STATEMENTS Archives - MAIA https://www.maiaimpact.org/blog/statements/ MAIA is a nonprofit organization empowering Indigenous girls in Guatemala through education, leadership, and community development programs. Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:01:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.1 https://www.maiaimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/512-150x150.jpg STATEMENTS Archives - MAIA https://www.maiaimpact.org/blog/statements/ 32 32 Leadership Transition at MAIA https://www.maiaimpact.org/statements/leadership-transition-at-maia/ Mon, 04 Nov 2024 19:38:09 +0000 https://www.maiaimpact.org/?p=6854
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Photo by: Guadalupe Natareno / MAIA

Leadership Transition at MAIA

Empowering Indigenous women to thrive

At MAIA our mission asks us to contemplate: With the right support and example, how far can she go? We often say, “If she can see it, she can be it,” and we ensure that the Girl Pioneers have multiple examples of Indigenous women women who come from the same context as they doleading the way.

As an organization, we nurture and cultivate female talent with intentionality so that our transformative impact ripples beyond the Impact School, creating waves in the broader community, the country, and the world, and setting the stage for systemic change.
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Photo by: Guadalupe Natareno / MAIA

Lidia Oxí, creating a rippling effect beyond MAIA

It is with that ethos in mind that we want to share that after seven years at MAIA, Martha Lidia Oxí Chuy, who is currently Co-Executive Director – External Relations, will be leaving to run the first Guatemala-based arm of the organization, World Connect. Lidia has earned this opportunity through her hard work, ambition, and fearless pursuit of change. As a director at World Connect, she will be in charge of allocating funds to grassroots organizations across the Guatemalan Highlands, quite literally creating a rippling impact in Indigenous communities. 

We are extremely proud of Lidia for taking on this challenge and continuing to model for the Girl Pioneers the breadth of what is achievable for their futures. While we celebrate Lidia and her bold new trajectory, we are also sad to say goodbye. Luckily, we are thrilled to announce that she has accepted the unanimous vote of the MAIA Board of Directors to join the Board as a director emeritus. Her experience, knowledge, and personal connections will continue to benefit us even as she shifts her professional responsibilities.

Andrea Coché leading us
in the next phase

With Lidia’s departure from her current position, Andrea Coché, current Co-Executive Director – Direct Services –  will become MAIA’s Chief Executive Officer, streamlining the current co-leader structure. 

Andrea has been part of MAIA since 2012, and our organization is strong and thriving under her leadership. She has modeled “pioneering” in a multitude of ways during her tenure and welcomes this new opportunity to manage all aspects of the organization. Andrea is ideally suited to this role, our Board of Directors, allies and everyone at MAIA, have complete confidence in her ability to lead us in this next phase of organizational evolution.

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Photo by: Guadalupe Natareno / MAIA

This transition for both Lidia and Andrea demonstrates—again and unequivocally—what it is to be a female Indigenous leader and just how far they can go.

STEM: an engine for transformation

STEM: an engine for transformation How mathematics, logic, technology and science open new possibilities for Girl Pioneers At MAIA, we believe learning goes beyond acquiring knowledge—it’s about developing the ability

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February 9, 2026
]]> We are the solution; we are not the problem https://www.maiaimpact.org/statements/we-are-the-solution-we-are-not-the-problem/ Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:53:00 +0000 https://www.maiaimpact.org/?p=1038
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We are the solution; we are not the problem

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With this premise, during Women’s History Month, Girl Pioneers and women leaders of MAIA aim to emphasize that women have the ability to solve and transform those problems that affect us as Guatemalans, as well as the rejection of the recently discarded bill 5272, which sought to undermine the rights of women and diverse populations.

MAIA is an organization that seeks to generate systemic change by empowering Indigenous women and youth in Guatemala. We emphasize our commitment to empowering women and girls through a unique educational model that goes beyond academics, promoting their talents to become a generation of leaders who impact their families, their communities, their country, and our world.

 As women and girls, we are the solution; we are not the problem. Since 2020, we began to speak out in public about our rights, and in 2022, we continue to raise our voice:

Empowering women through empowerment
In addition, MAIA has four strategic goals:

  • Economic autonomy—allowing each graduate of the MAIA Impact School to access a job and a living wage.

  • Lifelong learning—MAIA’S Girls Pioneers have access to education for 15 years, and 100% of 18-year-olds from the Impact School stay in school, compared to a national dropout rate of 64% (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, 2018).

  • We promote a family on their own terms, which means that our graduates are on average 25 years old before they get married or become pregnant, so they can make informed decisions and have access to holistic educational support. In Guatemala, 57% of women become mothers before the age of 18.

