MAIA Impact

Please help us raise $50,000 to support MAIA in empowering Guatemala’s next generation of Indigenous girl leaders!

 

The MAIA Impact School is Central America’s first secondary school specifically designed to connect the talents of rural Indigenous young women with the opportunities of the 21st century. MAIA is redefining the word “school” in rural Guatemala through a holistic educational model with an equal focus on academics, culture and identity, socioemotional intelligence, and personal development that together are key to creating a generation of empowered female leaders who will lead systemic change.

 

Our students are called Girl Pioneers because many are the first in their family to continue their education and graduate high school. At the MAIA Impact School, Girl Pioneers receive rigorous academics and individual and group mentorship focused on key nonacademic content areas such as leadership development, reproductive health, nutrition, and civic engagement. A girl’s education is a family commitment and MAIA’s family engagement program works to keep families informed, inspired, and working toward a new shared vision of her future. Now, with the growing inequality and challenges caused by COVID-19 in education in rural Guatemala, MAIA also provides Girl Pioneers with a “gap year” between primary and secondary school through an innovative program called Proyecto Impulso to gain academic momentum and better prepare them for success at the Impact School.

 

Watch our video here .

 

Why Guatemala?

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 in the world. Before COVID-19, only 20% of young Maya girls graduated from high school, and the effects of COVID-19 will lead to increasing disparity and inequality and less opportunity.

 

However, girls hold a unique power to lead inclusive and transformational change. We believe that the best way to address the world’s biggest challenges is through educating girls. It is now, when their future is at the most significant risk that young women need the support of their families, educators, mentors, and the global community to ensure nothing stands in the way of their education and reaching their full potential.

 

How will the funds be used?

$50,000 will support the education and empowerment of the most vulnerable girls in Guatemala. The MAIA Impact School serves 269 Girl Pioneers in grades 7-11 who come from over 40 rural villages in Guatemala. $3,500 supports a full scholarship for a Girl Pioneer to attend the Impact School, which includes:

 

 - Uniforms and personal sanitary kits

 - Books and school supplies

 - Rigorous academic curriculum

 - Socioemotional education and mentorship

 - Family engagement

 - Two nutritious meals daily

 

Invest in her infinite impact!

Join us by investing in the education and empowerment of Girl Pioneers so they can reach their ambitious goals. Be a part of her journey and share our campaign far and wide!

 

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This project is supported by the Girls Opportunity Alliance .
 
Your donation to benefit this campaign/project will be allocated to the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund (“GOA Fund”), a project of GoFundMe.org (a U.S. public charity). The Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund may grant a refund in limited circumstances at its sole and absolute discretion, however, donations are not refundable after the GoFundMe payment platform has transferred your donation to the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund. Transfers from GoFundMe to Girls Opportunity Alliance fund typically occur once monthly. All donations are subject to the variance power of GoFundMe.org, as stated in the applicable GoFundMe.org policies (https://www.gofundme.org/policies/). Subject to applicable law, donations may be tax-deductible.
 
The GOA Fund is restricted to supporting girls' education and your donation is made for the support of the above described project. Notwithstanding that the campaign description may name a specific organization that is anticipated to engage in the projects, GoFundMe.org retains variance power, that is, discretion and control over how funds are disbursed within the purposes of the GOA Fund generally, and within the purpose of the project specifically. For example, if the project does not reach its minimum fundraising goal, GoFundMe.org may re-assign money raised to another campaign within the GOA Fund.
 
As of April 11, 2019, the Direct Impact Fund operates as GoFundMe.org.