Send Maya Ixil Youth to University in Guatemala

We are excited to share that, with your support, we are coming to the close of 2021 with 19 active students in the Filantropis Scholars program. One of them is Fabiola, a Scholar since 2020, who is enrolled at the Rural University of Guatemala. Fabiola is the first Mayan Ixil woman to study Civil Engineering. Fabiola recently shared with us why she decided to study civil engineering: “I am interested in my community having access to a quality of life whether in the urban or rural area of my municipality. Civil engineering is a career that covers all the basic needs of a community, such as drinking water supply, housing, building and maintaining roads, among others. I hope to help in some way to transform my community through design and construction of innovative works. I love my profession very much, not only because there are so many areas where my skills can be of benefit, but because it presents me with daily challenges that I love to face.”

For Scholars like Fabiola, Filantropis provides financial support for university studies as well as complimentary training in personal and professional skills. Fabiola told us that when she entered the Scholars program she was a shy person who was afraid of speaking in public. As a result of her experience with Filantropis, she now feels more prepared and capable of making the positive changes she seeks in herself and her community. Along with her cohort, she receives regular mentoring and workshops, focusing on setting goals and designing a purposeful life. Fabiola has been exemplary in putting what she learns into action. Filantropis recently sought a designer to re-design and manage the association’s website. In their home community of Chajul, there are no professionals dedicated to this service. Fabiola, together with another Scholar, proactively gained training in website design, earned the contract from Filantropis, and are en route to creating their first website for the organization (stay tuned for the premiere of it!).

We know that Fabiola is just one example of the incredible abilities and skills that exist within the people of the Mayan Ixil community in Chajul, and we will continue to share their inspiring stories. Until our next report, we share these words of gratitude from Fabiola: "I am thankful for Filantropis because it feels like a family. Thank you very much for the financial, personal, and professional support!”