About
Nantik Lum

In the year 2003, a group of professionals who were deeply concerned about the grave issues of poverty and exclusion came together to establish the Nantik Lum Foundation. Our aim was to contribute to the development of marginalized sectors through tools that would empower them to be the protagonists of their own growth.

Our beginnings were marked by supporting small productive groups of indigenous women in the Lacandon Jungle of Chiapas, Mexico. These women, in their ancient wisdom, taught us how to work with the resources provided by Mother Nature. As a sign of respect and recognition for their way of life and work, the name “Nantik Lum” was born, which means “Mother Earth” in the Tseltal Maya language.

Our work is fundamentally inspired by the work of Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2006. In his own words: “The poor are like bonsai trees. The problem is not the seed, but the soil. It is society that has not allowed them to germinate in genuine soil. If they are allowed to grow in legitimate soil, equivalent to offering them the necessary opportunities to develop, they will grow as tall as anyone else.”

Over the past nearly 20 years, we have developed international cooperation projects as well as extensive research activities related to microfinance.

Since 2011, we have been carrying out social action projects and programs in Spain through microfinance and inclusive entrepreneurship. We offer training, guidance, and access to financing to individuals in vulnerable situations. Our goal is to accompany these individuals in their inclusion journey through self-employment.