Educating Maya Youth
When Ak’ Tenamit launched its education program in 1992, few children in the surrounding villages completed sixth grade, and most girls dropped out of school by third grade. Many of the area’s adults speak little Spanish – Q’eqchi Maya is the common language – and illiteracy is more than 80%, so children receive little parental encouragement to study. In fact, most of the students in Ak’ Tenamit’s secondary school are the first members of their families to study beyond elementary school.

Ak’ Tenamit began by improving the quality of education in the area’s village schools, and implementing a program called “We Must Educate the Girls,” which encourages girls to stay in school. The result was a gradual increase in Q’eqchi children completing sixth grade, which is all that’s offered in the villages, and a growing demand for secondary education. Ak’ Tenamit consequently opened the area’s first secondary school, which was later expanded into a boarding school with an innovative curriculum designed for the area’s Maya majority.

Ak’ Tenamit continues to strengthen village schools, encourage girls to study, and provide a practical secondary education that emphasizes the importance of Maya culture and the environment, and inspires young people to become leaders who will work for the good of their people. Much of this program’s budget comes from a student sponsorship program, though larger donations from individuals, foundations, and international organizations are of vital importance.

Education: Overview | Elementary Education | Secondary Education | Educating Girls