Guatemalan Women's Cross Generational Development

The United States Agency for International Development reports that Guatemalan children on average attend only four years of school and only three out of ten students graduate from sixth grade. Less than 20% of all Guatemalans graduate from high school. But amid these disappointing statistics there are shining stars, young girls who are achieving academic success despite the odds. Take for instance Milvia.

Milvia is a hardworking student who, one day, wants to become a teacher.  She strives to do her best in school.  She gets good grades and has exemplary behavior.  Her teachers credit her with being a role model for her classmates. When Milvia is having trouble in a subject, she seeks out extra help at MayaWorks' Rosa Moya tutoring center. There, she receives additional support and resources so that she doesn't fall behind in her subjects.

Milvia's ambition to excel also inspires her parents to work harder so they can provide her more opportunities. Both parents are weavers and use the income they earn making MayaWorks products to send Milvia and her siblings to school.  Milvia's parents are extremely proud of her and encourage her to continue to excel in school.

MayaWorks Cross Generational program is designed to give parents a hand-up so they can support their children in realizing their full potential.  Providing ongoing work for artisans assures families will have the income to keep their children in school.

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On a recent visit to our artisan partners, I had the pleasure of spending a morning visiting MayaWorks' scholarship recipients in the small village of Agua Caliente in the central highlands of Guatemala.

It's always a pleasure to see the girls.  At first, they are shy and reticient when I meet with them in the classroom.  On this day, I brought them pencils with a little sweet attached.  We chatted about school and what their favorite subjects were and about the subjects they struggle with.  We also talked about what they want to be when they grow up.  So many want to be teachers, others want to be lawyers and still others want to be doctors.  

These girls could be anything they want to be.  They are smart and hardworking and most of them are attaining a B average in the coursework.  Those that struggle academically are bolstered by their classmates who help them through peer tutoring and just plain old positive encouragement.

The girls became less bashful through our conversation and, before I knew it, one by one they came forward to offer me their piece of candy.  They know I love the mango candies! Their generosity touches me; what little they have, they give to others because it pleases them.

Their tutor suggested we go outside and play a pick-up game of soccer.  If these girls are quiet and demure in the classroom, they are boisterous and aggressive on the pitch.  Within seconds they had teams picked out and organized onto the field.  Much to my chagrin, I landed on a team!  We had a great time laughing and playing and the girls were such good sports about my thorough lack of ball skills.

Before I knew it, it was time for me to go to my next appointment.  Parting is such sweet sorrow; the girls are sad to see me go and I'm sad to leave them.  I promise to come visit on my next trip bearing gifts of soccer balls!

Thank you for supporting our cross generational program. Your donations allow us to provide tutoring services in the communities we serve.  Together, working along side the girls' mothers, we can assure they will have a bright future.

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