We are determined to redefine our trajectory

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.