Current Scholarship Recipients

Ana Maria | Carolina | Catarina | Maria Susana

Past Scholarship Recipients

Ana | Elsa | Flor | Griselda | Martina | Olga | Gladys | Beatriz

INTRODUCTION TO CENTRO MAYA XELA PROJECT
“UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIGENOUS WOMEN”

            Since 1995, shortly after the founding of Centro Maya Xela, the cooperative members began work on one of the organization’s central visions.  Recognizing the paucity of educational opportunities for indigenous women in Guatemala, especially at the University level, they began a full scholarship program for several young indigenous women from various Maya linguistic groups around Guatemala.  The support Centro Maya offers these young women includes full tuition and room and board in a residence the organization rents for this purpose, as well as full coverage of all other education-related expenses.  The young women live together in an atmosphere of mutual support which enables them to continue strengthening their Maya identities, mitigating some of the discrimination which arises from the participation of indigenous women (marked by their use of a traditional dress) in an overwhelmingly Ladino (non-indigenous) educational institution.  In addition, the cooperative members devote considerable time to training the young women to work as Spanish and Maya language instructors at the school.  With this opportunity to work at Centro Maya, the scholarship recipients are able to earn spending money for various needs that the school is unable to cover.  The funding for this endeavor comes from 20% of each Spanish/Maya language student’s weekly tuition which is earmarked for support of Centro Maya’s projects.  Currently (January 2006) the school is supporting 6 young women from the following communities and linguistic groups:

1. María del Socorro Julajuj Sunun from Aldea Pixabaj, Sololá.  Belongs to Kaqchikel linguistic group.  She began her studies in Medicine in 2001 and became a recipient of the scholarship program in 2002.  She will finish in 2006.
2. Ana María Méndez Ramírez from Aldea Huitancito, Huitan, Quetzaltenango. Belongs to Mam linguistic group. She began her studies in Economy in 2001 and became a recipient of the scholarship program in 2004. She will fihish in 2006.
3. Catarina Luisa Can Con from Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, Solola. Belongs to K’iche’ linguistic group. She began her studies in Law in 2000 and became a recipient of the scholarship program in 2006. She will finish in 2007.
4. Carolina Verónica Con Tzep from Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, Solola. Belongs to K’iche’ linguistic group. She began her studies in Clinical Psychology and became a recipient of the scholarship program in 2006. She will finish in 2011.
5. María Susana Raymundo Pérez from Nebaj, Quiche. Belongs to Ixil linguistic group. She began her studies in Physiotherapy and became a reciepient of the scholarship program in 2006. She will finish in 2011.

Scholarship Program Graduates

1. Florentina Bonifacia Par García from Argueta, Sololá.  Belongs to K’iche’ linguistic group.  She participated in the scholarship program from 1995 to 2000.  Currently, she’s a Social Worker. 
2. Elsa Hernández Méndez from San Sebastián, Huehuetenango.  Belongs to Mam linguistic group.  She also participated in the scholarship program from 1995 to 2000 and is currently a Social Worker. (They are the first graduates from scholarship program, and have benefited from the support of the school, and in turn contributed much to the organization itself, since the beginning of the program in 1995) 
3. Griselda González Navichoc from San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá.  Belongs to Tz’utujil linguistic group. Studied Law as a scholarship recipient from 1998 to 2002.  Currently ABD (All that’s left is the thesis for the Licenciatura -roughly a master’s degree program in Law.)
4. Olga Marina Cumatz Vásquez from Aldea Pixabaj, Sololá.  Belongs to Kaqchikel linguistic group.  She began her studies in Economics in 1999 and finished in 2003. Currently ABD (All that’s left is the thesis for the Licenciatura -roughly a degree in economics).
5. Keyla Cesilia Méndez Tuch from San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá.  Belongs to Tz’utujil linguistic group.  She began her studies in Law in 2002 and will finish in 2006. She finished working with the University Scholarship –in May of 2005 to continue her studies in Guatemala City.
6. Martina Elizabeth Juárez Nicolás from Santa Eulalia, Huehuetenango.  Belongs to Q’anjob’al linguistic group.  She began her studies in Law in 2000 and finished in May 2005.
7. Ana María Castañeda Diego from Santa Eulalia, Huehuetenango.  Belongs to Q’anjob’al linguistic group.  She began her studies in Agricultural Engineering in 2000 and finished in 2005.
8. Maura Salanic Cortez from Aldea Pachaj, Cantel, Quetzaltenango.  Belongs to the K’iche’ linguistic group.  She began her studies in Medicine in Cuba in 2000 and finished in 2005.  She was the only scholarship recipient who lives outside of the University residence in Quetzaltenango.

In order to select women for this program, Centro Maya distributes application forms to all secondary institutions in Maya areas.  The requirements are the following:  Applicants must demonstrate a strong dedication to continued studies at the University level and maintain a good academic standing.  Likewise, they must be women from indigenous communities who speak an indigenous language.  Finally, they must express a desire to return to their communities upon completing their studies with the goal of using their education to contribute directly to local development.  In the fall of each year, Centro Maya conducts a workshop with the applicants, in an effort to get to know them better and thus select those who best meet the requirements of the program.  All applicants, however, benefit from the workshop, which serves to strengthen their identities and self-esteem.  They each have the opportunity to analyze critically their role as women in small indigenous communities, and likewise seek ways to improve their status and assume leadership roles, breaking down age-old stereotypes while maintaining Maya identities.

Students who study at Centro Maya have the opportunity to meet and interact with these young women on a daily basis, and especially on certain Wednesdays when we make a trip to the university residence.   During this time, the scholarship recipients organize an informal conference to relate something of their lives and studies to students.  Students have the opportunity to learn a great deal about the lives of indigenous women in Guatemala during these gatherings, as well as details about the specific organization of the scholarship recipients’ residence.  Students and visitors to Centro Maya have routinely described these encounters as tremendously valuable and enlightening.