Self-Sufficiency Certification

The first module explores the essence of survival and common misconceptions. It addresses major threats such as financial crises and environmental disasters, and emphasizes the key aim for survivalists: building resilient communities. In this module, you will learn:

• What survival is and what it is not
• Global financial crisis
• Nuclear warfare
• Runaway global warming
• Global pandemics
• Resilience: the goal of survivalists

In survival mode with limited water resources, making every drop count is essential. This module explores redesigning your home and land to take advantage of rainfall, transforming it into a multi-purpose lifeline for drinking, growing food and hygiene. In this module you will discover:

• How we get our water today
• Harvesting rainwater for personal use
• Water for agriculture
• How to reuse and limit water use
• Traditional water management of the indigenous desert tribes

This module embraces the “food prepper” mentality, reimagined as a consistent source of nourishment by growing your own food, exceeding the traditional notions of food preparation and self-reliance. In this module we will discuss: 

• How food is grown and distributed in today´s world
• Growing food
• Saving food
• Seed saving and propagation
• The abundance of year-round food secured by the Inuit of the Arctic Region 

The fourth module unveils the energy-inefficient characteristics of industrial building and paves the way towards the captivating realm of sustainable building techniques. This module highlights:

• How industrial society builds their homes
• The challenge of building your own home
• Two types of Natural Construction: cob and straw bale homes
• Natural methods to heat and cool your home
• The “Bajareque” or wattle and daub homes of the lowland Maya 

Discover the truth about our future of energy. While some hope for unlimited new sources of energy, the real crisis isn’t scarcity but our ignorance and lack of restraint in using energy. This module will discuss:

• Energy: An addiction or a necessity? 
• Limiting energy use, the number one priority
• How to heat your home
• Hot water
• Technologies for moving water
• Solar panels and wind turbines
• Transportation considerations
• Gravity fed water system created by small farmers in Central America 

This module will empower you to become your own health advocate in survivalist scenarios, guiding you to source natural medicine and reduce reliance on modern medicine. Discover the timeless wisdom of “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” for holistic wellbeing in today’s world. You will learn:

• The concept of medicine in modern day society
• Holistic approaches to health
• Natural medicine primer
• The home pharmacy of every Guatemalan farmer

In the past, wealth meant tangible assets like cattle and land. Nowadays, in our financialized world, wealth is intangible and detached from concrete assets. This module delves into this modern shift, where you will learn about:

• The global casino economy
• Safer investment harbors 
• Alternative currencies
• Reorganizing the workplace for greater ownership
• “Cajas Comunitarias”: community owned savings and owned institutions in Central America  

Survival transcends individualism. This module advocates for the power of communities in crises, drawing from nature, history, and human psychology to highlight their practicality and essential role in building a sustainable society. This module will explore:

• Our addiction to individualism
• The myth of the noble against the savages
• Resiliency in times of crisis: the individual or the group
• How the community can help rebuild vital institutions for civilization
• Legitimate security concerns and how to prepare for them

Explore the advantages and disadvantages of urban and rural living and how they can impact survival in future crisis scenarios. This concluding module delves into the unique challenges and benefits of each environment, helping you make informed choices for a resilient future. You will discover in this module:

• Our current urban addiction
• The pros and cons of being in a city
• The pros and cons of being in the country
• The opportunity to rebuild mutually beneficial relationships between urban and rural areas

The module explores the impact of modern civilization on indigenous people, emphasizing their historical rootedness, traditions, and connection to the land. It highlights the significance of indigenous activism, spirituality, and the pursuit of a good life rooted in their deep connection to Mother Earth.

• Why the Focus on Indigenous Peoples?
• The Original Affluent Society
• Defense of the Land
• Indigenous Spirituality
• The Ojibway Prophecy: Bringing Together Two Traditions
• Survival as an Opportunity to Rebuild Civilization.
• Conclusion: Survival as an Opportunity to Rebuild Civilization.