Hello! My name is Joshua, a high school student from the U.S. striving to bring about substantial, lasting change ranging from my local community to even the smallest corners of the world.

The Cause: This summer, I will be traveling to a small town in the Guatemalan Highlands named Bella Vista in collaboration with the Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano (AMA), a suborganization under the Highland Support Project. A longtime mission, this project has consistently assisted the women in the Guatemalan Highlands by coordinating physical aid, mutual education opportunities, and bonding experiences between Guatemalan families and volunteers. This will be my third year participating in the trip, and an opportunity for me to bring something new to the community of Bella Vista.

Namely, I will be leading a miniature derby with the children at a local school; one that may appear to simply be a fun community activity, but which carries a deeper message of inclusion, equality, and hope. Originally, I had planned to head small group discussions with just the men and young boys of Bella Vista in hopes of promoting gender equality by encouraging honest conversation about topics including mutual gender respect and reproductive health. However, administrative conflicts based on the traditionally androcentric culture of the community, as well as recent organizational funding cuts, resulted in said plans coming to a halt. Nevertheless, giving up was never an option. Therefore, I am leading a Pinewood Derby-style event – yes, like the races held in Cub Scout programs – open to every child at the school. Each student will receive a wooden car to build, customize, decorate, and race with – or against – friends. But there’s a twist – each car will be decorated using any and all colors of the children’s choosing, inviting them to utilize colors beyond the barriers of gender norms – such as pink for girls or blue for boys – which are firmer than ever in culturally traditional regions such as Bella Vista.

The message is simple but powerful: We use all colors – because we ARE all colors. We race together – because we move forward together. This isn’t just about racing toy cars. It is about planting a seed, a message, a hope – that identity cannot and is not boxed in by color or stereotype. That gender equality and mutual respect starts young. That every child, regardless of gender, deserves to be seen in full color – the colors of their soul, rather than those allocated to them for their gender.

How You Can Help: The estimated cost of purchasing the necessary materials for the derby kits – including wooden cars, painting supplies, décor options, and a simple ramp setup – totals to $1500. All proceeds will be dedicated to this project, and any overflowing funds will be donated to the Highland Support Project in continuous support of the community. The impact of this project extends beyond just the materials the children will receive – the message they accompany will be ever so more valuable. Whether you donate $5 or $50, you are funding so much more than the project itself: you are investing in the children’s joy and breathing life into the belief that even one act of creativity, no matter how small, can challenge the way we, as humans, see one another.

Thank you for listening to my cause, for believing in it, and for helping me remind these young students – and myself – that we are all worth the full spectrum of color.

With gratitude, sincerity, and hope, Joshua.