As many youth face pressures to migrate in search of opportunity, a new generation of Maya leaders around Lake Atitlán is taking a different path—rooted in cultural identity, community, and a future at home. This movement is reshaping education and leadership through programs that foster the skills, confidence, and pride needed to stay, thrive, and lead locally.
We invite you to meet Cindy Nallely, a 13-year-old leader from Panajachel.
Young Voices, Bold Visions: Reimagining Education in Rural Guatemala
Across rural Guatemala, public education is under pressure. Underfunded schools, outdated curricula, and rising costs of living, leave many students—especially Indigenous youth—feeling that migration is their only option. In fact, a 2023 UNICEF report found that over 40% of Guatemalan adolescents surveyed in rural areas have considered migrating due to lack of access to education and employment opportunities (UNICEF, Voices of Youth in Migration, 2023).
Through programs that build skills, confidence, and cultural pride, Natün offers pathways for Maya youth to stay rooted in communities and grow into leaders.
Faced with economic and systemic challenges, young leaders like Cindy are advancing a new model of learning that blends ancestral knowledge with modern tools for success in a changing world.
Meet Cindy Nallely: A Leader in the Making
Cindy Nallely is just 13, but she’s already making an impact. She began in Natün’s programs as a young child and, thanks to donor support, continues to grow through tutoring and youth leadership workshops. Now a seventh-grade student and scholarship recipient, Cindy is becoming a confident young leader—proof of what’s possible when a child is encouraged every step of the way.
For Cindy, leadership means responsibility.
“Being a leader means a big commitment,” she shares. “You have to set the example. You need character to be a leader.”
When Cindy was first elected class president, she led with strict rules. But through Natün’s leadership workshops, she’s learned a new way forward—one grounded in empathy, collaboration, and cultural values.
“I learned better ways to lead, and I’m using them now with my classmates,” she says.
Now, instead of commanding, she inspires.
Building Confidence Through Collective Learning
Cindy’s academic growth has been supported by Natün’s tutoring sessions. These spaces offer more than homework help—they are places where young people build confidence, share knowledge, and grow together.
“Sometimes I learn things in tutoring before they come up in school. That way, I’m not starting from zero—it’s easier to understand, and my grades are better.”
When classmates struggle, Cindy doesn’t just give them the answers—she teaches them how she learned it. In doing so, she honors a core principle of Maya education: collective learning.
“It feels really nice to help others without expecting anything in return.”
Investing in the Next Generation
Cindy dreams of becoming a graphic designer—or maybe a business administrator. Inspired by her older sister, the first in their family to attend university, Cindy sees education as her path to help her family and community thrive.
Through Natün’s integrated model, students like Cindy receive:
- Academic tutoring to deepen learning and improve performance. Last year, 72% of tutoring students achieved honors grades.
- Leadership workshops rooted in ethics, rights, and cultural identity. In 2024, 90 Indigenous youth developed leadership skills across 5 communities.
- Scholarships and mentorship reduce economic barriers, facilitate access to education, and increase the academic success of participating students. An 83% academic success rate among scholarship recipients in 2024.
- Opportunities to lead as peer tutors and community role models
This model integrates academic success with cultural belonging and civic engagement, fostering personal and academic development for Maya youth leaders.
Youth-Led, Community-Grounded Change
Cindy’s journey is part of a broader movement—a global movement led by youth who embody determination, courage, and care. Investing in this vision strengthens a collective path toward a more just and inclusive future.
Youth like Cindy are poised to lead. Through Natün’s work, Indigenous youth are equipped to engage fully in community life and pursue meaningful futures.
