At the Women’s Justice Initiative, our Adolescent Girls Program works to prevent child marriage through community-based steps, improving girls’ knowledge of their rights and ensuring parents and community leaders take action to delay early marriage.  One of WJI’s incredible staff members who is leading the way to a better future through her work with the Adolescent Girls Program is Delfina Raquec.

Delfina was introduced to WJI in 2012, when she participated in our Women’s Rights Education Program. The six month legal literacy course sparked her passion for women’s rights and she joined our network of Community Advocates. As an Advocate, she underwent intensive training to support  women and girls in her community understand and access their rights.

After her outstanding work as an Advocate, Delfina officially joined the WJI team in 2016 as a Program Facilitator to support our Adolescent Girls and Women’s Rights Education Programs. Delfina, a Maya-Kaqchikel woman from Los Pinos, is an inspiration to the girls and women who participate in our programs and truly understands their experiences as a former program participant herself,

“I  share my experience with the girls, encouraging them to fight for their dreams and achieve what they want to be in life. They deserve a much better present and future.”

Delfina has a two-year-old son and her work with WJI has reshaped her goals for him.

“I want a better future for him.  I want to give him the education he needs to excel in life.  I want to teach him about gender equality at home.”

Delfina and her husband are also setting an example for their son by sharing responsibilities around the house and showing respect for one another so that he understands what it means to value and respect women.

We are so excited to see women like Delfina inspiring girls in their communities and future generations in Guatemala. You can  learn more about her work with adolescent girls in our video.

We are proud to have an amazing staff that works tirelessly to empower Mayan women and girls to break the cycle of violence and inequality in rural Guatemala. Our work would not be possible without them and you.