Our partnership with ADIMTU

The high levels of poverty and lack of opportunities in San Marcos, Guatemala force many children to quit school and look for ways to generate income for their families. High rates of school dropouts result in higher levels of illiteracy. Girls on average only receive five years of education, and are vulnerable to dropping out of school due to gender discrimination, early marriage traditions, and teen maternity.

ADIMTU’s middle school Leadership Institute supports and motivates young women to continue school, solidifying the idea that they are leaders of their own destiny, and agents of change in their community through supporting learning, literacy, and leadership skills. The Leadership Institute has three programs to holistically target the high drop-out rates amongst girls in the community: My Mother’s/Family’s Life, Family Reading Time, and My Little Sister. Our partnership with ADIMTU supported their My Little Sister program that developed the leadership potential and social responsibility of 441 middle-school-aged “big sisters” so they can become agents of change in their community. Participants inspired change in their 156 elementary school mentees by tutoring and supporting the younger girls who were at risk of dropping out of school. For these “little sisters,” the tutors became role models that helped with schoolwork and encouraged the little sisters to continue in school. ADIMTU’s focus on leadership and learning equipped students to learn the value of education as a means to achieve better lives for themselves, their families, and their community.