Education & Empowerment for Girls in Guatemala

The past few weeks have been unforgettable. As we watch the COVID-19 situation evolve in the US and Europe, our hearts go out to our friends whose lives are deeply affected by this pandemic. Guatemala is still approaching the intensive phase. We expect our situation will grow more critical very soon. 

Today's news is tough to endure. Many in the MAIA community are used to being a part of the solution (not sitting something out and "sheltering in place"). Your investment in Girl Pioneers continues to be critical; you, too, play a key part in this solution. We confess that for the first part of last week we were just focused on trying to maintain the course. Our concern was to get Girl Pioneers their academic kits in time to keep up their momentum. Over the past few days, we have had more time to reflect and assess. 

We have always said MAIA was built to respond. Of course, we never imagined how we would react to a global pandemic. However, as our heads pivot back and forth from the global situation to the realities of rural Guatemala, we realize that MAIA has some critical resources that can make a big difference. Thanks to our incredible supporters, MAIA has been creating invaluable social capital for over 10 years. With the onset of COVID-19, we realize that now is the time to use it. 

Clearly, no country is ready for this virus. MAIA is acutely aware of the vulnerabilities of Guatemala’s rural areas, where access to health services and information was extremely limited before the pandemic. Many of you who have visited MAIA can identify with the major concerns around access to information about how to prevent and address COVID-19. Families in rural Guatemala often do not speak Spanish and cannot read. There is precious little information flowing back and forth from these villages. 

MAIA is uniquely qualified to respond to this challenge, and we need to pivot. MAIA's wholehearted belief in the "Girl Effect" has equipped hundreds of Girl Pioneers and staff in over 100 remote communities with the knowledge and know-how to lead and educate. These Girl Pioneers come from supportive families and village councils in communities familiar with MAIA. MAIA’s entire intervention has been designed to be culturally relevant. 

WE ARE ONTO SOMETHING...

Over the past few days, MAIA tested out a few messages in three Maya languages on social media. These messages have been viewed by over 25,000 people in Guatemala in just a few days. Clearly, we are onto something. How can MAIA strategically utilize its resources to help fill this critical information gap? Here’s what we are assessing:

• Production: Low-tech educational videos and audio spots can be made easily. MAIA is consulting with experts to ensure that the information we disseminate is accurate, current and contextualized.
• Sharing information among villages: Just 14% of families in MAIA have access to a smartphone. Radio is still a widely used medium for communication. How can we combine our insights with new and traditional techniques to get messages into the villages?
• Competencies at work: It is not easy to discern accurate information and strategically share it. How can Girl Pioneers maximize their vocal empowerment, critical thinking, and resilience to address this enormous need?
• Sharing information from the villages: How can Girl Pioneers act as conduits and advocates of information out of the villages? 

Links:

• MAIA is built to respond. Learn how MAIA is pivoting