Today, 11 Toj invites us to
- focus on creative ripening in many directions through mindful listening,
- let gratitude and offerings flow unpredictably, and
- give back without knowing exactly where it will lead.
11 Worthy Organizations to Donate to in Guatemala
I’ve lived in Guatemala for over 16 years now; three in the capital city and 13+ at Lake Atitlán. I’ve stayed because of the natural beauty and the heart-centered warmth and joyfulness of the Mayan people. All this despite the many issues they face due to the cycle of poverty, oppression, and corruption in the government. Learning about the sacred Mayan calendar has enriched my life greatly as well.
These are 11 tried and true organizations and initiatives that are worthy recipients of donations, if you feel called:
- Wellkind – Works with indigenous communities of Lake Atitlán to protect natural resources through reforestation, organic food production, and water conservation while empowering local Kaqchikel Maya leaders. www.wellkind.org
- Casa Guatemala – Provides education, nutrition, and health care for vulnerable and orphaned children in the remote Rio Dulce region, serving over 250 children who have been abandoned, abused, or living in extreme poverty. www.casa-guatemala.org
- Puerta Abierta Atitlán – A vibrant learning center in Santiago Atitlán offering creative, progressive education, traveling library, mothers’ artisan group, and literacy programs that empower children and families through creativity and critical thinking. www.atitlanabierta.com
- Konojel – Women-led indigenous nonprofit in San Marcos La Laguna working to end chronic malnutrition and poverty through nutrition programs, computer access, educational enrichment, and a social enterprise restaurant that employs local women. www.konojel.org
- The Midwife Project Guatemala – Empowers indigenous Maya midwives around Lake Atitlán by reviving ancestral midwifery practices while integrating modern professional midwifery through free education programs and support. www.midwifeproject.net
- WINGS Guatemala – Provides reproductive health services, family planning, and cervical cancer screenings to underserved Guatemalan women, especially Mayan women in rural areas without access to healthcare. www.wingsguate.org
- Worthy Village – Builds pathways out of poverty for women and children around Lake Atitlán through economic opportunity, clean water filtration systems, healthcare, education, and artisan cooperatives. www.worthyvillage.org
- Natün Guatemala – Elevates Indigenous leadership and capacity in the Lake Atitlán region through community-led programs in education, nutrition & health, and economic development that advance culturally-relevant solutions for Maya autonomy. www.natunguatemala.org
- Maya Midwifery International – Supports 71 Maya midwives who operate the only medical facility in Guatemala owned and run by indigenous midwives, providing vital reproductive healthcare in remote Mam-speaking communities in Quetzaltenango. www.mayamidwifery.org
- Mayan Mothers & Fathers Fund – Founded in 2020, this initiative began after recognizing that elderly women—widows and mothers with little or no income—were often overlooked by existing nonprofits. We later expanded our efforts to include elderly men as well. www.villasumaya.com
- Amigos de Santa Cruz – Provides scholarships and support for secondary and university education for students from Santa Cruz La Laguna, helping indigenous youth access higher education opportunities. www.amigosdesantacruz.org
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