Empower a Girl in Guatemala: Education after COVID

The qualities of kindness, friendship and work make the young lady an example to follow.

Katherine is under the care of her grandparents, because her mother left her when she was a child. However, this has not been an impediment for her to continue studying; her grandparents are that fundamental part of her continuing with her studies. 

She is being supported by the Scholarships program since she was in 4th grade, being of great meaning the economic support and accompaniment she receives, because with the scholarship she helps to buy uniforms and school supplies that previously were difficult to acquire.

An element of change in her has been the training given by the program, which has helped her a lot in her way of thinking. At the beginning, she was very shy and almost did not participate in class. The teachers explain that she is currently the president of the classroom, she is characterized by being a leader and an example to her peers. 

She is currently in high school, tenth year. In the afternoons, Katherine helps her grandparents in the business of selling ‘tamales’ and ‘chuchitos’ by the central park, since that is the only means by which they support themselves. Currently, due to the health crisis, she does not go out to sell as she normally does, but instead helps with the housework, since they continue to sell tamales from their home and the customers come to buy. With what they get from the sales, they are paying for the household expenses.

During this time Katherine enjoys her favorite hobby which is reading. She explains that in her free time she takes advantage of it to read and review math, since these are the subjects she likes the most and above all she feels motivated to learn from home and especially when the scholarship technician calls her and gives her support.

She explains that in the community people live with fear and uncertainty due to the pandemic, however, together with her grandparents they are motivated and she has faith that soon they will return to their normal activities and especially she longs to return to her school and continue with her education.