5 Actions By and For Indigenous Women
International Women’s Day. Ensuring Access to Our Rights and Transforming Our Future.
March 5, 2026
Through mentorship, trust, and shared growth, families discover new possibilities for their daughters and themselves.
When an Indigenous girl in Guatemala becomes a MAIA Girl Pioneer, she carries within her the potential to ignite change, but that spark becomes a lasting flame when her family walks beside her. That’s where our Socioemotional Mentorship and Family Engagement program comes in: creating bridges of understanding between home and the MAIA Impact School.
In Guatemala, many families face generational challenges: poverty, social norms, and systemic barriers that limit opportunity. But when parents witness their daughters’ confidence grow, they too begin to dream differently. They start to say yes to education, to leadership, and become active participants in their daughters’ journeys.
At MAIA, this transformation is made possible through our Socioemotional Mentorship and Family Engagement Program. Each year, we accompany nearly 450 young women and their families—approximately 2,800 people—from more than 47 rural highland communities in the department of Sololá, Guatemala. Through this program, we strengthen the socioemotional well-being, leadership skills, and reproductive health knowledge of Girl Pioneers and their families.
Mentors—Indigenous women from the same communities—provide personalized support both at school and at home, while our nursing and nutrition team delivers preventive health services that empower girls to build lives filled with opportunity and choice.
“For us as a family, it is inspiring to see how much our daughter has changed. She is no longer shy and completes her schoolwork on her own. I feel proud to watch her grow and develop."
"There is not much support I can offer her, but I always give her words of encouragement so she can keep working hard for her future."
“My dad also agreed that I could achieve my dreams, I could achieve my goals and now he tells me to keep going, not to stop, that I can achieve everything. And well, I feel very proud and happy of what I can be, of the impact I can make in different areas: work, on my social life, and more.”
Our team of mentors accompanies families through every step of this journey. They listen, guide, and celebrate each milestone—big or small. Through home visits, open conversations, and workshops at our school, they help families recognize their daughters’ strength and potential, fostering a shared sense of pride and purpose.
"What I admire most is seeing families learn and grow alongside their daughters. Watching those changes in daily routines and family dynamics is not only moving, but it also confirms that mentorship is truly transformative."
As Edna mentioned, our Socioemotional Mentorship and Family Engagement program proves that when one Girl Pioneer thrives, a family transforms, and with it a community grows stronger. Each connection nurtured, each mindset shifted, and each dream supported contributes to a future where education, equity, and opportunity are realities for all.
Together, we are creating the conditions for Indigenous girls and their families to thrive. Through your support, families access the guidance, mentorship, and opportunities that help them build brighter futures and contribute to lasting systemic change.
Alianza—Alliance in English—is a global community committed to supporting long-term impact and creating a society with equity and opportunities. Be part of this community with a donation of $25 or more. You can make your donation on a monthly or quarterly basis.
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International Women’s Day. Ensuring Access to Our Rights and Transforming Our Future.
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
When we talk about education, we are not only talking about methods, content, or tests. We are talking about people, about educators who lead diverse classrooms filled with talent and
Every year at the MAIA Impact School, we welcome a new generation of Girl Pioneers. It is a transformative journey that changes the trajectory of the future of their lives, families, and the broader community.
With your investment, these remarkable young women will break cycles of poverty and build a brighter future.