STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES
THROUGH EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS
Natik partners with grassroots organizations in marginalized communities in Guatemala and Mexico.
We provide flexible funding and organizational support.
Natik contributes to the elimination of extreme poverty through these mission-based strategies:
Education for Empowerment
Unlocking Potential, Igniting Futures. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Through initiatives like the Ruk’ux, Pueblo a Pueblo, ANADESA, and the Yo’onik Learning Center, our partners have programs that support quality education and foster a love for learning.
Community Sustainability
Empowering locals and tackling poverty at Its Roots. Natik believes in community-based sustainability that goes beyond poverty relief. We empower visionary leaders to address the root causes of poverty in their communities.
Health and Family Well-Being
Natik collaborates with community-based grassroots organizations that share information about nutrition, sanitation, and other fundamental health needs to underserved populations, contributing to healthier, happier communities.
Providing Grants and Accompaniment for Long-Term Impact
Natik believes in a world where even the most marginalized people have the tools to transform their communities from within. Every relationship is different because every organization is different
Cultural Connection and Empowerment
Celebrating Diversity. Fostering Leadership.
Natik is small but mighty!
We value cultural connections and empower local leaders.
We support initiatives that bridge the education, health, and livelihood gap, emphasizing the importance of cultural relevance.
We’re contributing to long-term change by empowering local communities to lead and sustain their initiatives.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
June 19, 2025
This year we received a generous gift to pilot a Sustainable Livelihood Project. The first step was to identify two partners with the strongest entrepreneurial initiatives.
For the first round, we chose ANADESA for their Tourism Project and Pueblo a Pueblo for their Beekeeping Project.
With the accompaniment of Darwin Vasquez, Natik's Sustainable Livelihood project coordinator in Santiago, the groups affirmed their strongest initiatives, evaluated their advances, and prioritized the steps for moving forward.
In addition to Darwin's accompaniment, the projects are benefitting from strategic alliances with the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism, the Guatemalan Economic Ministry, and the Universidad Earth.
ANADESA's Tourism Project has been organizing guided tours, group meal service, classes in cooking and beadwork, and other activities for Mennonite Church visitors for many years. This project is well developed and despite being relatively passive from the marketing perspective, the income has been substancial. Through analysis and reflection, they realized they can expand this project through marketing and promotion.
Pueblo a Pueblo's Beekeeping Project has been training beekeepers in the greater Santiago area for over a decade. The team is well-versed on all aspects of production, but identified the need for developing additional local points of sale for the many products related to beekeeping, such as honey, wax, pollen, and propolis --- to increase market demand on behalf of the producers. Additionally, they can facilitate the production and sale of the many tools needed for beekeeping, such as stamped wax, boxes, frames, and extractors.
Darwin's Testimony: His greatest joy has been working with teams that welcome the extra work involved in building up their entrepreneurial ventures. Their motivation is to fully engage in learning opportunities designed to help them increase their capacity to generate local incomes benefitting the organization and the community.