Empowering Mayan Girls to break through Guatemala’s indigenous talent gap using education and technology
Team Leader
Martha Lidia Oxi Chuy
Maya Girl Pioneers in Guatemala break a culture of silence through an empowered voice amplified by technology, education, and mentorship.
Solution Pitch
The Problem
Coming off a 36-year civil war and contending with a poverty rate of 60 percent, Guatemala must tap into the talents of its entire population to build a better future. However, the voices of its most marginalized community, rural Mayan girls, are too often left out of the conversation. Caught in a cycle of undereducation, racism, and intergenerational poverty, Mayan girls represent a significant talent gap in Guatemala.
The Solution
MAIA’s Impact School aims to catapult talented young Mayan women from the shadows into leadership positions. MAIA’s innovative student-centered school includes a family engagement program that ensures that students achieve success with their families, not in spite of them. Prior to COVID-related restrictions, MAIA students were achieving two years of academic growth for every one year of schooling. The onset of COVID-19 accelerated MAIA’s use of technology prompting them to deliver internet-equipped tablets to all MAIA students—allowing them to broadcast their voices, perspectives, and leadership into new spheres.
Stats
In 2020, MAIA’s students have reached over 2 million radio listeners through livestreamed conversations with Ambassadors, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, elite athletes, influencers, and authors.
Market Opportunity
The indigenous talent gap in Guatemala hinders economic and social development. While representing approximately half of the country’s population, 90 percent of Maya Guatemala are trapped in the informal economy. Existing educational structures fail to connect talent with opportunity. Just 1 out of every 10 Maya girls reaches her high school graduation. Guatemala has among the lowest expenditures for public education, and it shows. Just 13 percent of all high school graduates in 2019 are considered proficient in math. One in four Maya women is illiterate. Global data demonstrates how the education of girls fuels economic growth. If women were to achieve the same level of participation as men in Guatemala, the national GDP would increase by $40 billion, translating into a per capita increase in income of $2,460, which is almost 50 percent more than the average wage today.
Organization Highlights
Recognized as the "Best School in the Americas" by the Zayed Sustainability Prize (2019)
Awarded the National Energy Globe winner for Guatemala and the Honnold Foundation Partnership (2020)
MAIA graduates and school leaders have been recognized by the UN and UNESCO for contributions to inclusive education
Launched Voz de MAIA podcast for Mayan girls to tell their own stories and advocate for a more inclusive society
MAIA Currently Seeks
Expertise and advice on communicating impact based on improved monitoring and evaluation processes
Strategic connections to funders interested in supporting and scaling MAIA’s work educating girls in Guatemala, particularly those with a special interest in indigenous populations and rural communities
Strategic business model advice to support a shift in business strategies to reach profitability.
What is the name of your organization?
MAIA
What is the name of your solution?
Indigenous Girls Leading Transformational Change
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Maya Girl Pioneers in Guatemala break a culture of silence through an empowered voice amplified by technology, education, and mentorship.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Solola
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Guatemala
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Emerging from a 36-year civil war and facing 60% poverty, Guatemala must harness the talent of its entire population to build a stronger future. Yet rural Maya girls remain excluded. Trapped by undereducation, racism, and intergenerational poverty, they represent one of Guatemala’s greatest untapped sources of talent.
What is your solution?
MAIA's Impact School aims to catapult talented young Mayan women from the shadows into leadership positions. MAIA's innovative student-centered school includes a family engagement program that ensures that students achieve success with their families, not in spite of them. Prior to COVID-related restrictions, MAIA students were achieving two years of academic growth for every one year of schooling. The onset of COVID-19 accelerated MAIA's use of technology prompting them to deliver internet-equipped tablets to all MAIA students, allowing them to broadcast their voices, perspectives, and leadership into new spheres.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
MAIA is one of the few organizations in Guatemala designed, led, and run by Maya women from the same communities as the Girl Pioneers. Students see themselves reflected in leadership and faculty, most of whom speak Kaqchikel, the primary language of families with limited formal schooling. Monthly home visits ensure strong parental engagement and shared commitment.
Many staff are the most educated members of their own families and deeply understand the barriers their students face. This lived experience grounds MAIA’s empathy-driven, human-centered design. As a learning organization, MAIA continuously adapts through external partnerships, annual impact audits, and active student government feedback.
