Chajul was at the center of the Guatemalan Civil War – which contributed to extreme poverty and inequalities among indigenous communities – yet maintains its rich Maya Ixil traditions and language.  Due to its remote location, there are limited educational and professional development opportunities for youth.  Less than a quarter of students in Chajul graduate from middle school and only 4% graduate from high school. Girls face additional obstacles that prohibit them from attending school, especially in settings where the teachers are primarily men.  The pandemic only led to further learning losses.  

One Day’s Wages partnered with Limitless Horizons Ixil to provide high-quality education for Maya lxil youth in a supportive, girl-centered school environment.  Through our partnership, 72 Maya Ixil youth (⅔ of whom are girls) received a full year of education at Colegio Horizontes; 33 incoming students participated in a intensive preparatory program prior to enrolling in 7th grade; and 14 local staff will further develop their teaching skills to offer holistic education. Through these efforts, 83% of students achieved their targeted learning outcomes by the end of the school year, and the school attendance rate was an impressive 99%.  Among 7th and 8th graders, 90% demonstrated socio-emotional development, evidenced by increased feelings of resilience and agency over their futures!