Saul Pauu Maaz, a 26-year-old indigenous Q’eqchi’ Mayan leader, is currently finishing his BA in Pedagogy and Educational Sciences and teaching these topics to teachers-in-training in the Bi-lingual High School in the rural town of Sayaxché, Petén, Guatemala. He recently completed working on the bi-lingual radio novella “Entre dos Caminos-Sa’xxaallib’e” (Between Two Paths) for Fundación ProPetén, where he was responsible for adapting, narrating and developing the Q’eqchí version of this popular radio show including writing the show and directing the Q’eqchí actors. In the show, Saul focused on social and health topics of importance to Petén communities such as reproductive health, family planning, STIs, including HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive rights, and prevention of gender based violence. Saul is highly committed to raising the awareness of the indigenous and ladino Petén population in areas of environment and gender equity through radio broadcasting and training. He worked for many years for Asociación de Servicios Comunitarios de Salud (ASECSA) Region Petén training health promoters and midwives in the Adult Education Program, and participated in ASECSA’s National Gender Commission focusing on gender equality from a holistic perspective. In 2007, Saul launched his campaign for mayor of Sayaxché, and although he was not elected, he plans to continue a career in politics. As a GOJoven Fellows in GOJoven, Saul hopes to improve his existing skills in developing, implementing and evaluating programs as well as hone his writing skills to create new radio programs that integrate sexual and reproductive health, interculturalism and the challenges of globalization.
Escuela Normal Bilingüe Intercultural ENBIS
