Four girls sponsored through World’s Children in Guatemala recently graduated
Four girls supported by World’s Children sponsors at Quiche (pronounced “KEY-chay”) Indian Mission in Guatemala recently graduated from ninth grade. Their hopes for the future are now within grasp.
Why educating girls in Guatemala is important
We are very proud of all these graduates. Perhaps graduating from the ninth grade doesn’t sound like such a big deal to you. Unless you consider…
Only 69% of adult women in Guatemala know how to read.
Historically, Guatemala’s Maya people have been marginalized and afforded limited access to education–especially girls. That makes the academic achievement of these young women all the more meaningful.
These girls come from impoverished backgrounds and they are among the first in their families to move on to higher education. The Diversified Program (our equivalent of high school with some junior college and vocational training included) is their next step.
What DIVERSIFIED higher education at Quiche Indian Mission offers Mayan girls
- Girls stay until they complete 3rd basic at about 15 years old, the equivalent of 9th grade. That is what these girls in the photos above just completed.
- After 3rd Basic they are eligible for Diversified which is the equivalent of 10th through 12th except you select a major subject as you would in college or vocational school.
- Girls can continue living at Quiche if they enroll in one of the five Diversified subjects that Quiche offers:
- Teaching of Intercultural Bilingual Infant Education (taught at the school at Quiche)
- Bachelor of Science and Letters (taught at the school at Quiche)
- Mechanics (taught at a school nearby Quiche)
- Electronics (taught at a school nearby Quiche)
- Business Administration (taught at a school nearby Quiche)
These young women are also role models who are showing their sisters, brothers, cousins and friends that they can succeed as well.
Seeing what is possible is powerful.
