Current Projects:
The Jóvenes Chujes School Scholarship project aims to provide educational opportunities for adolescents and young people in San Mateo Ixtatán who lack the economic resources to access quality education. The program is designed for students with strong academic interests, leadership potential, and a commitment to improving their living conditions.
An innovative aspect of the scholarship program is its focus on skill-building through workshops on a wide range of topics, including migration, violence prevention, sexual violence, exploitation, human trafficking, entrepreneurship, self-esteem, mental health, leadership, teamwork, and vocational guidance. These workshops help to equip students with essential life and career skills, preparing them for future success. The scholarships are funded by national and international individual donors and are awarded annually based on a comprehensive socioeconomic study and a home visit to each applicant. This ensures that the scholarships are given to those who need them most.
Monitoring and support for the scholarship recipients are conducted through regular home visits, quarterly meetings, and continuous communication to track their academic performance, progress, and challenges. The program also coordinates with local educational authorities and the District Coordinator of Education of San Mateo Ixtatán to ensure students receive the support they need.
As of 2024, over the past five years, the program has awarded more than 1,000 scholarships, with 74% of recipients being women. This focus on female education is crucial for reducing gender inequality, promoting women’s inclusion in the labor market, and supporting entrepreneurship. The program also helps young women exercise their fundamental human rights, including the right to education.
The Access Scholarship program is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State that provides educational opportunities to low-income students. It’s designed to encourage English language learning and promote intercultural understanding. Through this scholarship, students can improve their language skills, access educational resources, and develop a greater knowledge of American culture, thereby contributing to building bridges between communities.
The Ixtatán Foundation, under its Scholarship Program and with the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of State, is implementing the project for the year 2024 and 2025.
Characteristics
- 580 hours of in-person classes to develop English language skills.
- Strengthening personal, academic and professional skills.
- Development of knowledge about the environment.
- Development of entrepreneurship skills.
- Students must maintain a high level of commitment, dedication and enthusiasm to participate in all Access Program activities.
The Ixtatán Foundation covers the cost of books, payment of teachers, rental of facilities and teaching materials.
Program background.
- 2018-2019
- 2020-2021
- 2022-2023
- 2024-2025
The EAGLES Scholarship Program – English Acquisition for Guatemalan Leaders and Entrepreneurial Skills- is an initiative of the United States Embassy in Guatemala that provides educational opportunities to low-income students. It’s designed to promote English language learning, environmental education and entrepreneurship. Through this scholarship, students can improve their language skills, leadership, cooperation, teamwork and critical thinking.
The Ixtatán Foundation, through its Scholarship Program and with the sponsorship of the United States Embassy in Guatemala, is implementing the project for 2024 and 2025, to support the young men and women of Huehuetenango.
Program features:
- 290 hours of in-person classes to develop English language skills.
- Strengthening personal, academic and professional skills.
- Development of knowledge about the environment.
- Development of entrepreneurship skills.
- High level of commitment, dedication and enthusiasm to participate in all project activities.
The Ixtatán Foundation covers the cost of books, payment of teachers, rental of facilities and teaching materials.
Program background.
- 2022-2023
- 20204 – 2025
SEAL
The SEAL Program is a top level of the Access Program, in this stage, students consolidate their command of the English language and develop their English teaching skills. In the first year, participants learn English and the theory of teaching English. In the second year, they teach in the BEAR Program and participate in more reinforcement workshops. The SEAL program requires a high level of responsibility, time organization, and student goals.
At the end of the program, alumni have access to jobs related to English language teaching or teaching in general, entrepreneurship, or others.
Features
- 562 hours of English language learning and teacher training.
- 100 hours of supervised practice in the BEAR Program.
- Includes books, teacher fees, facility rental, and teaching materials.
Program background.
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2025
BEAR
The BEAR (Basic English for Access Recruitment) is a 24-month project divided into two programs addressed to economically disadvantaged young people. The objectives are:
At the end of the BEAR Program, students:
- Achieve English language proficiency at the A1 level in the Common European Framework.
- High-potential participants will be identified through detailed assessments and recommended for participation in the Access Program.
- Will increase their sense of civic responsibility and create stronger bonds with their community by engaging in community service projects.
- Throughout the program, the provider organization will enhance and strengthen its English language education network, including other providers of U.S. Embassy English language programs and the Guatemala Ministry of Education.
