About Ak' Tenamit

Ak' Tenamit means “New Village” in the Q’eqchi Mayan language, because our organization is transforming life in the Q’eqchi villages of Guatemala. We are a Guatemalan indigeneous owned and operated nonprofit association based on the Río Dulce, in the rainforest of eastern Guatemala, where we work with dozens of remote Maya villages, all of which lack electricity and running water. Ak’ Tenamit was founded in 1992 by Steve Dudenhoefer and two English volunteers and village leaders and is run by an all-indigenous board that is elected by the communities the organization serves.

What does Ak’ Tenamit do?

Ak’ Tenamit provides basic healthcare to approximately 6,000 people in 35 Q’eqchi Maya villages.
It gives more than 500 students a practical, vocational education at the Fr. Tom Moran Center, a jungle boarding school campus, where the national curriculum has been adapted to the students’ indigenous culture and rural reality.
It catalyzes grass-roots development and helps village handicraft cooperatives to sell their wares at fair-trade prices, which provides vital income extremely poor families.
It promotes gender equity, cultural pride, community solutions, environmental sustainability and the empowerment of youth.

What makes Ak’ Tenamit exceptional?

The association and its programs are run by and for the Q’eqchi Maya people.
Educating girls, empowering women and promoting gender equity are priorities.
Students gain valuable skills and job experience by working at the
school’s farm, handicraft shops and restaurants.
Local people and students provide much of the labor that Ak’ Tenamit
needs. The medical program relies on village health promoters and
international volunteers provide specialized skills, which makes
donations to Ak’Tenamit extraordinarily cost effective.

DONATE
to support this Mayan-run project
that promotes practical rural education.