You learn a language, other receive an opportunity

Students who come to learn Spanish or Maya with us don’t only learn inside the classroom. They also have the opportunity to practice constantly by living with their host families, participating in different activities, and connecting with people in the community.

This interaction allows language learning to happen in a much more natural way, while students discover a new culture, gain new perspectives, and build connections that can last a lifetime. The experience goes beyond simply learning a language, and it has a much greater impact than they may sometimes realize, as in-person immersion supports our local programs. 

In the same way, people who choose to donate make it possible for us to continue offering scholarships, classes, workshops, and cultural exchanges. In different ways, everyone who becomes part of the Na’atik community contributes to providing our local students with more opportunities to learn, grow, and prepare for their future.

Felipe Carrillo Puerto is the perfect place for those looking for an authentic experience and wanting to practice Spanish in a community that has not been as heavily shaped by tourism. Here, there are countless opportunities to talk with local people, learn about different perspectives, and experience a different way of life, one that can even have a positive impact on the way you see and live your own.

When you study with Na’atik, you don’t just take home the experience of discovering a new culture, making new friends, and experiencing a different way of life. Your experience also helps subsidize the English classes our local students receive. In addition, through the different cultural exchanges we organize, both groups of students have the opportunity to learn from one another.

During these exchanges, students can practice the language they are learning with native speakers, learn more about different professions, discover what life is like in other countries, and share what life is like in their own community. Learning can happen through a conversation, a game, or an activity; creating opportunities for everyone to practice, ask questions, listen, and discover something new.

But you can also be part of this support through a donation. One way to do so is through the Maya Youth Scholarship Program, which was created to provide scholarships to young people in the community so they can continue studying English. Currently, around 60 students receive scholarships that allow them to continue developing their English skills, an important tool that can benefit them in both their academic and professional futures.

Another way to support our students through a donation is by becoming a Changemaker. Changemakers also help make it possible for our local students to continue receiving English classes. Their support also allows us to offer different workshops and additional activities where students can reinforce what they have learned in class, practice English, build their vocabulary, and discover new topics while developing other skills.

Each of these experiences represents an opportunity for our students to learn something new, stay motivated to continue their studies, and begin to imagine new possibilities for their future.

And none of this would be possible without the people who have chosen to be part of this community. To everyone who currently supports us through the Maya Youth Scholarship Program or as a Changemaker, we want to say: thank you. Thank you for believing in our students, for being part of this journey, and for helping make it possible for more children and young people to have access to meaningful learning opportunities. We hope to continue counting on your support and, above all, we hope more people will choose to join us.

There are many diverse ways to support our community, and each one of them makes an impact. You can do so by learning with us, sharing your experience, and building connections within the community, or by making a donation that directly supports our students. In both cases, you are contributing to something that goes beyond learning a language: you are helping open doors and create new possibilities for the future.

We invite you to become part of this community. Whether you choose to experience Na’atik as a student or support our students through a donation, your involvement can make a difference. Help us ensure that more young people can continue learning English, developing new skills, and building a future with more opportunities.

To learn more about Na’atik’s English language program for local and Indigenous students in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, visit our Impact Page. We are only able to provide this much needed program thanks to the support of generous donors and the funds raised from our award winning Maya and Spanish Immersion Program. If you would like to support our mission please consider donating today or take a look at our immersion programs and online class packages.