Traditional Mayan ceremony launches next stage of the Yucatán Kindness School Project

Our long-term friends and partners at the Yucatán Kindness School have celebrated cutting the ground for the latest stage of the project which will see construction of the main teaching building using traditional Mayan techniques and ecologically sound materials, built by people from the local communities.

The ceremony marked the true beginning of the project for the community. By asking permission from the land and the ancestors, and planting cacao, corn, and balché seeds in the four directions, they honoured the traditions of this very special place and set an intention for the school to grow with respect, balance, and care for the land.

Denise Alcantar - leader of the project explained that "completing the first building will be an important milestone for us. It will create a space where children, families, and elders can gather for workshops, storytelling, and activities that help preserve and share Mayan knowledge with the next generations."

The dream of the project team is to create a living place of learning where children grow connected to nature, community, and their cultural roots. When traditional knowledge and community wisdom are valued, education becomes something alive that nourishes both people and the land. Denise continues: "This is only the beginning. With the support of the community, local elders, and friends around the world, the Kindness School hopes to grow into a space where learning, culture, and care for the land flourish together for generations to come."

Mandala Trust send their heartfelt congratulations to all at the Yucatán Kindness School for this milestone and look forward to working with them as they progress this next stage of the project.