Julio Cesar Ajtzac, Evelyn Tzaj, Anibal Cristal, and Julissa Cristal have the same dream: to study and one day become professionals. Nonetheless, achieving their dream presents many challenges. Their community, Paxixil, is 92 kilometers away from Guatemala City and does not have a high school. Traveling to any of the surrounding communities to attend school was not an option for the children, as it presented an enormous cost to their families that they could not afford to pay. 

These four children were in the top of their class and their good grades caught our attention. Their efforts and perseverance merited our help, and we were able to grant them Excellence Scholarships for their high school studies. 

Granting them the scholarships meant that we had to find families that would be willing to take them in for the length of their studies as well as a suitable high school nearby. Finally, we selected the Mesoamerican School in Patzicia, Chimaltenango, which is about an hour away from Paxixil. The school’s high standards convinced us that the children could reach their full potential there.

The children successfully passed the school’s admission exams and we managed to find families that were willing to board them. We took their parents to Patzicia so they could confirm that their children would be safe and well taken care of. The scholarships that we bestowed to these children amounted to a total of US$8,625 or Q69,000 and covered their admission and registration fees, uniforms, tuition, supplies, internet, and tablets, for one year of studies. Symbolically, the children’s families help them by covering any unforeseen expenses.

In their first year, the four children together averaged 89%. We are proud of their achievements although we also feel a great responsibility as the children have created high expectations that we want to help them achieve. For example, Evelyn Tzaj wants to study medicine: “I am the only one of my siblings who is studying, and I want to be a doctor,” she says. Julio Cesar Ajtzac is also the only one in his family that studies and his dream is to be a veterinarian: “I love animals, so I want to be a vet,” he says.

Along with their school obligations, we have tried to instill in them a sense of responsibility toward other children in their communities. Thus, the four scholarship recipients collaborate regularly in the Comuniteca in Paxixil. On Saturdays, if they do not have to help with house work or the harvest, they read to little ones in the library or participate in various activities organized by the Comuniteca that seek to improve education and promote development.

The four children have adapted quickly and are doing well in their studies. They still have a year and a half to finish high school but their grades and commitment leave no doubt that they will do so brilliantly. Their lives have already changed for the better. They are very assertive, confident, and already have bright plans for their future… Most importantly, they were given an opportunity through which they will be able to achieve their dreams.

Evelyn and Julissa with their parents: