At the origin of every life is a moment of arrival. The way we are welcomed into this world shapes our sense of safety, belonging, and connection for years to come. Midwives are the guardians of this threshold, carrying ancestral knowledge that honors birth as a sacred, relational process rooted in care, dignity, and continuity.

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We have chosen the Guatemalan Midwives Collective as the first official beneficiary of iC as a reflection of this truth. If we are committed to participating in the birth of a new world, we must also care for how life enters this one. Supporting midwives is a direct investment in the wellbeing of future generations and in the preservation of cultural wisdom that has sustained communities for centuries.

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At Lake Atitlán, often referred to as the umbilical waters or the belly button of the world, this lineage of care runs especially deep. These midwives carry ancient traditions of womb care and women’s wisdom, tending to life at its most intimate and powerful threshold. In caring for them, we care for the collective itself by honoring those who guide birth and hold the sacred process of arrival.

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Our pooled resources will go directly toward equipping midwives with essential supplies, strengthening their networks, and ensuring that this vital lineage of care can continue to serve mothers, children, and communities with integrity and resilience.

This is where we begin. By honoring birth, we honor life itself.