Business development specialist, indigenous woman, and GOJoven fellow.
In honor of United Nations World Day of Social Justice, a day dedicated to eradicating poverty and promoting gender equity and access to social well-being and justice for all, we want to introduce you to Jacinta.
As a Mayan woman, Jacinta is committed to educating and uplifting indigenous women in Quintana Roo, Mexico, so they can find economic stability and exercise their sexual and reproductive rights. Jacinta is all too familiar with the discrimination indigenous women face in their communities and even within their own families. In the short video below, she shares how her own father told her that women had no reason to seek an education. This discrimination inspired Jacinta to continue to study and show the world that as a woman, she has a right to an education and can contribute meaningfully to her community.
Jacinta completed her studies and became an Industrial Engineer in Business Development and a Mayan leader who is bilingual in Spanish and Maya.
At 29, she was selected to participate in the GOJoven youth leadership program. Since then, she has made it her mission to educate women on equity and gender, culture, sexual and reproductive health, environmental sustainability, and human rights. She persevered against discrimination and poverty and urges other women to take a stand for their rights.
Indigenous women throughout Mexico and Central America continue to face discrimination that limits their opportunities to get an education and better their lives. Hundreds of GOJoven fellows like Jacinta are dedicated to improving and expanding opportunities for marginalized people through education and advocacy.
We encourage you to share Jacinta’s story. To learn more about the work of GOJoven, visit our website or Facebook page.