I am Florentina Bonifacia Par Garcia, from the Village of Argueta in the municipality and department of Sololá. I belong to the K'iche' Maya culture, and I speak read, and write K'iche' Maya.

I, Florentina, belong to a family of six: my father, mother, two brothers and two sisters. I'm the fourth daughter of my parents, but one brother died. I'm the first daughter to graduate from advanced secondary school, at which I received the Primary Teaching Certificate in 1994. I also graduated from the University of San Carlos in Quetzaltenango, with a degree in Rural Social Work, in the year 2000.

I entered the Centro Maya de Idiomas Scholarship Program in 1995, being one of the first senoritas becadas to continue university studies in the program sponsored by the school. That year I enrolled in the school of Social Work, which is divided into two levels: intermediate, or technical, with lasts for 3 and a half years, or 7 semesters, and the level of Licenciate, which lasts for two more years. To graduate with a Licenciate therefore takes five and a half years.

For my accomplishments I give thanks to God and ina special way also to Centro Maya de Idiomas and its teachers who, with great social conscience, support the education of indigenous women. I also want to say muchas gracias to themen and women who have studied at Centro Maya and given the economic and moral support that has bolstered me. I want to encourage them to continue to support this program which provides so much benefit to my country.

Current Scholarship Recipients

Ana Maria | Carolina | Catarina | Maria Susana

Past Scholarship Recipients

Ana | Elsa | Flor | Griselda | Martina | Olga