  • Guatemala has the lowest level of women’s participation in politics in the hemisphere. MAIA is working to change this by increasing women’s leadership at all levels of society. Through our mentoring curriculum, peer-to-peer support network, and monthly family home visits, Girls Pioneers develop the internal strength, skills, and emotional intelligence they need to be leaders They are empowered to empower.

A law that undermines the rights of women

On March 8, the Congreso de la República de Guatemala approved the 5272 Bill (Decree 18-2022) “Law for the life and the family,” ironically on International Women’s Day. Although it was shelved by the Congreso de la República on March 16; under pressure from many civil society sectors, collectives, and organizations, as well as at the request of the president; we still deem it to be dangerous as it reflects a lack of respect and undermines the rights of women and diverse populations in Guatemala.

 Therefore, MAIA—as an organization led by Indigenous women that works with young Indigenous women who are strong, courageous, and break stereotypes—stands up for the rights of women. To honor our ancestors and daughters, we demand respect for our rights, and we reject every law that undermines our rights.

]]> We are determined to redefine our trajectory https://www.maiaimpact.org/statements/we-are-determined-to-redefine-our-trajectory/ https://www.maiaimpact.org/statements/we-are-determined-to-redefine-our-trajectory/#respond Sat, 28 Jan 2023 14:53:00 +0000 https://www.maiaimpact.org/?p=551
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We are determined to redefine our trajectory

MESSAGE FROM CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ANDREA COCHÉ AND MARTHA LIDIA OXÍ

At MAIA, we are a team of committed, enthusiastic, and brave women and girls. We are determined to redefine our trajectory and that of our families, to work for our community, and we believe that a profound change is possible so we can live with dignity and equity.

We are honored to represent the people who make up our team, the Girl Pioneers and their families. We firmly believe that change is possible, that every woman who is part of our educational community is talented, has infinite potential, and can break any status quo. Our strength and hope comes from our own stories.

We are two Indigenous women who come from the same communities as the Girl Pioneers, and we have families that face challenges similar to the families of the Girl Pioneers. Today we are in this position thanks to the entire support network that boosted our talent. We had powerful allies along the way who made our potential and talent flourish.

At MAIA, we believe that education is the base to achieve sustainable change in our communities. Therefore, our objective for 2023 is to guarantee that all Girl Pioneers in our program have the opportunity to have a solid support network around them and a quality education that helps strengthen their abilities and talent and brings them closer to opportunities that other girls and adolescents in their social, economic, and geographical context usually do not have access to.

We want our society and the world to learn more about the stories and capabilities of each of the Girl Pioneers. We want to share their potential, that of the Indigenous population to which we belong, as well as the challenges we face. We want to build alliances and networks where we can play a corresponding role with trust and transparency, to create a world with more justice and equity. We want to be a reference showing that it is possible to break the status quo, stereotypes about Indigenous women, and the traditional roles that society has imposed on us

In Guatemala, women represent 51.2% of the population (UN Women, 2014), but we are always presented as victims and not as agents of change and leaders. We are aware that assuming the role of Co-Executive Directors is not an easy task; it requires perseverance, tenacity, and a support network to navigate in a world that is not usually created for us.

Breaking this status quo generates a lot of impact in all dimensions of life; however, we keep in mind that we must never lose our essence as Indigenous women, our values, and our worldview. When leaving our communities, we do not forget our qawinaq (our people), qach’ab’äl (our way of being), qab´anikil chuqa’ qana’oj (our knowledge). Even though we suffer derogatory comments and discrimination for proudly wearing our clothing and speaking our language, we have learned from our families to share what is ours, to live in the community, and highlight our roots. We arm ourselves with strength every day to face violence and discrimination in its different forms, and we raise our voices.

WE WANT TO SHIFT THE DISCOURSE ON WOMEN: "WE ARE NOT VICTIMS, WE ARE NOT THE PROBLEM, WE ARE THE SOLUTION."

As leaders, we are the reflection of each one of our students. We see in them talent, desire, ideals, and strength, but also the limitations and challenges that we ourselves face. We see with concern and disappointment that things have not progressed much since we were in primary and elementary school, when there where no high schools in our communities and the opportunity to advance at this level was almost impossible. As citizens of this country, inequality affects us in the deepest way, but it should matter to us equally because the only way to achieve development is to see each other as equals and invest in children and youth.

We dream of seeing more young women graduating from high school, continuing their education in university, having a formal job, and deciding for themselves, owning their future, and redefining our history.

Getting to this point is an ambitious process and path. It is not easy, but it is not impossible either. We know that as a community we can continue advancing towards a society with equity for women and girls, but it requires strength and effort from all of us in the spaces we occupy.

WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER WITH THE GIRL PIONEERS, THEIR FAMILIES,

THE MAIA TEAM, AND OUR ALLIES. WILL YOU JOIN US?

]]> https://www.maiaimpact.org/statements/we-are-determined-to-redefine-our-trajectory/feed/ 0 MAIA’s new leadership: achieving a milestone in our organization https://www.maiaimpact.org/statements/maias-new-leadership-achieving-a-milestone-in-our-organization/ Mon, 31 Oct 2022 15:04:00 +0000 https://www.maiaimpact.org/?p=837
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MAIA’s new leadership: achieving a milestone in our organization

Appropriate that my first blog in MAIA relates to my Director MAIA

Appropriate that my first blog in MAIA relates to my departure. This communication will hopefully help you understand the intricacies of MAIA’s most recent leadership transition.

— Travis Ning, Executive Director MAIA

Let’s start with this guiding premise that I have been hearing my whole professional life: “Our job is to work ourselves out of a job…” This cliché permeates the nonprofit sector, especially in the international sphere, where the leadership of activities & programs in the Global South is traditionally based in the Global North. The spirit of the comment is visible: people with more access to privilege and opportunity do have a responsibility to facilitate sustained access for others.

But the intent of the cliché is not always followed up by meaningful action. Too often, this statement becomes a permanent aspiration rather than an actual goal with a plan.

How international nonprofit organizations are often structured makes transitioning to local leadership difficult (or even impossible). The words “not” and “yet” are painfully familiar to many of our world’s marginalized populations. Why is this so hard? I outline some reasons below (MAIA knows them because we have wrestled with each one).

For starters, the leadership of organizations is usually based in the US: This makes strategic sense because it allows for proximity to donors, board members, and a talent pool of educated individuals who can plug into leadership roles. However, this also often creates an impossible barrier for local talent to assume key executive leadership positions.

And then there is the fundraising: Closeness to the donor is not just geographic. Cultural proximity and the importance of creating the essential click with donors create hurdles for people from other contexts. Good fundraisers work hard to create this rapport and use existing donors to widen support networks. For many organizations, messing with this dynamic is terrifying. It is far more convenient to operate under the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. And so the status quo prevails.

Governance is easier: Forming a board of directors with similar profiles and cultures makes for uncomplicated governance. Having executive leadership that meets that same profile makes this even easier. This keeps things firmly in the comfort zone for those involved.

In 2015, MAIA started to steer directly into these more traditional structures to forge a new model. That said, the process of navigating this path amid established dynamics and structures is a long journey. We have removed some, but not all, of the longstanding barriers. Progress is steady and often uncomfortable. Fortunately, several events give us needed inspiration (kick in the pants) to move more boldly towards a new model:

  • The events of 2020 (the COVID-19 pandemic) triggered a profound reflection on power, privilege, and steps toward new, more inclusive models. Those of us who thought we were fighting the good fight realized we could do far more. These efforts include questioning and retooling traditional organizational structures to more closely align our actions with our aspirations.

  • The pandemic evidenced the unique power of local leadership to respond, in real-time, to incredibly fluid challenges. MAIA’s Sololá team demonstrated incredible agility and deftness to devise and communicate innovative solutions swiftly. In a more uncertain world, this responsiveness is an invaluable asset. 

  • Successful fundraising using the first-person voice. Evidence shows that MAIA’s donors lean into engaging in ways that stretch and challenge them. Many have been a part of our experimentation with new ways to engage donors. Rather than speak on behalf of Indigenous women, MAIA has begun to put donors in direct contact with Indigenous development staff and Girl Pioneers.

  • A hallmark of healthy organizations is leadership succession.  

  • My seat is getting uncomfortably hot. The leaders who surround me in MAIA are incredibly capable and committed. I am inspired by wise changemakers who emphasize the importance of being “proximate to the pain” of the people we aim to serve. Local leadership is the best way to ensure MAIA’s continued commitment to empathy-driven design. This change (via my exit) aligns our actions with our belief that if she can see it, she can be it.

Moving forward under new leadership, MAIA will look and feel different. That is what learning and growth feel like. MAIA’s donors and partners embrace the idea of challenging the status quo. This new phase of MAIA, led by powerful women from rural Guatemala, represents a bold new precedent for all of our stakeholders. We invite you to explore and learn within this new model that brings us all closer together in this collaborative effort to unlock her infinite impact.

MEET OUR TEAM

STEM: an engine for transformation

STEM: an engine for transformation How mathematics, logic, technology and science open new possibilities for Girl Pioneers At MAIA, we believe learning goes beyond acquiring knowledge—it’s about developing the ability

Read More »
February 9, 2026
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