Community Initiatives in Tulum | LADLE Children & Families

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

LADLE Program

We offer more than 20 workshops per week, adding up to approximately 80 workshops per month and around 800 annually. In addition to these workshops, we organize field trips and participate in external activities, which are longer in duration, bringing our total to roughly 1,000 program hours per year.

In 2025, we have enrolled more than 45 children directly, and we also support many others through partnerships with local charities. Since our founding, we have served over 500 children. Many of them have since moved away from Tulum, while others are now part of the Movida Maya or KKIS programs, with whom we collaborate to continue supporting teenagers.

The benefits of our programs in art, well-being, life skills, and environmental awareness are countless. Here are some measurable examples:

✦ Art: Children who participate in weekly art workshops show a 25% increase in creative expression (measured by number of completed projects and diversity of techniques used) and develop confidence by exhibiting their work during community events.

✦ Well-being: Through yoga, mindfulness, and emotional regulation activities, participants have reported improved focus and reduced anxiety; teachers and parents note a visible shift in emotional self-regulation within 3 months.

✦ Life Skills: Children practice teamwork, leadership, and communication through structured games and challenges, leading to improved peer relationships and following instructions.

✦ Environmental Awareness: We promote small but meaningful practices, such as maintaining a compost, collecting PET bottles in a recycling bin, and caring for our garden as best as possible with the children’s help. These daily actions nurture respect for nature and create habits they carry into their homes.

These benefits extend beyond individual growth — they strengthen families, foster cultural pride, and nurture a new generation of socially conscious youth in Tulum.

About the activities:

✦ 5–6 days per week

✦ 5–6 activities daily

✦ Divided by age: Lunars (5–9 years) and Solars (9–13 years)

(Stats pending update for numbers of children served, workshops per year, etc.)

Community Outreach Experience

At LADLE, we create customized community outreach experiences for groups of five or more who want to give back while visiting Tulum. Whether you’re here for a retreat, a company incentive trip, a friends’ getaway, a women’s bootcamp, or a men’s circle, we design meaningful activities that connect your group with the local community.

During these immersive sessions, participants contribute through a donation fee and hands-on projects such as painting, gardening, arts & crafts, and building or facility improvements — both preventive and corrective. In past events, we’ve hosted groups of up to 50 volunteers at once, organizing rotating stations so everyone can engage in different activities.

Each experience is tailored to your group’s schedule, size, and interests, and can include authentic local meals with options for special dietary needs. Beyond service, it’s an opportunity to experience Tulum’s culture, meet local families, and create lasting memories of impact and connection.

Impact Events

At LADLE, we believe every experience can become an opportunity to transform lives. Many influencers, artists, brands, and companies join our events as part of their social responsibility initiatives and purpose-driven marketing strategies. Our Impact Events are creative and collaborative experiences that combine art, culture, and community to raise funds and continue offering programs for children in Tulum.

Over the years, we have organized silent auctions (such as during Art Week in Mexico City), community festivals (like NOMMO Fest – @nommofest), as well as dinners, holiday celebrations, concerts, yoga classes, and pottery workshops — all bringing people together with one shared goal: creating positive impact.

We also collaborate with partners to design new fundraising events, ranging from small gatherings to large-scale celebrations.

Everything is done with clear written agreements, defining percentages and responsibilities to ensure transparency and mutual benefit. If you’re interested in organizing an Impact Event with us —whether in Tulum, in your city, or as part of a retreat— reach out to us.

Every initiative counts: your creativity and support can open new possibilities for our community.

Community Center Social Enterprise

This year we are focused on fundraising to create a community kitchen and we just open La Tienda de la Esquina, both small social enterprise spaces as part of the community center.

The building operates independently.. It is used not only by Los Amigos de la Esquina Foundation but also shared with other nonprofits, grassroots groups, and individuals. When it is not being used for our children’s programs, we also make the space available for private rentals.

We are uplifting the facility so we can have a more dignified space that is auto-sustainable.

Products with Purpose

We create and curate cause-based products that support our sustainability. These include our natural Cacau deodorant handmade in Tulum , a unique oracle deck created with an inspirational Colombian artist, and many handmade items crafted by the children — such as painted canvases. We also collaborate with businesses to either create a specific product of LADLE or who donate products for us to sell, offering multiple ways to support our mission.

Discover our unique Airbnb Experiences—from exploring the healing power of phytotherapy to collaborating in our space and connecting through inner child meditation. Each experience is designed to inspire, nurture, and create meaningful connections.

Find out more in the links below—we’d love to welcome you.

Check Airbnb

Residency Program- Travel with Purpose

Overview

We invite university students (undergraduate or master’s), recent graduates, individuals or groups interested in cultural exchange — to join Los Amigos de la Esquina Foundation in Tulum. Participants will engage in a hands-on community experience doing a cultural immersion in Mexico.

Purpose of the Program

Foster cultural exchange and mutual learning between participants and the local community. Support the foundation’s programs while allowing participants to gain practical experience in community development, education, art, wellbeing, and environmental initiatives. Offer participants the opportunity to fulfill academic or professional service requirements through an accredited community-based project.

Participant Responsibilities

✦ Design and propose a project relevant to the foundation’s focus areas, to be implemented during their stay.
✦ Cover all costs related to travel, accommodation, meals, transportation, insurance, and personal expenses.
✦ Coordinate independently all logistics of their stay in Tulum; the foundation does not arrange housing, tours, or travel services.
✦ Maintain accountability for their commitment to the project, including timelines and deliverables agreed upon in writing.
✦ Comply with the foundation’s code of honor for child safety and community respect; signing this document is required prior to participation.

What the Foundation Provides

✦ Space and guidance to implement the approved project, including limited mentorship during the stay.
✦ Introductory orientation to understand the foundation’s mission, programs, and local context.
✦ Letters of support for universities or embassies (e.g., for credit recognition or visa purposes).
✦ Basic recommendations for local resources