Los Amigos de la Esquina

Program

Children are the bridge between past and future. They are the seeds of the present. By working with them, we can also indirectly reach their families, teenage siblings, schools and the rest of the community. We believe they have the potential to leave a trans-generational impact.

Los Amigos de la Esquina is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Native Mayan and Mexican children in Tulum, Mexico. LADLE gives kids the opportunity to be their most authentic selves. It is a safe space in the community that radiates love and acceptance. The organization is currently focused on a few programs:

Nutrition Program: Workshops on what nourishes the body and gives energy to fuel true creativity and problem solving. They focus on meals that highlight traditional dishes from Mayan and Mexican culture and incorporate vegan/vegetarian alternatives so that the meals are accessible to all families. The kids practice their cooking techniques as they learn from chefs, and the moms and grandmas from the community. Their goal is for kids to understand the power of ingredients they use, to have the techniques to create their meals. We invite the families to participate in the workshops as well so these new recipes are incorporated into day to day life.

Yoga and Well-being Program: Their goal as an organization is for kids to feel safe.  Feeling safe is the primary pillar in the hierarchy of needs and is the basis to making choices that create more wellbeing. Kids who know how to auto-regulate in times of stress and can understand how their emotions and their actions are linked, grow up to be adults who create safe households, safe schools, and safe communities. They use the techniques of Conscious Disciple to help hold space for the kids as they process more challenging emotions and combine those techniques with yoga, meditation, and breathing methods to help increase their capacity to handle challenges while still maintaining their inner peace.

Arts Program: What a wonder it is to be able to express yourself through the arts. Whether it be drawing/painting, music, singing, theater, or dance. Art is what makes us human. We see the kid’s boundless joy as they create their ceramic pieces, sing on stage, and enter their flow state when they draw. Their imaginations and free expression radiate in this space.