Our programs aim to unlock and maximize the potential of young Indigenous women, enabling them to lead transformational change and create a more equitable society.
Each year at MAIA, we serve nearly 450 young women and their families—approximately 2,800 people—from over 47 rural highland villages in the department of Sololá, Guatemala. We call our students “Girl Pioneers because many are the first in their families to continue their education beyond primary school. Our model creates a support system that empowers young women to break cycles of exclusion and poverty.
The MAIA Impact School is the only secondary school of its scale in Central America designed for young Indigenous women. Our full-day program blends Maya culture with STEAM learning, digital literacy, and practical skills that prepare 250 young women for higher education and formal employment.
At MAIA, we strengthen education in rural Guatemala by developing the skills and leadership of educators, mentors, and local leaders. We provide ongoing professional development for our team using innovative, girl-centered, and culturally relevant practices. We also share our approaches with public school teachers, community leaders, and partner organizations through collaborative training and advocacy. As co-founders of Eduk’at, Ellas al Frente, and VOCES, we help scale evidence-based practices that expand opportunities for Indigenous girls and strengthen Guatemala’s education system.
Our rigorous academic program excels in both academic quality and quantity, with Girl Pioneers achieving an average of two academic years’ worth of growth each school year.
Strengthens the social and emotional well-being, leadership skills, and reproductive health knowledge of Girl Pioneers and their families. Mentors – Indigenous women from the same communities – provide personalized support in school and at home, and our nurse and nutrition team deliver preventive health services that help girls lead choice-filled lives.
We provide girls with the academic and socioemotional support they need to successfully transition from primary to secondary school, addressing the learning gaps caused by an underfunded and inequitable education system in Guatemala. Each year, approximately 60–75 girls participate in this program. They attend public primary school in the morning (6th grade) and attend the MAIA Impact School in the afternoon for academic and socioemotional reinforcement.
We support MAIA graduates as they move into university, employment, entrepreneurship, and other leadership opportunities. Through one-on-one coaching, workplace skills training, and internships, young women gain the confidence and practical experience needed to thrive. An alumni network and university support fund further strengthen opportunities for students who are often the first in their families to attain higher education.
MAIA partners with local, national, and international allies like Guatemala Girls Education Project, Rotary Club Lake Oswego, Rotary Club Quetzaltenango (Xela), Team4Tech, and UVG to provide vocational training, workplace skills, and tech skills to Girl Pioneers. Our team supports them in university admission and scholarship applications.
MAIA USA
Tax Identification Number (EIN) 68-0652444
Asociación MAIA
Tax Identification Number (NIT) 6896913-9.
Guatemala Office:
Km. 137, Caserío Xolbé,
Cantón El Tablón, Sololá, Guatemala
US Office:
Postner Center
1031 33rd Street Denver, CO 80205
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.
