The objectives of our 2015 development initiative include empowering young women and making their voices heard. These objectives became a reality when two of our Promoters, Lilian Cristal and Clara Cop, were selected to participate in an activity for Let the Girls Lead.

In February, the two girls participated in a workshop in Guatemala City sponsored by UNICEF and the United Nations, along with 33 girls from around the country. The workshop’s objective was to expose problems that the girls face in their communities, such as poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and early pregnancies, among others, and coming up with solutions to each of these issues.

“We must find a way for girls to continue studying and for parents to talk to their children about the issues that really matter,” says Clara Cop, an 18 year old girl who is still in Elementary School. Now the two girls must replicate what they learned and teach it to the children of Paxixil so that their participation in the workshop has a multiplier effect.

We were very satisfied to see the way in which our two Promoters interacted and raised their ideas in the workshop, especially because it shows that the support that they have received from us is paying off. Their personal growth and achievements translate into growth and achievements for PAVA, our programs, and their communities.