Miss Earth Guatemala 2011 Ana Luisa Montufar: Guatemala is a privileged country due to its geographical position

“I learned to live and grow in an integrated family which provided the support and safety that is needed at that age. I learned that perseverance, excellence, and effort are the bases for the succeeding in everything you do. My pastor taught me that success is not an event rather it is a daily life process,” Miss Earth Guatemala 2011 Ana Luisa Montufar tells, MissEarth.tv mediates.

Age: 18
Height: 172 cm.
Weight: 52 kg.
Measurements: 85 – 60 – 92

What environmental project will you create to promote the protection of Mother Earth and why?
Guatemala is located in the Central America Region. It has become one of the regions greatly affected by the climate change. Due to being located between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, we have become very vulnerable to hurricanes, tropical storms and great floods; in addition to the deforestation of our land (In Guatemala the rate of deforestation is higher than 172,900 Acres per year), leaving the soil vulnerable to landslides and other serious catastrophes.

I have two projects in mind and I will carry out the one that is settled first:
FIrst will be “A can for a tree”: Over 6,000.000 metal cans enter Guatemala every year, most of them containing nutritional products such as: infant formula and nutritional supplements. Once these cans are used, they are tossed in the trash can and they end up in dumpsters with no control over them what so ever. One of the companies that imports and distributes these products is very interested in retrieving these empty cans, for each can recovered a tree will be sown.

My second project will be at the Casa de Dios is a Christian Church in Guatemala with over 20,000 members. The Church has a “Food Bank” one that has been working since several years ago. The Church’s members donate each month “Non perishable foods”, with which more than 2,500 people are being fed every month. On top of this, whenever there is a natural disaster such as a storm, flood, hurricane, etc food and clothing are taken to the victims in their communities. This is possible because of its good planning and logistics during these events and the collecting facilities.

What makes you proud of the country you are representing, and what can you promote about your country?
Guatemala is a privileged country due to its geographical position. With an extension of 108,000kms2 it has a diversity of microclimates; you can go from a tropical climate to a cold mountain in only 30 minutes. In a short period of time you can go from an exuberant jungle to a cloud forest, a plateau, a mountain, dry lands and even the two coasts with beautiful beaches along the caribbean sea and the pacific ocean. The country has a mountain chain where mighty rivers are born, and a chain of 41 volcanoes, many of which are active, and others with lakes on their craters.

We have a coral reef along the caribbean sea which is a protected area. The country has amazing lakes, from which atitlan lake is worth mentioning since it is considered amongst of the most beautiful of the world.

Guatemala is cradle of the mayan culture and we have temples that have been declared world cultural heritage monuments, the “el mirador” area was recently discovered and within its building complex lays the birth place of the cam kingdom, where the highest pyramid in the world is located.

We have indigenous ethnic groups with over 23 dialects and approximately 250 autochthonous gowns. Our fauna, flora and music are unique. Our export product are coffee (considered as one of the best around the world), sugar, etc. Our gastronomy is of the most varied in the world. And of course its people, kind, friendly, pushing forward, hospitable.

Describe your childhood/growing years.
Those years went by filled with happiness and took place in a unified an integrated family environment. Besides going to school I took Spanish dance (Flamenco) lessons. I learned sign language to be able to communicate with people who were hearing impaired. My dream of becoming a beauty queen began when I was eleven years old, when I studied for two years at the professional modeling academy “El Mundo de la Mujer”. Since that age, I have focused on becoming a Beauty Queen to be able to represent my country internationally in order to be an inspiration to Guatemalan society.

What lessons did you learn from your childhood/growing years?
I learned to live and grow in an integrated family which provided the support and safety that is needed at that age. I learned that perseverance, excellence, and effort are the bases for the succeeding in everything you do. My pastor taught me that success is not an event rather it is a daily life process. The most important lesson learned is having discovered the great “value of friendship” during any stage of life.

What is your environmental advocacy?
My Country looses 172,900 Acres of forest per year. This is why my support to the “Environment in my country” is focused towards reforestation programs mostly. In the month of July, I will be participating in a reforestation program (Lounged by my school) in the San Vicente Pacaya area. This is a region located at the feet of “Pacaya” volcano one that is in frequent activity. This will consist of an awareness program throughout the region and trees will be planted on Saturdays with the students of these institutions.