Latina and Indigenous women join forces to create infinite impact for Girl Pioneers in Guatemala

In March 2022, MAIA is launching the Latina Alliance for Impact. This new alliance will bring together Latina women with Indigenous women and girls from Guatemala to create an infinite impact and transform their lives, their communities, and our world.

The Latina Alliance for Impact will be formed by Latina women who want to give back and have a deep passion for creating a more inclusive and prosperous future for young Indigenous women. MAIA calls these young women Girl Pioneers because they are on a bold new trajectory towards prosperity and equality; they have the talent and drive to thrive but need access to opportunities. MAIA invites you to become an ally through a one-time investment of $1,000+, or a monthly investment of $85+. Through their investment, members of the Latina Alliance for Impact will connect Girl Pioneers with opportunities that will enable them to get a quality education, flourish economically, and lead societal change.

Connecting to empower

MAIA has joined forces with Sonia Clayton, the first chairwoman of the Latina Allance for Impact. Sonia is the founder and CEO of Virtual Intelligence Providers and the first Latina leader in innovation technologies serving the oil and energy sectors. She is also a philanthropist who has received over 30 awards of excellence, including State and White House recognition. Having visited rural Guatemala numerous times, she understands the challenges Indigenous women face to receive quality education, make decisions regarding their future, and access economic opportunities.

"I believe in the power of women supporting and empowering other women. Through this alliance, we want to connect talented Indigenous girls to opportunities that will transform their lives, communities and our world." —Sonia Clayton, Chairwoman of the Latina Alliance for Impact MAIA unlocks and maximizes the potential of young Indigenous women to lead transformational change.

One of the most important programs is the MAIA Impact School, but it is much more than a traditional school. It is the first female, indigenous-led secondary school in Central America that offers a holistic education focused equally on academics, culture and identity, socioemotional development, and family engagement. The goal is to ensure graduates of the Impact School have the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to live choice-filled lives so that they can, in turn, lead their families and communities out of poverty and create a more equitable society.

"If one of us moves forward, we all move forward. Girls' education is an investment to change the reality of families who live in poverty and to create a better future. If we support the access of girls to education, we can change the world." —Andrea Coché, General Director The Latina Alliance for Impact, just like the Impact School, is not about one individual woman; it's the collective of all women transcending borders and creating a generation of leaders and changemakers.

"This alliance would open new opportunities for Girl Pioneers through empowerment and education. Most of the time this seems to be impossible, especially for Indigenous women and girls, but together we can make a difference." —Beverly Tecún, Operations Director MAIA invites women to join the Alliance today and stand in solidarity with a courageous group of Indigenous Maya women to challenge centuries-old stereotypes and build a more just and inclusive world for all.