Database: Guatemala

Wilson is a community development technician and a project administration technician at Universidad Galileo.  He coordinates, plans and oversees youth activities on SRH topics, life planning and self-esteem at an inter-institutional level in four municipalities. This young indigenous leader is quite active within his community. As an advisor he supports a group of women (which is at the moment seeking its legal status) on how to work with young people in their community; Wilson also works in a reproductive health network. He has a certificate in gender violence from the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid, and is in the process of finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Project Administration. Wilson is fluent in Spanish and Kakchiquel. His goal is to continue studying Business Administration, and to build a group of young people with the group of women he supports in San Andres Semetabaj. In the long term, he would like to form his own organization, focusing on gender and SRH topics.  When he was selected as a Fellow at GOJoven, Wilson was 24 years old.

Erick works for a program of the Committee for AIDS Prevention Educators (COEPSIDA) on SRH and HIV/AIDS education within the Department of Education at Sololá.  He coordinates trainings in these topics for teachers, students, and young people with NGOs, and the Ministry of Health.  Erick would like to have an influence in the education department and the education sector to develop an SRH network that includes a process to develop young leaders in all municipalities, both at basic and diversified levels. This young indigenous leader has led several talks with young people from his church about leadership, STIs and HIV.  Erick is fluent in Spanish and Kaqchikel. His short-term goal is to finish his thesis and graduate in Business Administration.  Erick would like to build a career as a coordinator of educational delivery, and to work developing the subject matter within the Department of Education in Sololá. Erick was 28 years old when he was selected as a GOJoven Fellow.

Milo is the founder and current President of the youth group AJPU in San Lucas Toliman in the south of Atitlan Lake in the Department of Sololá. This group is a member of the Maya Peoples Federation (FEDEMPA) from the Network for the Defense of Food Sovereignty of Guatemala (REDSAG). As a young indigenous leader, Milo works with topics of the Maya cosmology, permaculture, and environment, as well as public advocacy issues. He has social vision, a conviction to work with youth, and knowledge of community organization and participation. He graduated from Colegio Integral Toliman (CIT) as a Primary Education Teacher in 2003, and would like to study Sociology. Milo was 28 years old when he was selected as a GOJoven Fellow.

Sara works with PRODESCA, an organization that provides community health care services, as a facilitator of services for women. Sara has facilitated sessions on such topics as pap smears, nutrition and vaccinations. Sara has worked as an instructor for women’s networks in SRH, nutrition and basic health care topics. She has also received several trainings in community organization, mental health, and diagnosis. This multi-lingual indigenous leader speaks fluent Tz’utujil and Spanish, as well as basic English and Kakchiquel.  Sara is currently studying her third year in nursing, and wishes to attain her professional degree.  Her goal is to travel to other places to study and broaden her knowledge in her areas of interest.  When she was selected as a GOJoven Fellow, Sara was 22 years old.

Bony works at the K’ak’a Naój Association for Women’s Development promoting women’s integral development in the Department of Sololá.  This young indigenous leader has had different roles defending women, including teaching adult literacy, as an election monitor in public elections, and participating as a board member for different women’s groups.  She has also participated in activities and meetings with young people, and in a Latin American meeting for Sexual and Reproductive Rights. Bony is fluent in Kiche, Kakchiquel, and Spanish, and holds a degree as Kiche-Spanish Bilingual Primary Education Teacher. She later studied to become a secondary education teacher in social sciences.  Her long-term goal is to teach social sciences and natural sciences to young people, and to work towards the prevention of teenage pregnancy.  She is devoted to fighting for women to be able to present initiatives and participate more strongly in the Municipal Development Council (COMUDE). Bony was 29 years old when she was selected as a GOJoven Fellow.

Jessica has been working for three years as Network Coordinator at the Municipal Office for the Protection of Children and Adolescents, where she follows up on reports of human rights violations of children and teenagers in Panajachel.  She also works in the prevention and training centers. Jessica graduated from Youth Networks, an organization that works in politics, environment and communications.  This young indigenous leader is currently studying Business Administration and is fluent in both Spanish and Kakchiquel. Once she graduates, she would like to start an organization with young graduates from Youth Networks, to benefit children and teenagers. Jessica was 21 years old when she was selected as a GOJoven Fellow.

Juan Reinaldo was 22 years old when he was selected as a GOJoven Fellow. Presently, Juan works as a Youth Specialist in the Youth Sustainable Development Association, focusing his work on an organizational strengthening project in the Department of Youth Affairs of Huehuetenango (CODEJUVEH), where he was president and founder. He is currently the main representative for the Youth Association FUNDESCO. Juan Reinaldo graduated as a teacher in elementary education and has studied law for two semesters. His short term goal is to obtain a degree in law and notary at the University of Rafael Landivar. His vision for the future is to improve the livelihood of youth through his work at youth agencies of Huehuetenango. Juan has received different trainings in adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) and supports the process of advocacy to improve ASRH for youth in his region.

Sara had more than eight years working at the Women’s Integral Development Association (AFDI) when she was selected as a GOJoven Fellow. She began her work at AFDI as a member, then with a position as treasurer, and is now the president and legal representative of the organization. Sara also works as a trainer for the National Women’s Forum, where she facilitates workshops with groups of women and youth from various communities, and high schools in Huehuetenango. Presently, she is working to carry out a project for survivors of domestic violence in collaboration with the National Organization for Prevention of Domestic Violence (CONAPREVI) and the Women’s Advisory Department of Development (CODEDEH) in Huehuetenango. Her goal is to support women’s and youth groups in ways to prevent and eradicate sexual violence. Sara has her high school degree in computer studies and her goal is to gain an undergraduate degree in social work. Sara Beatriz was selected as a GOJoven Fellow when she was 28 years old.

Juan works as a volunteer for the Office of Youth, Adolescent, and Childhood Affairs in the municipality of Aguacatan, Huehuetenango (COMNAJUA). In this position, Juan works as a workshop facilitator on different issues such as sexual and reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, and family planning. This young leader was president of the Board of Directors for a Catholic youth group and coordinator of the group, “Youth Connection” in Aguacatan. Juan is trained as an intercultural, bilingual elementary school teacher. His plan is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in education, with a focus in psychology, to help him achieve his professional goal of working as a teacher in the Ministry of Education. There he hopes to teach classes to children and adolescents, and incorporate sexual and reproductive health topics in the curriculum. Juan was 20 years old when he was selected as a GOJoven Fellow.

Jorge was 24 years old and had more than five years of experience working with the NGO, Teen Challenge Association Huehuetenango (ASDEJUVEH) when he was selected as a GOJoven Fellow in 2011. He is now working toward his undergraduate degree in criminology at the University of Mariano Gálvez. His long term goal is to continue his studies to obtain a doctorate degree. Jorge works as a radio broadcaster for the local station “Súper FM” in Huehuetenango, where he looks forward to hosting programs that focus on social issues impacting youth and improve their knowledge in sexual and reproductive health. This young leader wants work hard to raise youth awareness around family planning, prevention of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Jorge hopes to one day participate as a local representative for Huehuetenango, and through this work, support policies that improve SSR for youth and adolescents.  Furthermore, his dream is to successfully represent Guatemala politically in global affairs.