Maria Hermitania Alva

Maria is a volunteer in the Municipal Women’s Affairs Office in Chiantla, Huehuetenango. In this position, she works to promote women’s sexual and reproductive health rights and literacy in her community. She has also participated in the organization “Mother Jungle” (Madre Selva) as facilitator of a workshop called “The Stars of Today,” that focused on young women living in rural Chiantla, Huehuetenango. This workshop covered issues around the environment, sexual and reproductive health, and healthy relationships. Maria’s dreams for her community are to end transmission of sexually transmitted infections and prevent teenage pregnancies. This young leader has achieved a basic level of education and her goal for the recent future is to pursue a career in medicine. Maria was 18 years old and was one of the youngest fellows when she first became involved in the GOJoven program.