Providing educational and cultural opportunities

Local Mayan populations are denied access to a decent education not only because of the conditions of extreme poverty in which they live, but also because of the high level of ethnocentrism leveled against them by the ladino minority (Guatemalans of Spanish descent or mixed Spanish and Mayan descent).
 

Celas Maya consider educational access to be the only way to combat the persistent problems of ethnocentricity. For this reason, as a private institution with a social conscience, part of the proceeds from our Spanish and Quiche language programs go to providing educational access to Mayan youth, male and female. Students to whom we award our scholarships receive monthly contributions to cover their schooling for one year, as well as extracurricular training in computers, English, Guatemalan history, etc. Students who excell at school and benefit from our scholarship program are welcome to apply for it the following year.

Promoting Mayan culture

In 2006 we will be supporting 20 young students from areas like Chajul, Todos Santos, Playa Grande, Ixcán, Totonicapán, Huitán, San Jose La Viña, and Uspantan. Previously, students within our program came to Xela to live and study, however starting this year they will be living within their own communities while attending school. We believe that equally important to the education they receive is the opportunity to live in their home environment, learning to value and to promote their Mayan culture.