I am Martina Elizabeth Juarez Nicolas. I was born in 1979, on the 12th of August, the daughter of Mateo Juan Juarez and of Maria Nicolas Pedro. I have eight brothers and sister, and because there are many members of my family my parents do not have sufficient resources to provide us with education. For that reason I am very grateful to Centro Maya de Idiomas, and the project that provide senoritas like myself with university scholarships.

I belong to the Q'anjob'al culture, which is indigenous to the region around Santa Eulalia, including San Juan Ixcoy, San Pedro Soloma, and Santa Cruz Barillas, all in the department of Huehuetenango. Q'anjob'al is my mother language, and the principal language of a large majority of the people in Santa Eulalia, which is my home.

I completed six years of primary school and three years of junior high school in Santa Eulalia, before going to Antigua to complete high school at the Catholic Aid Institute. After graduating from that institution with the degree of Teacher of Primary Education, I entered the scholarship program at Centro Maya in early 2000. I am currently studying law. After I graduate I want to return to my pueblo and help my fellow Q'anjob'ales realize their own dreams.

Current Scholarship Recipients

Ana Maria | Carolina | Catarina | Maria Susana

Past Scholarship Recipients

Ana | Elsa | Flor | Griselda | Martina | Olga