Education & Empowerment for Girls in Guatemala

MAIA’s mission to empower voices and cultivate leadership pulses stronger than ever from a determined Girl Pioneer confidently claiming her place on a national sciences podium to a bold educator taking MAIA to global forums. Today I want to share with you two incredible stories that are a clear testimony of our slogan: Empowered women, infinite impact! 

Alexandra, a fearless eight grader and Girl Pioneer, recently captured third place in Guatemala’s National Sciences Olympiad. Competing against dozens of eager students, she brought boundless curiosity and poise to every challenge. Alexandra presented an experiment that combined wind energy, origami, and mechanics, using precisely folded paper to create a propeller that transforms moving air into motion, merging science, recycled materials and creativity. Her bronze medal is proof that when we invest early in girls’ dreams, they’ll outshine our highest hopes. A special shoutout to Yuli, MAIA’s dedicated science educator, whose steady guidance was woven into every step of Alexandra’s journey. 

At the other side of the classroom is Ixchely, who grew up in a rural Maya Kaqchikel community where schooling felt out of reach. Despite scarce resources, she pushed forward. Today she speaks Spanish, Kaqchikel, and English fluently, and brings that trilingual perspective as a MAIA English educator since 2021.  A few weeks ago, she took the stage at the ASF Youth Assembly Forum in New York where she shared MAIA’s academic, indigenous-led model during panel discussions, forged new partnerships with educators from five continents, and returned home with innovative teaching strategies. 

These powerful stories have sprung from MAIA’s commitment to uplift Indigenous voices from Ixchely’s teaching breakthroughs on an international stage to Alexandra’s proud moment on the Olympiad podium. We can’t wait to see what blossoms next!