Highland Support Project

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

04/13/2026

The agricultural tradition of the Three Sisters teaches us a vital lesson: we grow stronger when we support one another. 🌱🌽

For centuries, Indigenous communities have planted corn, beans, and squash together. The corn provides structure, the beans nourish the soil, and the squash protects the roots. We apply this exact model of mutual care and respectful partnership to our global health initiatives.

We invite you to experience this collaborative spirit at our upcoming Three Sisters Dinner.

All proceeds from this gathering will directly fund an immersive service-learning trip to Guatemala. Through this program, students work alongside community leaders and development practitioners to advance global women's health. This praxis-based pedagogy allows students to increase their understanding of native perspectives while providing essential financial support for health programming in the communities we visit.

If you cannot attend the dinner locally, you can still participate in this cross-cultural exchange:

Join our virtual cooking class on April 24th
- Learn about traditional foodways from your own kitchen
- Support sustainable development models from anywhere
- Invest in transformational education and community empowerment.

Secure your tickets or register for the virtual cooking class today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1976737624447?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/10/2026

Transformational education and sustainable health equity require meaningful partnership.

We invite you to join our upcoming Three Sisters Dinner to support a vital cause. All proceeds from this gathering will directly fund an immersive service-learning trip to Guatemala. Through this journey, our students will collaborate with community leaders and development practitioners to advance global women's health.

This program gives students a unique opportunity to increase their understanding of native perspectives through praxis-based learning. At the same time, it provides financial support for essential health programming in the communities we visit.
If you are unable to attend the dinner locally, you can still participate in this cross-cultural exchange:

Join our virtual cooking class on April 24th 😋
Learn about traditional foodways from your own kitchen

Support indigenous community health initiatives from anywhere!

Your participation makes these transformational development models possible. Together, we can foster cultural understanding and social justice.

Secure your tickets or register for the virtual class today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1976737624447?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/08/2026

🕊️ Calling all faith communities! The National Faith + Climate Forum 2026 is happening at the Pace Center - 700 W. Franklin St., RVA, 23220 - on April 25th. Explore how to embody our faith through creation care, engage in transformative discussions, and connect with like-minded leaders. Be a part of the movement for a sustainable future. Register for free today! https://nationalfaithandclimateforum.org