Education Guatemala Project #12067

Scholarships & Training for Rural Guatemalan Women

by Kateri Tekakwitha Fund

Project Report | Oct 2, 2015
September is Election Month in Guatemala!

By Kay Sweeney/ Carmela Paz | Managing Director/ Education Program Coordinator

Delia

On September 7th, elections were held in Guatemala for president, deputies to Congress, and city mayors. Carmela Paz, program coordinator, used the opportunity of the September monthly meeting to discuss the importance of voting and the process involved. She talked with the students about the steps to follow to cast a vote and the importance of being well informed when you make your decision. She stressed that as the vote is secret, no one can obligate you to vote for a certain person or party and that it is possible to vote for people from different parties for different offices as it is good to have various opinion represented in Congress.

As a practice, Carmela divided the young women into two groups and each formed their own political party and decided on one of the members of the group to be their candidate for president. Each discussed her views and tried to get the others to vote for her. Carmela and Emilsa Peren, the other coordinator of the group, answered questions about the process.

Paula and Mayra were glad to learn more about the process of voting. They see it as important to take it seriously as the future of the country is in the hands of the voters. Who is elected will determine what happens. They are looking for changes in how the country is governed.

Clara Elizabeth, Florestina, and Glenda were happy to know that the vote is secret and that no one can obligate you to vote for a certain person. They will vote for someone who agrees with what they think is right.

Flory felt it showed a love for your country to vote for someone who would govern well.

Delia said that we must vote because every vote is important. She would be happy as a citizen to exercise this right.

Sandra and Norma will seek a candidate who has the capacity to govern and good principles and values.

They all left the meeting with a better idea of the voting process and its importance.

Florestina

Mayra

Flory

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Jul 6, 2015
Parents Are Getting Involved

By Kay Sweeney/ Carmela Paz | Managing Director/ Education Program Coordinator

Glenda and Clara Sharing a Song

In May, Mothers' Day is celebrated all over the world. Guatemala is no exception. Every school has a day of activities to honor the mothers of its students.

The Kateri Tekakwitha Fund decided to join in the festivities. The young women were invited to bring their mothers to our monthly meeting. Florestina and Norma, recited a poem dedicated to the mothers. Aura Leticia, Clara, and Glenda sang a song, Marilena led a musical game. Emilsa, the program leader, led a game that tested the mothers to see if they could identify their daughters blindfolded. This led to lots of laughter!

At the end the young women gave their mothers a gift accompanied by words of gratitude. Mayra who is typical of the students in the program, expressed the feelings of many. She told her mother that she represents love and a refuge to her She is her best friend with whom she shares her sadness, problems, and happiness. She is someone who has given her love, affection, and help, since the nine months she carried her in her womb until now. She thanked her for all she has been to her. Returning to school at 24 years old to study in junior high school without her father's support of her wish to get an education, the support of her mother is doubly important to her.

After the activities, they all shared a piece of cake and orange juice. It was a lot of fun!

The fifteen young women in the program this year are all studying hard to get good grades and pass into the next grade. The school year has just four more months to go. School ends in October. Five of the young women will graduate this year. Juana Cun, the head of our intern program, has conducted a workshop with them to help them get ready to look for work. They will leave the program ready for their next step-finding a job!

Mayra Sharing her Feelings about Her Mother.

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Mar 16, 2015
Three Inspiring Young Women

By Kay Sweeney | Managing Director

Clara with her Dia de Amistad Wish

A week and a half of my Guatemalan visit has passed. The time has been full. Every day I have the opportunity to meet and talk with women and girls who have dreams of improving their lives.

Sunday, the young women in the Education Program, came for their monthly meeting at our Center in Chimaltenango. I talked with three who particularly impressed me, Clara Loyda, Sandra Cecelia, and Flory.

Clara talked enthusiastically about her courses in English. She is studying to be a bi-lingual secretary. Learning English is important. Her school is in Sololá near Panajachel on beautiful Lake Atitlan. Tourists from all over the world visit. Sandra and her classmates practice their English by giving presentations in English for the visitors. She sees this skill as important to her future success.

Sandra has dreams of being a doctor in the future. Right now, she is in a high school program that is preparing her for a future career in the medical field. She has a clear plan for reaching her goal. When she graduates this year, her next step will be to apply to a nursing assistant program. She then sees herself working as a nursing assistant and studying at the university to get her medical degree. Talking with her warmed my heart.

Flory has a story that might have led a lesser person to despair. Her mother died when she was very young. Her father is an alcoholic and she lived in an abusive situation. Despite all this she has made a life for herself. She has struggled to get an education and now, with a Kateri scholarship, is studying in her first year of high school.

She is sponsored by a girl who was adopted from Guatemala as a baby. The sponsorship was a birthday gift from her adopted parents. She is thrilled to be connected to Guatemala through Flory.

I shared her sponsor’s story with Flory and gave her a picture of her sponsor with her brother in their Halloween costumes. The smile on Flory’s face showed how much she appreciated the opportunity to know more about her sponsor.

This meeting was the highlight of my first week in Guatemala. I am always energized by participating with these young women who despite all obstacles are taking the steps necessary to improve their lives.

Sandra Planning to be a Doctor

Flory with her Sponsors Picture

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