Greetings and all the best of the New Year to you and yours!

I’m chagrined to have written that on the 23rd of January, but as you know, vacations are a curious necessity that are often a two-edged sword!

When we genuinely disconnect from the intensity of our lives, there’s a delicious slo-mo that expands to fill the empty spaces. The problem is that in our absence the tasks pile up, and we reenter the more-than-usual work arena in Rip Van Winkle mode!

I'm happy to report that the team and our partners enjoyed the holidays and we want you to know we're all working to catch up from a much-deserved break! We wish the same for you.

Change the channel.

I hope you've been enjoying the holiday season and are rested and ready for the New Year! 

We're less than a week away from the end of 2025, and this is a reminder that your contributions are key to Natik being able to support community leaders Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, and in Chiapas, Mexico.  

Now more than ever, your generosity is essential to strengthening individuals, orgatnizations, and the local networks that drive lasting change. When grassroots partners have the flexible resources they need, communities thrive. 

This year, we’ve shared frequent updates on the Sustainable Livelihoods Fund because it represents a long-envisioned shift toward economic empowerment for our partner organizations.

Thanks to the generous investments of donors like you, local leaders have strengthened organizational skills, gained new business capacity, and (perhaps most important!) found the confidence to embrace entrepreneurship.

After nearly a year, this pilot project reached a turning point: partner leadership of ANADESA and Pueblo a Pueblo realized they can generate income aligned with their missions through locally based products and services. For organizations in economically marginalized regions, this accessible pathway to financial independence is transformative.