The Global Search for Education: Taking Flight – Community-Led Education in Guatemala

Posted By C. M. Rubin on Jan 9, 2026

This month, audiences can stream Taking Flight on Planet Classroom’s YouTube Channel. This title is curated for Planet Classroom by Actuality Abroad.

In Panajachel, Guatemala, Ingrid Villaseñor decides that waiting isn’t an option. Directed by Will Chehab, Taking Flight chronicles how one Maya leader builds a school that feeds students, teaches parents, and helps a community heal. Producer Abby Pflueger and cinematographer Lauren Higgins capture kitchens, classrooms, and streets where care becomes structured; editors Brenda Peña and Chehab shape a clear, hopeful arc. More than access to lessons, the school offers belonging and practical tools—meals, workshops, and a model families can trust. A compact, inspiring story of resilience in action and what happens when local women lead change from the ground up.

The Global Search for Education is pleased to welcome Will Chehab.

Will – what drew you to Ingrid Villaseñor’s story, and how did you first connect with her and the school in Panajachel?

Ingrid’s undying love for her country, despite the tragedies her family incurred during the Civil War, are what draw me to her story. She leads with kindness, her goal is inspiring, and everyday she takes action to get there. What her school does for her students is incredible. She takes education beyond the classroom, demonstrating what education can be when you make it limitless. We were lucky enough to capture a peak into her story, her mission, and her actions, and I hope we get to share more of her story with the world.

As a director, how did you and your team (producer Abby Pflueger, cinematographer Lauren Higgins, and editor Brenda Peña) work together to show both the challenges and the hope in this community?

Our team wanted to capture the hope, spirit, and vibrance of Tejiendo Futuros more than anything, and that started with research backed by intention. We listened to Ingrid, her family, her employees, her students, and their parents, and in that listening the story revealed itself. Everyone was gracious enough to give us their time and an insight into their lives. That graciousness made the process very inspiring on our end. We were incredibly motivated to capture these stories in the best possible way. Abby’s drive, diligence, and organizational skills kept us moving where we needed to go. Whenever a challenge occurred during production, Abby always handled everything that let us work calmly through the entire process, which is rare in filmmaking. Lauren has a magnificent eye, with every shot telling a story. Given our limited resources, she made them appear beyond what any of us thought was capable. Brenda’s curiosity and open mind to ideas help this story come together in a cohesive way. She always remained enthusiastic during long days in the cutting room. We were a best idea first team. Everyone contributed beyond their job description as we all held a shared purpose in making this documentary. I hope we all get back together to make a feature length version down the line.

Were there any moments while filming with Ingrid, her students, or their families that changed how you think about education or community leadership?

Of course. I’ve never seen holistic education in action. It made me realize that by pouring more resources into students and their families outside of the classroom, the more everyone gets out of their education. Ingrid leads a team that creates excitement around education and the school. People are happy to be there, and the energy as you walk through the building is one of love. We often take for granted everything we’re given here in the States, and we should take lessons from Tejiendo Futuros on where and how to utilize resources for the benefit of the kids. Ingrid’s goal is to create a self-sustaining Guatemala. Her school is the first step in achieving her goal, and she’s building towards the finish line from the ground up. It changed my thinking around intent and purpose, and it opened my eyes to how to turn dreams into reality.

What do you hope young viewers, teachers, and community leaders will do or feel after watching Taking Flight—especially when it comes to supporting local schools and women-led initiatives?

I hope that viewers, teachers, and community leaders take into account the value of education and how we can maximize it without needing tons of resources. I hope it inspires young viewers to make the most of what’s in front of them, and that it reinvigorates teachers’ love for their profession. I hope community leaders fill with ideas on how they can solve problems holistically with a focus uplifting the community through the community itself. Ingrid is an amazing example of how we can make the world a better place.