For me, collaborating with Indigenous communities in my sustainability project is a way to learn from their deep connection to the environment and their traditional knowledge. I believe that meaningful change in the world begins with each individual, and by starting with my own actions, I can inspire others to join in creating a more sustainable future.
Oaxaca, Mexico
I have been privileged to spend a couple of weeks every year visiting and working with communities since 2017, both as a family member and as an independent member of an organization dedicated to rescuing ancestral Clay traditions in Mexico since 2023.
“I worked closely with the communities, learned from the elders, and made friends my age. We organized various sports games and collaborated in the everyday responsibilities of the village.”
— Emilio
Uh Nahil Ek Balam Maya communities where we worked closely with the children of the area, organizing soccer games and collaborating in the everyday responsibilities of the village. summer immersion 2014-2018 where we connected with Juanita with whom we still collaborate directly supporting her work in Chemax, Yucatan as she is the sole traditional doula supporting women and their babies in Yucatan´s remote rural areas.
Juanita
Director: Ximena Amescua Cuenca
Producer: Graduate Culture and Media Program NYU 2015 | 23 min
Mexico
A glimpse into the everyday life of Juanita, a Mayan traditional doctor, midwife, nurse and activist. Leader of "The Awakening of the Women who Heal," an organization of midwives in the Orient of Yucatan, Mexico. Juanita has dedicated her life to helping others with her gift for healing. The film follows Juanita as she redefines the meaning of ‘modern’ and ‘traditional’ medicine practices.
Documentary Short Finalist, SIMA 2016
Katanzama, Arhuaco Indigenous Reservation Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.