Empower a Girl in Guatemala: Education after COVID

The Q’umarkaj archaeological site is located in Quiché, department of Guatemala. It is characterized by having in its center a stone sundial that marks the four cardinal points, and because pieces of great value carved in jade and gold were found. But in addition, and no less important, it is said that in that area the maidens were women with an outstanding apprenticeship.

Currently however, and especially in the rural area of the department, women’s education has lagged behind. Only 5 out of 10 children attend school, despite the fact that Quiché has more than 1 million inhabitants and more than 360,000 people of school age, 59% of whom have access to education.

In the Scholarships for Girls Program, we are convinced that supporting women’s education is an important way to break the cycle of poverty and essentially support them in their extracurricular education. With all this, we would ensure that the percentage of girls with access to schools would increase. And the fact is that the compromise between the technician and the parents is vital for the child, who is the main agent, to remain in school.

Finally, we wanted to add that we are very happy to start the 2022 school year and, thanks to your contribution and collaboration, school supply kits were delivered. This is a great way to motivate the scholarship girls and young women, hoping that this new year will be full of challenges, successes, and many satisfactions in their school education.

The city of Iximche, in the indigenous Mayan language means “corn tree”, its located in Tecpan, it was the first capital of Guatemala, or the cradle of the Kaqchikel Maya kingdom. During the late postclassic period, the Maya civilization suffered migration of its important cities, giving rise to new generations from which emerged the Quiches, Kaqchikeles, Tzutujiles and Mames people. Each ethnic group settled in new territories in order to create their empire and form of government, with a social structure suited to their needs.

The city was built in plazas dividing it in different living spaces according to the Maya cosmovision: in Plaza “A” the Maya ball game field was located as well as the Palace of the Governors. Its construction structure consists of 13 squares positioned in the shape of a cross that, when joined together, integrate 20 corners; these numbers are related to the sacred calendar.

The priests were concentrated in Plaza “B” and, in the ceremonial center, the spiritual rites and Mayan ceremonies took place, as well as the celebration of the investiture of the new governors. In the imposing monuments of the ruins of Iximche, Plaza “C” stood out. It was one of the most important, since it was the area of concentration and preparation to receive wisdom: in other words, we could say that it was the area of learning.

At that time, teaching and learning already existed, but nowadays many children still do not have access to a quality education that allows them to discover their abilities and skills, being the most vulnerable the rural communities; it is estimated that the greatest risk of school dropout prevails in girls and young women.

Links:

• Lee el report en espanol