MAIA Impact School, Guatemala
About MAIA Impact School
New Mona Partner in 2022
MAIA unlocks and maximizes the potential of young Maya women to lead transformational change and create a more equitable society. Launched in 2017 and located near the city of Sololá, the MAIA Impact School is Central America’s first female, Indigenous-led secondary school specifically designed to connect the talents of rural Indigenous young women with the opportunities of the 21st century. The school serves 375 girls from 40 remote villages.
The Challenge
Guatemala has the worst gender-equity gap in the Western hemisphere. Representing roughly 25% of the population, Maya women experience levels of exclusion that make them among the most marginalized on Earth. In Guatemala, 65.9% of indigenous women and girls live in poverty, fewer than 20% of Maya girls complete high school, and 57% are mothers by the early age of 20. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global education crisis with millions of students who haven’t been able to learn during this time, and girls are the least likely to return to the classroom when it eventually ends. The World Bank recently projected that in 2021 Guatemala’s already-low figure for average years of schooling will drop from 6.3 to 4.8 years.
In Sololá, where the Impact School is located, the population is 98% Maya and has the second-highest level of poverty in Guatemala with over 75% living on less than $2/day.
The Solution: MAIA Impact School Programs
The Girl Effect
"I am the solution."
Holistic Secondary Education
The MAIA Impact School offers a holistic education focused equally on academics, culture and identity, socioemotional development, and family engagement. The students, who enter the school in Grade 7, are called “Girl Pioneers” because they are blazing a new trajectory towards prosperity and equal opportunity.
Academics – Rigorous academic instruction, including STEM classes, ensures students gain an average of two academic years of growth every school year with progress assessed along seven competencies. To support high quality teaching, the school invests over 100 hours of professional development for every MAIA educator and mentor.
Culture and identity
– Nearly all MAIA’s leadership and staff are indigenous Maya women. The staff are keenly aware they are role models for the Girl Pioneers.
“If she can see it, she can be it.”
Socioemotional development – A team of mentors support the Girl Pioneers to navigate life’s challenges, develop and use their voices, and actively participate in society. In weekly mentorship classes and 1:1 counseling, the girls learn crucial nonacademic content such as leadership development, reproductive health, vocal empowerment, community engagement, and financial literacy.
Family engagement – Mentors also visit each student’s family every month with activities that encourage meaningful conversation among family members and foster a new shared vision of their future. Their work with families mirrors the school curriculum so that girls and their families are consistently discussing topics such as personal and family goal-setting; emotional, mental, and physical health; vocal empowerment and healthy communication; and community development."
This provides an essential network of support for the Girl Pioneers that is critical to overcome challenges.
How we help
Mona began partnering with MAIA Impact School in 2022 and is supporting the training of teachers, digital access, curriculum development, and use of formative assessment tools.
Stories of Impact
Amelia's Story
Amelia, a young Maya Kaqchikel woman from a rural community in Sololá, Guatemala, embodies the transformative power of education. Growing up in a community where societal pressures often prevent young women from continuing their education, Amelia once faced the prospect of ending her studies after primary school. “I knew many girls hadn’t even studied because they were women,” she shares.
Everything changed when Amelia joined the MAIA Impact School. Overcoming shyness and cultural barriers, she became the first daughter in her family to graduate high school. The opportunities and tools provided by MAIA ignited a profound transformation. She developed critical-thinking skills, gained self-confidence, and discovered her voice. “My dreams haven’t changed, but they have evolved and grown as I’ve become more confident,” Amelia says.
Today, Amelia is pursuing her dream of becoming an architect at San Carlos University in Guatemala. She envisions herself contributing to her community through social projects and inspiring other young women to recognize their power and potential. “I am thrilled that more young women are studying at MAIA. They motivate me to continue pursuing my dreams as I see myself reflected in them. I wish to inspire many more young women to know the power of their words and voices and be what they dream and decide.”
Amelia’s story is a testament to how access to education and empowerment can break cycles of limitation, enabling girls to redefine their futures and drive progress within their communities. By lifting one, an entire generation is inspired.
January 2024 - Ana Miriam (age 17) is of Maya Kaqchikel heritage and a Girl Pioneer in 11th grade. In 2023, she was selected as Guatemala’s only scholarship recipient to the American Field Service Exchange Program, opening the door for an extraordinary journey to study in Canada. For Ana Miriam, winning this scholarship was about inspiring her peers and the children in her community.
“In five years, I see myself as a professional with a stable job. I have many goals I want to achieve, one of which is graduating from university and becoming a political scientist. I envision myself being actively involved in spaces where I can support women’s political participation and improve the educational sector in my community and country. I want to make positive changes in my surroundings.” - Ana Miriam
At the end of 2022, Travis Ning, MAIA’s Executive Director transitioned out of MAIA after 13 years. His departure was bittersweet, however, because it made way for a new generation of leaders. This transition is most notable because MAIA is now be fully led by an executive team that is 100% Indigenous, female, and Maya. This sets a new precedent in Guatemala, and we are elated to see MAIA break through yet another barrier. MAIA’s Board of Directors recently named Andrea Coché (photo right) and Lidia Oxi (photo left) as Co-Executive Directors. Andrea will focus on MAIA’s direct services, while Lidia leads MAIA’s external relationships.
Congratulations Andrea and Lidia!
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" that 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!
2024 Achievements
- 375 Maya girls received high quality education from 43 communities
- 127 teachers trained
- Launch Year Program assisted 40 graduates to attend college or obtain formal employment
- Project Impulso provided 62 6th grade girls a year of academic reinforcement, allowing them to enter their first year at MAIA prepared
- 196 service projects carried out impacting 30,858 community members
- 612 parents engaged in the Family Engagement Program in support of their daughter's education and empowerment
2025 Plans, $40,000
- Provide high quality education to 439 girls
- Involve 379 parents in Family Engagement Program in support of their daughter's education and empowerment
- Train 50 teachers
- Enhance the Launch Program by increasing training opportunities, strengthening partnerships, and building a graduate support network
- Provide internet access for academics and program activities
- Develop scalable frameworks to share MAIA’s best practices in education, gender equity, and socioemotional support with other organizations and government bodies
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