Our Work

Community-led programs and systemic strategic threads which interweave to create long-term impact

Our Programs

Nutrition & Health Program

Improves the nutrition and health of women and children through a holistic approach that strengthens prevention, self-care, and the availability of healthy foods.

Learn more
Education Program

Fosters the personal, community, and social development of children and adolescents by strengthening their leadership, communication, identity, science and technology skills, through culturally relevant curricula and the active participation of families.

Learn more
Economic Development Program

Improves community economic autonomy, through capacity building in entrepreneurship and business skills, with technical and financial support.

Learn more

Strategic Threads

Natün's commitment is centered on the ethnodevelopment of communities. This path is guided by six cross-cutting strategic threads that weave the programs together in the loom of development - closely aligning with the importance of weaving in the Maya culture.

Each of these threads runs through and intertwines the education, economic, health, and nutrition programs, connecting knowledge and practices. By weaving them together, a strong and colorful fabric is formed, where equity, justice, and inclusion are not just ideals, but living realities that are strengthened day by day to achieve systemic, long-term impact.

1.  Cultural Relevance

Recognize, respect, and promote the knowledge, practices, principles, and values ​​of Indigenous communities.

Strategies for Cultural Relevance

  • Uphold the Maya worldview, knowledge, practices, wisdom, principles, and values ​​to center the local culture in all actions.
  • Advance research, documentation, and sharing of Maya ancestral knowledge, practices, wisdom, principles, and values ​​with the active participation of communities.
  • Facilitate the active participation of community elders in passing on knowledge and stories to new generations.
  • Use and promote Mayan languages.
  • Develop and nurture a Maya team and Guatemalan board who are from the local communities, who lead the organization and all community programs and partnerships.
Strategies

2. Leadership & Advocacy

Strengthen local leadership capacities to advocate for and build more just, resilient, and dignified Indigenous communities.

Strategies for Leadership & Advocacy

  • Cultivate strong Maya leadership from the inside out by strengthening the capacities of Natün's team alongside community leadership, for community advocacy and transformation.
  • Build the leadership of women and youth within community organizations, particularly community promotoras, through training, collective organizing, networking, and sharing experiences.
  • Provide training and tools to Indigenous community leaders to strengthen their leadership roles, for active participation and advocacy in governance systems and self-sourcing community projects.
Strategies

3. Partnerships for Systemic Change

Connect and reinforce efforts between communities, institutions, and local leaders to strengthen ethnodevelopment.

Strategies for Partnerships for Systemic Change

  • Strengthen relationships with community authorities and leaders, promoting two-way communication and recognizing women and youth as key participants.
  • Drive community and municipal participation in program identification, design, and implementation, ensuring inclusive and representative processes.
  • Build and consolidate strategic alliances with local, regional, national, and international governmental and non-governmental organizations, to facilitate inter-institutional links and enhance community progress.
  • Act as a bridge between communities and the public sector, generating strategic collaboration that amplifies collective impact.
  • Collaborate on community projects based on needs identified by leaders.
  • Promote the creation of consortia, bringing together community and local organizations led by Indigenous people.
Strategies

4. Indigenous Rights

Contribute to the exercise and full realization of Indigenous communities’ individual and collective human rights.

Strategies for Indigenous Rights

  • Collaborate in the implementation and realization of Indigenous rights through programs providing access to services.
  • Raise awareness among communities and community leaders about Indigenous peoples' rights and legislation.
  • Participate in spaces to advocate for the recognition and exercise of Indigenous rights.
  • Promote inter-institutional coordination with public bodies for communities’ access to and fulfillment of rights.
Strategies

5. Gender Equity

Reduce gender gaps in social, economic, and political spheres, grounded in the Maya principle of duality and complementarity - recognizing women and men as distinct, equally valued, and interdependent, contributing in balance to collective harmony. Since then, Natün has transformed into an organization led by Indigenous leaders, focused on systemic change for the ethnodevelopment of Maya communities.

Strategies for Gender Equity

  • Facilitate gender equity in the organizational culture through an institutional gender equity policy.
  • Provide culturally relevant training and awareness-raising on gender justice, duality, and complementarity in the organization and with program participants.
  • Provide guidance and referral for cases of gender-based violence to appropriate services.
  • Integrate positive and non-violent masculinity across the organization and programs.
Strategies

6. Environment

Promote the conservation of Mother Nature based on Indigenous ancestral values, principles and practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Strategies for Environment

  • Promote environmental education internally and externally through compliance with environmental policy, campaigns, workshops, and educational tours.
  • Strengthen community forest management with a systemic approach, seeking sustainability, restoration, conservation, and responsible community use for wider climate, water and environmental benefits.
  • Implement clean energy projects and training for communities.
Strategies

Receive updates on Natün’s programs, stories, events, and impact of your donations.

Subscribe to our Mailing List

Receive updates on Natün’s programs, stories, events, and impact of your donations.

Stay Updated

2025: Maya-Led Transformation in Action

0

strategic partnerships formed with local institutions to strengthen impact and collaboration

0

communities began strategic actions for the conservation of forests and natural water sources

0

female Promotoras strengthened community leadership skills and did research projects on ancestral Maya knowledge

0%

of new female-led businesses are creating employment opportunities for others in their communities

$0

saved by women in Savings Groups across 14 communities

0

youth commissions formed with community advocacy plans presented to local authorities
See our impact and results

Where We Work and Why

Natün works in the department of Sololá, in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, where 96% of the population is Indigenous and the region is rich in Maya culture. Despite this strength, generations of historical exclusion, underfunded systems, and deep inequities have limited opportunity – particularly for Maya women and youth – and 76% of the population lives in poverty. That’s why we work alongside rural Indigenous communities as they lead efforts to build opportunity, equity, and dignity.

Learn more

Why Partner with Natün

  • Preserving Maya Traditions: 

    Integrating Maya ancestral knowledge and practices into every program to guide sustainable, community-rooted ethnodevelopment.

  • Capacity Development:

    Expanding local leadership, skills and capacity to drive long-term Indigenous led systemic change.

  • Community-Led Approach:

    All programs are co-developed and implemented with Maya leaders, and other regional stakeholders, centering community priorities and decision-making.

  • Resource Optimization: 

    Strategic resource use maximizes impact and supports community priorities through accountable, efficient partnerships and processes.

  • Holistic Development:

    Advancing interconnected strategies addressing root causes and strengthening education, health, economic, and cultural wellbeing.

     
why-partner-with-us

Our Partners

Support Indigenous-Led Ethnodevelopment

Make a donation

Get in touch with us

Start a conversation and connect with Natün.


Natün Guatemala is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. EIN 20-8433997.

Subscribe to our Mailing List

Natün Guatemala, 1968 S Coast Hwy #1904, Laguna Beach CA 92651
+1 ‪(714) 202-7507‬
Asociación Natün, Calle del Rastro, Panajachel, Sololá Guatemala
+502 7762 0754
info@natunguatemala.org
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm CST
Donate
Donate