A Humanitarian Documentary Film on Maternal Health with Global Communities
Resilience and the Human Spirit: Helen’s Story from the Highlands of Guatemala
A Young Mother’s Quiet Strength in the Western Highlands of Guatemala
In the western highlands of Guatemala, where ancient traditions survive, and Mayan languages are more common than Spanish, a young woman named Helen begins her day in contemplation of the health and future of her small baby. At just twenty-two, Helen has already faced great hardship. As for many young Indigenous women in Guatemala, including Helen, access to consistent, adequate health care is severely limited.
A vista encountered in the Highlands of Guatemala along the way on our long drive back to Huehue.
For Helen, though, the challenges are greater. Thanks to the assistance of a program provided by Global Communities Guatemala, Helen’s baby was born in a hospital in the regional capital hospital in Huehuetenango. Unfortunately, her baby was born with hydrocephalus, a life-threatening condition that causes fluid to build up in the brain. During her first months of life, the baby endured two complex surgeries — moments that tested Helen’s faith and resolve as she balanced hope and fear, life and loss.
A Sanctuary of Support for Indigenous Women: Casa Materna
While her baby remained in the hospital in Huehuetenango, Helen found shelter and support at Casa Materna, a maternity home founded 25 years ago by Global Communities to provide safe, dignified care for indigenous women. Over its remarkable history, Casa Materna has served more than 125,000 indigenous women in Guatemala and supported over 25,000 safe deliveries, without a single maternal death.
For Helen, Casa Materna became more than a temporary refuge. It became a sanctuary — a place of empathy, faith, and community. Here, surrounded by compassionate staff and other mothers navigating their own struggles, Helen began to rebuild her strength. Her mother, also living in their small mountain village, has been a constant source of comfort when Helen was unsure if she could ensure the challenges they have faced.
NGO Documentary Filmmaking with Purpose: A Humanitarian Storytelling Mission
A pastoral scene in the Western Highlands as shown in the film “Helen”.
When I traveled to Huehuetenango to create a humanitarian documentary film for Global Communities, my goal was to fulfill the mission of NGO storytelling by sharing the work of Casa Materna and the women it serves as part of a celebration of 25 years of service.
After meeting Helen, the story became something much deeper — a personal portrait of resilience, faith, and the quiet courage embodied by indigenous women confronting unimaginable challenges with dignity and grace.
Meeting Helen: A Moment That Changed the Film
My first encounter with Helen at Casa Materna.
I met Helen during my very last full day in Guatemala. At breakfast, I noticed her gregariously interacting with the other women — her posture calm, her gaze steady, and her presence and sense of purpose was evident. There was a kind and purposeful strength about her that compelled me to learn more.
When we finally spoke, I realized her story was far more complex and touching than I had imagined. Despite the challenges surrounding her baby’s health, Helen radiated a profound sense of hope and acceptance — hope that her daughter might recover, and acceptance of whatever outcome may come. She spoke with openness, honesty, and gratitude, moved that someone wanted to hear her story.
That morning, I understood that her story was not only about survival, but a testament to the extraordinary capacity of the human spirit to endure, to love and keep moving forward. We were honored that she chose to share her story with us for the humanitarian documentary with such openness and bravery.
Me and Helen at Casa Materna.
Collaboration Across Care: Casa Materna and Huehuetenango Hospital
The staff at Casa Materna welcomed me with open arms. Their empathy and professionalism were palpable, and their dedication to maternal and neonatal care was inspiring.
The women staying at Casa Materna when I visited in August 2025. Helen is on the far left.
The caring and talented staff of Casa Materna, Global Communities, Guatemala.
Equally moving was the support from the medical team at the Huehuetenango Hospital, who graciously allowed me to film inside the neonatal intensive care unit — a space filled with both fragility and hope.
The collaboration between the hospital staff, Casa Materna and Global Communities reflects a spirit of openness and trust, grounded in the shared goal of improving outcomes for indigenous mothers and their babies by developing long-term solutions driven by local organizations.
Visual Stories from the Guatemalan Highlands
With the help of Global Communities’ local staff, I was able to also travel and meet a number women who had once stayed at Casa Materna and had since returned to their remote villages. It is important to note that what all of the women who stay at Casa Materna have in common is that they experienced high-risk pregnancies. Outreach to identify these women and providing information as to how Casa Materna might help is a key dimension of this highly impactful program.
Visiting the homes of these women — often perched along steep, unpaved mountain roads — was a reminder of the geographical and cultural barriers that make maternal care so difficult to access in these regions. Yet in each home, there was a strong sense of pride, gratitude, and resilience.
The women spoke of Casa Materna not just as a clinic, but as a symbol of refuge and hope — a place where they felt seen, heard, and cared for. While the final documentary film highlighted the journey of Helen and her baby, I captured many other compelling visual narratives to support ongoing fundraising, maternal health advocacy, and NGO storytelling efforts for Global Communities, Guatemala and Casa Materna. In fact, Casa Materna has assisted more than 125,000 indigenous women since its founding 25 years ago.
Beyond NGO Documentary Filmmaking — A Testament to Humanity
Helen’s story motivated me to create a humanitarian documentary film that would go beyond capturing a program’s success. Her journey represents thousands of indigenous women who have passed through Casa Materna’s doors—women who face adversity with strength, love, and unwavering commitment to their children.
This documentary is more than a record of maternal health outcomes. It is a tribute to the human spirit— to women like Helen, to midwives, nurses, community leaders, and caregivers who have built a lifeline for families across the Guatemalan highlands.
Helen’s experience reminds us that healthcare is not just a service; it is an act of humanity. Through humanitarian documentary filmmaking and NGO storytelling, we illuminate these quiet but powerful moments of courage, connection, and care.
This project was deeply personal and profoundly meaningful. It strengthened my commitment to supporting women’s and children’s health globally through visual storytelling with even greater purpose.
Watch the Film
To see Helen’s journey and experience the story of Casa Materna’s 25 years of impact, watch the humanitarian documentary film I created in partnership with Global Communities Guatemala.
Helen Yadira Cifentes Herrera at Casa Materna.
This is a film about faith, resilience, and hope, and a reminder of the strength of women who uplift their families and communities every day.
Watch the film - Helen: A Mother’s Quiet Strength in the Highlands of Guatemala - on YouTube or find it at the top of this article, and please share to help expand access to maternal health programs.
Visual Storytelling to Improve Global Maternal and Newborn Health
I partner with organizations around the world to tell stories that elevate community-led solutions and mobilize support. If your humanitarian organization is working to improve maternal and newborn health, let’s explore how storytelling can advance your mission. Contact me.
Steven Wade Adams DVM, PhD
Humanitarian Photographer & Visual Storyteller