Imagine standing on the edge of the jungle, where ancient structures meet the vibrant pulse of modern life. In June 2024, our Expedition Crew did just that. Our mission? To join the resilient people of Uaxactun and capture the untold stories that shape their daily lives. Over the course of the project, we didn’t just observe—we immersed ourselves in their world, documenting vital community projects. By the time we left, our cameras were full of powerful images and our notebooks brimming with plans for impactful short documentaries, ready to inspire change beyond the borders of Guatemala.

In the mountains of northeastern Costa Rica, the town of Monteverde has 6000 inhabitants but averages 250,000 tourists a year. The nature is wondrous, the adventures to be had are amazing, but the community is is overtaxed by the burdens of providing for these travelers and sharing resources. Some residents in the once-very-communal area of Monteverde are going back to their roots to find ways to use funds from tourism to support and strengthen the community. In May of 2024, a student film crew from Old Dominion University traveled with Actuality Abroad to Monteverde to hear and film this story.