Virtual Events, December 2025
Written by Natalie Widel, Director of Digital Marketing | Published: December 8, 2025
Did you know that we host virtual events open to all Population Connection members and supporters every month of the year? Topics and guests vary — we may be celebrating Earth Day, discussing a nonfiction publication as part of our Page Turners book club, or featuring an expert from an organization we respect and admire.
Over the summer and fall, we hosted a special series of virtual events moderated by Senior Analyst Hannah Evans. Earlier this year, Hannah traveled to Guatemala to visit several of our Global Partners. During her site visits, she met with staff and local people who volunteer with and benefit from the programs these organizations provide, gaining an up-close look at the impact these small but mighty organizations are having on their communities.
Seeds for a Future
This organization provides long-term training and support to rural families and communities in Guatemala, enabling them to grow their own healthy and sustainable food. Their initiatives combat malnutrition, lead to more reliable food security, and increase families’ incomes when they grow a surplus that they can sell to community members. Executive Director Leilani Yats joined Hannah to discuss the founding of Seeds, describe how the organization has grown, and share stories from families who have participated in their programs.
Wuqu’ Kawoq
Also known as Maya Health Alliance, Wuqu’ Kawoq provides high quality health care services in rural regions of Guatemala. Their community-based approach is rooted in communicating with patients in their own Indigenous languages and respecting local cultures to overcome barriers to care and improve maternal and infant health, chronic disease outcomes, and women’s health throughout the lifecycle. Co-founder and CEO Anne Kraemer described the organization’s founding mission and key programs and how they fit within Guatemala’s existing — and sometimes lacking — health care system.
WINGS Guatemala
From expanding access to family planning in remote communities to empowering adolescents and adults with vital health education, WINGS is making a profound difference for thousands of people in Guatemala. During this session, Executive Director Eleanor Unsworth and Programs Director Erik Pocasangre joined Hannah to discuss the organization’s programs and why their work is so important to the communities they serve.
Manos Abiertas
Asociación Manos Abiertas (AMA) delivers holistic, rights-based reproductive health care to vulnerable populations in Guatemala. AMA has grown to employ an all-women team of midwives and nurses, most of whom are of Mayan descent. During this event, Hannah shared testimonials from interviews with AMA staff that shed light on reproductive health care challenges faced by Guatemalan women. Midwife and Executive Director Diana Freiwald described the organization’s programs, and emphasized the role of midwives in providing compassionate and high-quality pregnancy, labor, and delivery care.
Recordings of each of these events are available here. We hope you’ll join us for more exciting events in 2026!
Natalie Widel: nwidel@popconnect.org