Our Partnership with Limitless Horizons lxil

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.  To succeed in school and gain agency over their lives, Maya Ixil girls need a strong system of educational and socio-emotional supports.

We’re partnering with Limitless Horizons Ixil to provide high-quality education for Maya lxil youth in a supportive, girl-centered school environment.  Through our partnership, 75 Maya Ixil youth (⅔ of whom are girls) are receiving a full year of education at Colegio Horizontes; 25 incoming students will participate in a intensive preparatory program prior to enrolling in 7th grade; and 10 local staff will further develop their teaching skills to offer holistic education. Through these efforts, students will be able to advance to the next grade level, demonstrate improvements in their social-emotional development, progress towards graduation, and build knowledge and skills to become future professionals and community leaders.