Lucero and Wendy, Girl Pioneers of the MAIA Impact School, participated as guest speakers at the 2023 Central America Leadership Initiative (CALI) Regional event on March 9. They discussed with fellows, funders, sponsors, and other regional leaders what happens when a girl has access to the opportunities she deserves.

Women’s leadership and voices are fundamental to MAIA’s work and programming. Through our mentorship curriculum, peer-to-peer support network, and monthly family home visits, our goal is that Girl Pioneers develop the internal strength, skills, and emotional intelligence they need to lead. They become empowered to empower.

Lucero and Wendy joined Martha Lidia Oxí, MAIA’s Co-Executive Director of External Relations, and María Kaltschmitt, MAIA board member and CALI fellow, in Antigua (Guatemala) to share their experiences and perspectives on the importance and power of increasing girls’ access to quality opportunities.

“When we ensure support to a girl, we gain a world, a mind, a heart, and a voice. We need to guarantee they are empowered and have a voice, vote, education, freedom, rights, childhood, health, and security,” shared Lucero.

Women are powerful agents of change, and as young female leaders and Girl Pioneers, Lucero and Wendy are demonstrating that increasing women’s leadership and participation at all levels of society is possible.