Founded in 2006, Rising Minds is a grassroots, accredited 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, working with local initiatives in Guatemala to address community-identified needs and build strong relationships based on mutual respect and exchange. Our programs provide hand-ups, as opposed to hand-outs, by implementing locally appropriate and replicable solutions to issues surrounding health, education, and employment. Our vision is to bridge cultural, economic, and developmental gaps through the integration of education, awareness and action. We aim to inspire locally committed and globally active leaders through personalizing complex global issues, empowering proactive change makers, and facilitating contextualized educational outreach. Our current programs include our In-School Health Training Initiative, Environmental Education Program (the Forest Playgroup), and our Educational Gardening Program. We deliver weekly health trainings surrounding themes of disease prevention, nutrition, and mental health to our partner preschool and host community wide health exposés as part of health and nutrition programming. Our Environmental Education Program provides an interactive, hands-on curriculum about the local Lake Atitlán environment and gives kids a space to explore, learn, and interact outdoors. Working alongside a group of elders, the RM Educational Garden grows nutrient-rich produce, medicinal herbs, and plants that can be utilized for natural dying, while utilizing sustainable gardening techniques that optimize space and productivity. It also doubles as training site, demonstrating effective gardening strategies for small spaces and challenging environments. Rising Minds strives to continue working with communities to develop and expand program initiatives and increase program sustainability.