Highland Support Project

08/18/2026

Two days. One family. A kitchen transformed. 🔥

In August, our team traveled to the community of Chuicutama to build a wood-saving stove for Catarina and her family. It wasn't just a construction project—it was two full days of shared meals, heartfelt conversations, and hands-on work, from mixing cement and sand to getting the mortar just right for laying the blocks.

What makes this story even more special? Catarina's family first received a stove through a mission engagement with HSP & AMA 11 years ago. Despite a leaking roof and difficult conditions, that stove stood strong for over a decade—a testament to how long these stoves can last when built with care. Now, with a proper block kitchen, a metal roof, and ceramic flooring, she welcomed a brand-new stove into a home ready to support it.

Her husband, Santos, shared something that stuck with us: "Many families want to provide for their loved ones, but without stable work, the money simply doesn't stretch. That's why we are so deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to bringing wood-saving stoves to so many families across our community."

A heartfelt thank you to Mikael and Carmen, whose generous donation made stoves like Catarina's possible. Your support reaches further than you know.

We also had the opportunity to visit six families in Xeabaj II who received stoves in July, hosting a maintenance and care workshop to help ensure their stoves last for years to come. Doña Manuela's reaction when she saw us return said it all—she hadn't expected us to come back. But follow-through is part of who we are.

Want to support our projects? Consider donating to our organization via the link below or in our bio.
🔗 https://www.highlandsupportproject.org/donate-1

08/07/2026

This summer, three extraordinary students brought their curiosity, compassion, and hard work to our program — and the impact they've made will be felt long after they've returned home. We are so proud to celebrate Saira, Sophie, and Rosalie. 🌟

Each of these young women arrived ready to listen, learn, and contribute. That's exactly what HSP is about: creating spaces where students and communities grow together.

HSP is committed to providing students with experiences that build both professional skills and a deeper understanding of the world. If you are a student or early-career professional looking for a purposeful internship, applications are open year-round. Learn more and apply here 👉https://www.highlandsupportproject.org/internships

07/07/2026

Guadalupe and Ben participated in a press conference concerning programs to remove barriers to participation for rural women.

| La Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano, AMA, dio a conocer en conferencia de prensa el proyecto “Fortalecimiento de la cultura democrática, educación cívica y participación ciudadana”.

De acuerdo con la información compartida, esta iniciativa busca fortalecer el liderazgo de más de dos mil mujeres guatemaltecas, promoviendo su participación activa en espacios ciudadanos y comunitarios.

El proyecto también pretende impulsar la formación cívica y democrática, como parte del trabajo para generar mayor inclusión y representación de las mujeres en la sociedad.

06/09/2026

This year, our HSP club brought university students together for transformative internships, fellowships, work-study experiences, and research projects—both in person and online—all in support of regenerative organizing for a flourishing future. 🌱
Each year, a new cohort designs engaged learning experiences and exchanges that cross class, language, national, and ethnic borders. These collaborations take root in the spaces of entre mundos—the in-between worlds where fresh ideas, alternatives, and possibilities come to life.
A special shoutout and heartfelt thanks to Rosa and May, whose leadership guided our HSP club in Guatemala this year. 💛

06/03/2026

05/22/2026

To witness the unraveling of our Earth is to carry its weight within our own hearts. For today’s youth, this burden manifests as climate anxiety—a deeply rational response to the systemic wounding of our natural world.

Yet, traditional education often deepens this sorrow, offering stories of doom that leave us frozen rather than empowered. We must rethink these frameworks and how they shape our relationship with the environment.

In our latest article, we explore how the Deep Ecology Education Program offers a different path. By rooting ecological truths in the soil of lived experience, we help guide a transition from despair toward a vital sense of capability. We do not seek to minimize grief, but to weave it into a practice of reciprocity and ecological stewardship.

Read our full reflection on transforming youth eco-anxiety into a resilient, active love for our planet: https://www.highlandsupportproject.org/journal/cultivating-climate-capability

How can our institutions better support the generation that carries the future of the Earth?

The Deep Ecology Education Program transforms youth eco-anxiety into climate capability via culturally inclusive, evidence-based relational learning.

04/24/2026

Protecting our planet begins when we listen to and support the communities closest to the earth. 🌿

In the communities of Pull Chico and San José de Guashi, in Ecuador, an incredible community-led water project is moving forward with HSP's support. Essential materials have just arrived, and work has officially started on building sustainable water reserves. Even better? The entire water extraction process will be powered by solar energy, protecting the local environment while meeting vital human needs. This water is especially precious, as it will be used to irrigate the fields—supporting agricultural livelihoods in an area where water for farming is often scarce.

We are deeply grateful to the local leaders and families who are working together to make this vision a reality. Their dedication teaches us so much about true environmental stewardship and the power of collaboration.

Every step toward renewable energy makes a difference for our shared home. This Earth Day, let's learn from these inspiring efforts.

Take a moment to support a sustainable initiative in your own neighborhood today, and tell us how you are making an impact in the comments! 👇

04/23/2026

We are excited to share our latest reflection, drawn from HSP's research coordinator, Ben Blevins' about-to-be-published PhD dissertation, which thoughtfully explores the impacts of humanitarian intervention and the profound power of community agency in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.

Our newly published piece, Listening for Change: Guadalupe Ramirez and the Transformative Power of Community Organizing in Tejutla, invites us to reimagine international aid. Through careful observation and analysis, the essay illuminates the difference between the organic, relationship-centered organizing of the Tejutla Catholic Mission Assemblage and the top-down approaches often seen in global development.

By exploring the "See-Judge-Act" methodology, we witness how genuine power-sharing—the conscious choice to step back and listen—breaks down colonial patterns that have kept communities dependent. This is essential reading for anyone questioning whether traditional service delivery truly serves, and for those seeking authentic alternatives rooted in collective wisdom and self-determination.

https://www.highlandsupportproject.org/journal/38ukttdx12kd0lh5n1rqc1b1hi5qv5


Guatemala Scholars Network

**SEO Description:** Dive into a comparative analysis of the Methodist Mission Assembly and the Catholic Assembly in Tejutla. Discover how grassroots organizing outperformed service delivery models, fostering sustainable empowerment and community-led transformation.

04/15/2026

🌈 Join us at the Pace Center -700 W. Frankin St., RVA., 23220 - on April 25th for a transformative experience at The National Faith + Climate Forum 2026! We're excited to foster collaboration, activate clergy, and engage our congregation in meaningful climate action. Register for free and take steps toward caring for creation and pursuing just solutions. https://nationalfaithandclimateforum.org