Kiva Fellow in the Field: “Who were the Mayans?”

Here is a historic snapshot of the Mayan civilization in what is currently northern Guatemala. This episode was shot on site at Tikal National Park with the help of my nephews and Matt Bastone (a Kiva Fellow in Nicaragua).

Last year, I served as a substitute teacher in my hometown of Minnetonka, Minnesota. As a Kiva Fellow in Latin America, I hope to maintain contact with the students. This is my video journal.

International calls with students can be problematic and inconsistent, so I am preparing a video journal in conjunction with classes in the states. Many were excited about my role with Kiva and based upon class curriculum and interests, students are sending questions for me to answer in the field.

The music comes from the North Minneapolis YMCA “Beats n Rhymes” program. (
-All songs written by the students of the North Community YMCA Beats&Rhymes Program, J.T. Evans, and King Ralio.
-All tracks produced by J.T. Evans and King Ralio.
-All tracks mixed and mastered by J.T. Evans
-All tracks recorded by J.T. Evans and King Ralio at the North Community YMCA in North Minneapolis.

Jeffrey Nelson is currently based in Panajachel and working with two distinct field partners: Friendship Bridge ( which lends exclusively to indigenous females in the western highlands of Guatemala, and ADICLA ( whose lending portfolio includes youth entrepreneurship and environmentally sustainable agricultural loans to Guatemala’s rural poor.

Join the “Viva Guatemala” lending team ( and make a loan to a Friendship Bridge, and ADICLA today!

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