Empower Maya Youth in a Post-Genocide Community

Soon-to-be 8th grader, Joselina, is on her way to becoming the first in her family with a high school degree, a monumental achievement in a community where most girls don't even make it to middle school. She comes from a single-parent household where her mom, María, didn’t have the opportunity to go to school, never learning to read, write, or speak Spanish. They live in a shared house with ten other family members, including Joselina’s grandparents and cousins. María works hard to support her family, selling her handmade weavings and growing and selling tomatoes. On weekends and school vacations, Joselina makes her own beautiful artisan items and helps with her mom’s sales.

Converting challenges into opportunities

In January, when Joselina and her 23 classmates ( girls) began with Colegio Horizontes, she struggled tremendously to express herself in both her native Ixil and in Spanish. After a year of being immersed in a high-quality, safe, supportive learning environment with dynamic, interactive classes, Joselina has found her voice. She is empowered and confident and expresses herself freely, seeing herself as an equal to her male classmates: she and her peers represent the positive impact that a high-quality, girl-focused education can have.


Every problem has a solution

Joselina loves learning and being in school all day (compared to 4.5 hours in local schools). While she has excelled in all her classes, her favorite subjects are math and art. She loves “learning new strategies and different techniques to solve problems.” Math is one of the most difficult subjects for Chajul’s students, with just 1% of high school graduates passing the national exam. To break down barriers, our teachers plan and lead engaging classes so that students learn to think critically and understand the subject more easily. As a result, Joselina and her peers are learning to truly love it!


Hands in the dirt, head in the sun

Joselina particularly enjoys hands-on lessons in the school garden, where vegetables and fruits are grown and then used in nutritious school meals. With environmentally friendly practices incorporated into the curriculum, such as gardening and learning about the solar panels used to power the school (which allow learning to go uninterrupted by frequent community-wide power outages), Colegio Horizontes is an example of environmentally sustainable practices for students and their community.


Dreams for the future

Joselina’s dream is to become the first in her family to graduate from college to become a nurse for Chajul so that she can help her fellow community members. Her mom, María, is excited for her daughter to provide medical services in Chajul, where there are few bilingual (Spanish-Ixil) female providers. She has always dreamed of a better future for her children, one with professional work opportunities that can lead to a life outside of poverty.

“The big changes Colegio Horizontes is making in Chajul is providing opportunities for women, opening doors so they can achieve their dreams.” – María.


Looking ahead to 2023

2022 was a year filled with milestones and accomplishments far beyond what we could have ever imagined, and it was all thanks to supporters like you. With the 2022 school year recently coming to a close, the entire Limitless Horizons Ixil team thanks you for joining us to expand and deepen high-quality and holistic education in Chajul!

All of our Youth Development Program scholars continue to persevere against the odds, working hard in their high school studies. Most are still learning in a hybrid model, and they are now less just two months away from the end of the 2022 school year. 

Many of our Youth Development Program scholars are based in other parts of Guatemala while school is in session, and to ensure their mental wellbeing, our psychologist has called each scholar to check in this month.  Since we can’t see them in person as often while they are away at school, this is one way we make sure they are getting the support they need as they complete their high school studies. 

An update from Youth Development Program scholar Teresa

We are delighted to share a personal interview from one of our Youth Development Program scholars, Teresa, who is 18 years old. We sat down with Teresa to hear how her studies have been progressing this year!  

What are you studying and what year are you in?

I am in my final year and am studying Accounting and Computing.

Are your classes virtual or in person?, and how are they going? 

I am now attending in person classes. It has not been easy as it is my final year so at times I have felt stressed, but overall it has gone well for me and I am very excited to be so close to achieving my goal of completing my studies. 

How has Limitless Horizons Ixil helped you? 

They have helped me financially through my sponsorship, as otherwise I would not be able to have continued studying. But beyond that I am truly grateful for all the support I have had from Limitless Horizons Ixil, they have taught me that opportunities must be taken advantage of, and that our dreams are worth fighting for. 

What are your goals for the rest of this year? 

To successfully complete my studies and get good grades! 

What are your reflections on learning during the pandemic?

There will be obstacles placed on our path, but for any dream we must put in the effort and dedication needed. We must persevere, even when we might want to give up, we must never give up.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy traditional weaving, cooking with my family, and reading books. 

We hope you enjoyed hearing from Teresa! Together we are making sure that she and her Youth Development Program peers are able to finish their studies and become Chajul’s future young professionals! Thanks for supporting Limitless Horizons Ixil and our Youth Development Program! 

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