A celebration of courage, dreams, and change

Katy Samayoa — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 22:05:37 +0000

A celebration of courage, dreams, and change

Here’s to the 5th class of graduate Girl Pioneers

November 24, 2025

We believe in the power of saying “Yes.”

In a country where Indigenous girls often hear countless “no”. No to education, no to opportunity, no to dreaming big. But today, we are celebrating a resounding “Yes!” that comes from leadership, from courage, and from the dreams that drive transformation.

Today, we can’t wait to introduce you to the 5th class of graduates. Each one of them represents what happens when possibility meets determination, when a “Yes” opens doors to new futures.

“Being a Girl Pioneer changed my life. My grandmother and my mother had their first child at 18. I am 18 now, and I’m breaking that cycle—my dreams are big. I will begin my university studies next year, and I hope to join community groups where I can use my voice in shaping decisions.”

Ana, MAIA Graduate

At MAIA, we know that inequity in Guatemala is inherited. The path for Indigenous women and girls is often shaped by systemic barriers: poverty, limited access to education, and early motherhood. But together, we are rewriting this story.

As we celebrate this milestone for the newest graduating class, we are reminded that our mission is more than education. It’s about empowering girls to become leaders, shaping communities, and proving that with support, guidance, and opportunity, change is possible.

“At MAIA, I learned how to use the power of my voice. Now I am an inspiration for my entire family, especially my younger siblings, because they ask me to teach them the things I’ve learned. Carrying that responsibility is meaningful, and it fills me with pride. I want to keep studying and grow into a leader who expands and strengthens educational opportunities for the next generation of Indigenous leaders.”

Dulce, MAIA Graduate

Just like Ana and Dulce, there are 40 more dreams, goals, and hopes for transformation being nurtured every day. Each graduating Girl Pioneer represents an infinite array of new opportunities and a collective “Yes” to creating the systemic change we all envision, being a force for change.

You can be part of that “Yes.”

By investing in education, leadership, and empowerment, you are directly contributing to a future where Indigenous women and girls lead with courage and transform their communities.

Join us in this celebration of saying “yes” by watching the graduation ceremony HERE. And don’t miss the speech from our keynote speaker: Jayro Bustamente, Award-winning movie director and Human Rights activist from Guatemala.

We are proud, we are inspired, and we are energized because this is only the beginning! Let’s be witnesses to the next generation of leaders.

Together, we are a force for change.

Keep an eye on what’s coming next!

In the next stories, you’ll meet the people who keep this force alive—the girls who lead with courage, the families who believe in new futures, and the team who walks alongside them. Their journeys remind us what is possible when we choose to move forward together.

We are a force for change!

5th class of MAIA graduates Archives - MAIA

A celebration of courage, dreams, and change

A celebration of courage, dreams, and change

You can be part of that “Yes.”

Together, we are a force for change.

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