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I belong to the Mam culture, which is found in the northwest and west of Guatemala, in the departments of Huehuetenango, San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, and Retaluheu. This culture has preserved its language, and in a special way we women have conserved our native Maya costume with its different colors, designs, and shapes that signify important aspects of life and nature. The majority of the people in this culture come from families with few economic resources because they have long been prevented from sharing in the means of production. Because of that the people live in poverty, marginalization, and economic discrimination.
I likewise want to express my real appreciation to the women and men who have come to Centro Maya to study. It was your financial support that made it possible for me to finish my studies at the university. I can very happily tell you that I am now a professional, university-trained woman. It was my great desire to study Social Work because I wanted to help the indigenous population which is excluded, discriminated against, and thwarted in its social, economic, and political ambitions. The ability to do this is the great gift you have given me, and I thank you. Current Scholarship Recipients Ana Maria | Carolina | Catarina | Maria Susana Past Scholarship Recipients Ana | Elsa | Flor | Griselda | Martina | Olga
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I entered into Centro Maya's scholarship program in 1995 and finished in 2000. It makes me very happy to be one of the first scholarship recipients in this program to graduate. I want to express my sincerest gratitude to all those who make up Centro Maya for their good spirit and desire to help others -- and especially for theirr willingness to help Guatemalan women, who have very few opportunities and little space with which to establish professional careers within the Guatemalan social context. 
