We are excited to announce that WJI was awarded a $30,000 grant from the Central America and Mexico Youth Fund (CAMY Fund)! The grant is funding WJI’s Adolescent Girls Program which supports girls in rural Guatemala by building their leadership skills and confidence while helping them to delay child marriage and continue their studies. Juanita, a 15-year-old Adolescent Girls Program graduate, shared, “After going through this Program, I know my rights and I would like to study more and graduate so that I can work and buy a house of my own. I don’t want to get married right now as I have clear goals for myself. I now feel loved, important, and I want to create a better future for myself.”  300 more adolescent girls like Juanita will be able to take part in WJI's Program thanks to CAMY's funding and we are so grateful!

Two weeks ago Program Attorney Viviana and I spent a busy week in New York City where we participated in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Amongst many meetings and events, we spoke at the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women brownbag series and participated on a CSW panel hosted by UNICEF USA and Dining for Women. We are thrilled that WJI’s work was recognized and shared at this level!

We were also thrilled to be the featured grantee of Dining for Women this month. Their $45,000 grant to WJI supports our Community Advocates Program, developing the leadership skills of 29 Maya women who promote women’s rights and prevent violence against women and girls in their communities, reaching hundreds more women, girls, and men with our work. Check out WJI's profile on the Dining for Women site here.

We are so grateful for your ongoing support! Our work would not be possible without you.