Elvira's Story: A Life of 'Firsts'

Elvira's Story: A life full of "firsts"

Elvira is Maya Kaqchikel, 18 years old, and from the rural village of Los Jiatz, Sololá in Guatemala. She is one of eight siblings, and full of “firsts.”

Elvira joined the first cohort of students at MAIA Impact School in 2017.
In 2021, she became the first woman in her family to graduate from high school.
In 2022, she joined the first cohort of MAIA’s Project Launch with the goal of continuing her personal, vocational, and academic formation and her trajectory.

“Since I was a child, I have had to work in order to pay for my studies. This is why I am such a strong supporter of women's education. I know that educated women can create a more prosperous and equal Guatemala.” – Elvira

Since she was young, her goal has been to study political science and work in community development,

women’s education, and peace and conflict management. However, her ambitions do not end there. Elvira aspired to be a global learner. With university access coaching and support provided through MAIA’s University Access and Scholarship Coach, Elvira applied to become a SHE CAN scholar, a highly competitive 4-year, full-tuition scholarship program to study at a US university for a select group of young women leaders from around the world who demonstrate academic excellence and community engagement.

As part of her rigorous application process, Elvira passed her TOEFL and SAT exams and designed and led her own community project "Green Mind, Green Life". Her project trained 14 community youth and adults in sustainable practices, worked with the local government to open a new garbage collection route through her community, and organized a community cleanup.

In May 2022, Elvira was thrilled to learn that she was selected as a 2022 SHE CAN scholarship recipient. Another first! You can watch her final presentation here.

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