Scholarships & Training for Rural Guatemalan Women

Carmela Paz, head of the scholarship project, feels fortunate to work with women who have a great desire to study and better their lives.  By preparing themselves academically, they then can establish a career and get a good job.  They go through the scholarship selection process hoping to receive a scholarship.  They share their stories hoping to find support to undertake their dream of continuing their studies. 

One of the dreamers is Milvia  from San Juan Comalapa.  She is 14 years old and is from a family of six. They all are studying.  Only the one year-old baby is not at school, although he surely is learning much at home.  Her father is a farmer and her mother sells her weavings to help support the family.  Milvia’s family, especially her parents, motivate her and constantly encourage her to use her time wisely to study.

When Milvia began 7th grade, she was happy to be in school, studying with her peers. She made many friends and shared good times.  The problem was that it was difficult for her to afford school supplies.   Her parents were unable to buy her what she needed. Supporting her siblings and paying normal household expenses was a struggle.

The support of the Kateri Fund which your donations provide has been essential.   Milvia is happy as a Kateri scholar because, in the Fund,  she is associated with a group of women who are striving to better their lives.  Their focus is on their studies.

As a distinguished student, second in her class, she works hard.  She is intelligent and dedicated to completing her work.  She does well in almost all her classes, though mathematics is difficult for her.  During the first quarter, she scored 63%, but she worked hard and her effort paid off.  In second quarter, she scored 91%.

The Kateri workshops are a great help. Through them she is able to assess herself and reflect on the events of her life. She values the workshops about self-esteem the most. She realizes that many people do not value their own lives. These talks of self-esteem not only are valuable for her, but she can share with peers and colleagues where she studies and motivate them when they are discouraged.  The effects are multiplied!

Milvia’s teachers forecast success for her in life. She is very dedicated and focused. Her hard work and responsibility is bound to pay off.   Her main wish is to get good grades in every one of her courses.  She has proven that she is ready to do her part by taking advantage of all the resources available to her.  She wants to prove that she is worthy of everyone’s support.   It motivates her to know that people who do not even know her are pulling for her to succeed and are willing to support her efforts to get an education.  She says, “Thank you”