome you into their home as a family member, and you may never want to leave. You will learn that the Cho family began their chocolate making venture producing 25 bars a week, made by hand on traditional Mayan stone tools. Since then, the business has grown immensely! The family now has a very effective production site at their home where they offer tours, demonstrations, and delicious traditional Mayan lunches. Visitors can also participate in a tour of the families farm in Indian Creek that provides all the cacao, coconut, ginger and sugar used in Cyrila's chocolate products. Juan an Abelina aim to provide visitors with an understanding of Mayan culture while promoting and practicing methods of sustainable, organic agriculture.
During my time at Cyrila's I experienced a little bit of everything. Volunteers can expect to participate in all chocolate making procedures which includes, harvesting cacao, grinding, shelling, and processing products. They will also package, label, and sell products to visitors. In addition to making chocolate there are opportunities to harvest sugar cane, coconut, ginger, and other crops at the farm. Not only did I assist with chocolate production, but also with tours, lunch preparation, and garden maintenance. Juan and Abelina really appreciate the extra set of hands, and will introduce you immediately to each visitor that comes through the door. Volunteers at Cyrila's are truly treated like family, and you can look forward to many interesting dinner conversations. In my short time I was able to learn quite a bit about Mayan religion, mythology, and other cultural practices. It was definitely an experience I will never forget.
<3 Brittani
