Camino Canicas is a community-driven project dedicated to empowering the children and families of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, through trauma-informed expressive arts education. Our initiative offers a nurturing and safe environment for children (ages 3 to 11) from families affected by trauma, neglect, addiction, and poverty. By focusing on creative self-expression, we help them build their resilience and emotional well-being by providing them with tools they can use throughout their childhoods.
Our Approach
At the heart of our work is a blend of mindfulness and psychosomatic practices designed to engage children in age-appropriate activities. Through art, stories, music, rituals, and play, we encourage emotional intelligence and self-regulation. This process allows the children to create positive memories, express their emotions, and ultimately become more resilient and emotionally stable.
Our Impact
Our efforts focus on children from the Tzʼutujil and Kaqchikel indigenous communities around Lake Atitlán—many of whom have endured significant hardships such as the loss of a loved one, physical and emotional abuse, poverty, and the aftermath of natural disasters. The trauma that these children experience affects their ability to thrive, but with our support, they are beginning to heal.
In addition to supporting the children, we work holistically with their families. By offering counseling tools and support, we help parents navigate the challenges that affect their children’s well-being. We also encourage social integration by bringing together local children with those from the broader expat and traveler community, strengthening the bridge between the two worlds and therefore cultivating a sense of shared humanity.
Our expressive arts therapy sessions serve as a safe space for children to process their experiences and stories, helping them to move toward a space of healing.
Meet the Founder
Kanika, the founder of Camino Canicas, is a passionate educator, mentor, and social change advocate. With over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of art, youth, and social transformation, she has dedicated her life to creating spaces of healing for young people. Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Kanika holds a degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Soka University in California, as well as a post-graduate certification in Dance Movement Therapy from Spain.
Her career has spanned across countries and cultures, from leading social change programs in India to working with refugee women in Spain, and from teaching in Haiti and the Dominican Republic to bringing embodied leadership courses to the University of Valdivia, Chile. Kanika now lives in an indigenous community in Guatemala, where she works with local children and families, creating safe, healing spaces for them to thrive.
How Your Donation Helps
Your support directly sustains this vital work, enabling us to provide a safe and reliable environment for healing. Contributions go towards:
Organizing workshops and field trips
Celebrating birthdays and milestones
Supplying school materials, clothing, and food
Covering transportation, medical needs, and housing
Bringing in specialised therapists and doctors
Supporting volunteer expenses and administrative costs
For the past few years, Kanika has funded this project out of her own pocket, but with growing community support, we are now seeking financial backing to ensure its sustainability and long-term impact.
Donation Tiers
Your generosity, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference. We are deeply grateful for any support you can offer.
$10 USD – Provides books for our library or basic classroom supplies
$25 USD – Supplies clothing, toiletries, or self-care items for the children
$50 USD – Covers a day trip and meals for a small group of children
$100 USD – Funds art supplies, materials, or volunteer expenses
$500 USD – Addresses medical expenses or nutritional needs for children
$1000 USD – Supports home improvements for families in need
$3000 USD – Provides scholarships for higher education opportunities
$6000 USD – Helps rent a safe space for classes and community gatherings
$10,000 USD – Supports all of the above, plus stipends for volunteers and staff
We will keep this page updated after big trips, updates, life events of the kids so you can stay as connected as possible...
Thank you!
Gracias!
Maltiox!