In rural Guatemala, Maya-Kaqchikel girls face immense barriers to equality. Cultural norms compounded by limited educational and professional opportunities meanmeans Indigenous girls face elevated risks of early marriages and unions. WJI is changing this reality by investing in the transformative potential of Maya girls, empowering them to break barriers and envision brighter futures.

“Fighting against the gender roles imposed on adolescent girls is a constant challenge,” says Milvia Ixén, a facilitator for WJI’s Adolescent Girls Program (AGP). Growing up in Patzun, a rural municipality, Milvia reflects on how as young girls, “we are taught that women sweep, mop, make the food, take care of the baby, and get married,” she explains, “machismo is very strong in the communities.”

Milvia had to move far from home to pursue her education and a career. For years, she endured not only the machismo that is pervasive throughout Guatemala, but also discrimination. Wearing traditional Maya-Kaqchikel clothing, or indumentaria, and speaking her native language, Kaqchikel, made her feel stigmatized. “[They thought] I had to stop being Mayan in order to be accepted.”

Milvia persevered and graduated as a teacher of Intercultural Bilingual Early Childhood Education in Kaqchikel and Spanish, honoring her indigenous roots. After specializing in Mayan culture and teaching Kaqchikel language, she returned home to Patzún, where she now leads WJI’s Adolescent Girls Program in four communities, inspiring the next generation of girls.

Milvia has dedicated her career to helping other young girls realize their incredible potential. She is a powerful example to the girls of Patzún and encourages them to prioritize their education and to dream of ambitious life goals beyond early marriage. Milvia and WJI’s programs are providing girls with the tools to create change and empowering them to become leaders in their communities, planting the seeds for a brighter future.