We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brittni Hagen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brittni below.
Brittni, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is UMA (Uniendo Mundos Aquí) collective, a heart-based initiative dedicated to fostering intercultural harmony, mindfulness, eco-literacy, and ancestral traditions for the children around Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. UMA’s mission is to unite children from different cultural backgrounds, encouraging them to play, learn, and grow together in harmony, all while preserving their heritage and learning about global perspectives.
This project was sparked by a one-day event I organized in March 2022, which brought local Mayan and international children together to connect and celebrate diversity. Held on 6 Iq’, a day in the Mayan Calendar associated with movement, creation, and winds of change, the event brought together 18 children and facilitators from 8 different countries. It created a beautiful space for exploration, expression, and connection through eco-literacy, language exchange, guided meditation, art, storytelling, and mindfulness games. The event was deeply meaningful as it marked the beginning of UMA’s core mission to
foster connection to nature, intercultural understanding, and respect for ancestral wisdom.
Since that one-day event, the UMA collective has continued its work for two years in villages around Lake Atitlán. I have expanded the project to reach more children, consistently offering sessions focused on art, music, environment, socio-emotional awareness, languages, and ancestral traditions. Through these activities, we help the children of the lake area explore their identities and engage in intercultural experiences, empowering them to become future leaders who are deeply connected to both their roots and the wider global community.
UMA stands out because it addresses many systemic challenges these communities face, including poverty, cultural erosion, and environmental degradation. By creating a safe space for children to grow in harmony with the world around them, the project provides an alternative form of education that values mindfulness, empathy, and ecological awareness. One of the project’s guiding principles is to ensure that children, especially from indigenous communities, preserve their cultural pride while also benefiting from broader intercultural exchanges in this rapidly globalizing world.
The UMA collective is deeply personal to me. When I arrived in Guatemala, I was touched by the purity and open-heartedness of the local Mayan children, the richness of their ancestral culture, and the stunning natural beauty of the lake. As an educator and intentional traveler, I felt called to create something that would contribute to the preservation of this culture and environment, while also fostering meaningful connections between local and international children. Through UMA, I aim to nurture a generation of young people who are not only proud of their heritage but also equipped to navigate and contribute to a global community, with a strong sense of ecological stewardship and cultural integrity.
Ultimately, UMA strives to be a model for empowering vulnerable populations worldwide, rooted in intercultural harmony and ecological sustainability. By fostering mindful, compassionate, and ecologically aware children, UMA is building a future where unity, respect for nature, and cultural pride coexist.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
As a passionate Artist, Holistic Educator, and advocate for Art and Eco Therapy, my mission has always been to connect children to Nature, the Arts, and themselves. I’ve been fortunate to work across multiple disciplines, collaborating with communities and creating programs that bridge diverse worlds.
I’ve been living in Central America for six years, where I’ve engaged in several impactful movements, such as helping to install clean drinking water systems for a remote school in Costa Rica. Additionally, I’ve had the privilege to mentor at “Life Project Education,” a Holistic Education Collective.
I offer Children’s Art and Eco Education/Therapy services using a variety of modalities, including mindfulness, play/project/heart-based approaches, expressive arts, and nature-oriented practices. My goal is to empower children to discover their unique potential, building resilience on cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual levels.
In 2020, I co-founded a Sea Turtle and Environmental Conservation project in one of the most biologically intense places on Earth, in a remote part of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. The project protects endangered sea turtles while fostering deeper connections to the natural world. The mission is to not only protect the keystone species, but to offer unforgettable experiences at the camp and to inspire lifestyle changes that promote sustainability and environmental consciousness.
As mentioned, I also founded UMA (Uniendo Mundos Aquí), a collective focused on bridging cultural worlds, particularly between the local Maya and international communities. UMA promotes intercultural harmony by creating inclusive, safe, and beautiful learning spaces and events where children from diverse backgrounds can play and learn together.
My formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a specialization in childhood development, and I am certified in Early Childhood Education. Over the past 10+ years, I’ve worked in various educational and therapeutic settings. Growing up in Canada, I was exposed to Native American traditions, and developed a deep respect for indigenous cultures and the need to preserve their wisdom.
I have a very interdisciplinary approach—fusing art, education, therapy, and environmental conservation—to create holistic experiences that nurture both personal growth and a sense of global responsibility. My most significant achievements lie in the heart-centered projects I’ve been able to co-create, each contributing to a world where children and communities can thrive in harmony with nature.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The driving force behind my creative journey is to inspire as many people as possible to embrace a heart-centered approach in all their interactions—with indigenous communities, our Planet, and, most importantly, themselves. This deep connection is at the core of everything I do. In today’s rapidly shifting world, we are witnessing the urgent need for collective healing and repair, and I feel passionately called to spread kindness, creativity, and awareness as essential tools for this process.
Through my work in holistic education, eco-therapy, and conservation, I strive to create spaces where people, especially children, can rediscover their innate connection to the natural world, their communities, and their own unique essence. Whether I’m working on projects like Uniendo Mundos Aquí (UMA)—which brings together children of diverse backgrounds to foster intercultural harmony—or leading conservation efforts with RASCAREY, my mission is always the same: to help people understand the importance of living in harmony with nature and with each other.
I believe that collective healing starts on an individual level and extends outwards, impacting communities and, ultimately, the world. The power of this mission has only been possible thanks to the help of like-hearted friends, supporters, and plant allies who have been with me on this journey. These connections have been an irreplaceable source of strength and inspiration, as together we build movements rooted in love, respect, and sustainability.
In short, my goal is to inspire a kinder, more creative, and more aware way of being in the world. One that honors indigenous wisdom, protects our Earth, and nurtures the human spirit. This work goes beyond education or conservation—it’s about shifting our collective mindset to one that prioritizes heart and harmony in everything we do.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Living in remote jungles has taught me that pivoting and patience are not just virtues, but essential traits for thriving. Over time, a natural rhythm emerges—a dance with nature itself. In these wild zones, you adapt to constant unpredictability—torrential rains, poisonous snakes, sweltering heat, and the practical challenge of securing resources. Nature, with all her beauty and chaos, asks you to release control, to sense when it’s time to let go and when to return with renewed strength.
Just as the jungle shifts, I’ve learned when to pause, when to step away, and when to come back. Pivoting, for me, is about respecting life’s natural ebb and flow—knowing when to be still and when to act. In these moments of stepping back, I’ve realized that the mission I carry is not tied to one place; it lives within me, ready to evolve wherever I go. Nature teaches resilience, flexibility, and humility, and through her, I’ve learned to move with grace between solitude and connection, between my inner journey and the wider world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brittnihagen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tekutekutune
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brittni.hagen
- Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/colibrisa
Image Credits
Marvin Mendoza