Scholarships

These students have demonstrated a determination to continue their education against staggering odds. They have been nurtured and given guidance during their first 6 years of education by the programs offered by La Casita. We have witnessed their development and their growing hunger for more education, their pride in being the first in their families to finish grade 6, and their increasing confidence. They have been carefully selected through a rigorous process, involving individual and family interviews, grades and assessment of motivation and commitment. Many of the students receive Scholarships to go to a new, progressive Middle/High School, Centero Educativo Tecnologica Forma (CETEC Forma). You can hear The Directors, Candelaria and Gregoeio, explain their vision for the school and hear some of the student’s testimonials at https://vimeo.com/1181685936/7a845b7e80.

These are excerpts from interviews with the 11 students receiving scholarships in 2026. They were asked to give us a short glimpse of themselves and their needs for the scholarships.

Aida Rosmary

Aida Rosmery is a 15-year-old girl with great potential. She is determined to succeed to achieve her dreams and goals and in the future support her family. She just started high school and this is her fourth year in the scholarship program. Aida is an outgoing girl, although she can be shy at times. Since she joined the scholarship program, Aida has grown a lot personally as well has academically. She is in Grade 11 and attending CETEC FORMA a new, progressive Middle School in Panajachel. She is 15 years old and lives with her 3 siblings and her mom. Her dad passed away during Covid. She helps earn the family income by weaving scarves. In spite of this, she has the determination to keep studying and become a professional woman to help her mom, her siblings and her community.

Aida has been working hard to learn English and we are quite proud of her progress. Listen to her story and how the La Casita Scholarship has improved her life.

Daniela Alejandra

Daniela is a 16-year-old young woman who has faced many challenges throughout her life. This year, she started high school and is now getting closer to her goal of attending university. She joined the scholarship program four years ago and since then, has shown remarkable personal and academic growth. When Daniela first entered the program, she was very shy. Over time, she learned to step out of her comfort zone and take advantage of the opportunities that life offers. This personal growth has allowed her to believe in herself and build confidence in her abilities. She is attending a new, progressive Middle School, CETEC, in Panajachel. She understands that women need an opportunity to overcome their poverty through education. She is proud of her mom who could not attend school but encourages her to keep studying.

Rosa Isela

Rosa Isela is a 16 year old young woman with big dreams. When she joined the scholarship program two years ago, she was very shy and quiet. She would not participate in class at all. Despite this, she has shown great commitment and consistency in her participation in the program. Rosa has learned how to manage her shyness and grow more confident each day. Rosa is not as hesitant to participate in class anymore and often engages with students in her class as well as students in other classes. She wants to show her neighbours and all the people that do not trust in education for girls that they are wrong. She is putting in a lot of effort to do well at school and achieve her dream and her mother’s dream as well. Her mom did not have a chance to go to school but they both believe that women can change their path through education.

Marianela (Aida)

Marianela is a smart and strong 15-year-old girl, who just started her third year in the scholarship program. She has big dreams for the future and knows that achieving those dreams requires dedication and a lot of effort. When Marianela first joined the program, she was very shy and often hesitant to participate in class or ask questions when she did not understand something. As time has passed, she has learned how to face her fears, embrace challenges and discover her own abilities. She has come a long way not only academically but also personally. She is grateful that her mom has given her the opportunity of attending school. She wants to overcome the challenges that affect and underestimate the girls and women in Guatemala. She dreams about having a better opportunity in life through education and to dignify the role of women.

Yesica Elvira

Yessica is a 15-year-old girl who, although shy at times, has learned to step beyond her comfort zone in pursuit of her dreams. She started the scholarship program three years ago and since then has grown a lot both academically and personally. Being in the program has helped her develop skills that will help her later in life. Yessica has expressed an interest in tourism and entrepreneurship. Her dream for the future is to study business administration to be able to start her own business promoting Guatemalan culture, traditions and local products.

Yoselin Rosmeri

Yoselin is a smart and cheerful 14-year-old girl who embraces every opportunity life gives her to achieve her dreams. This is her second year in the scholarship program and the changes in her life and personality are evident. Yoselin’s confidence has grown so much in the past year and that has allowed her to develop abilities that will help her succeed in life. Through exposure to new experiences and challenges she has overcome, she has broadened her horizon and realized that her dreams are truly achievable. A smart and sparkly girl. She lives with her mom and siblings. Her dad died awhile ago. In spite of facing many challenges in a single parent home, she is motivated to keep studying and support her mom in the future.

Leiveldina Rosmery

Leiveldina is a 14-year-old girl, who joined the scholarship program last year as a very shy girl who barely spoke Spanish and often hesitated to participate in class because she feared making mistakes. The scholarship program creates a safe and supporting environment where students can grow in confidence and be comfortable exploring who they want to become. Within a few weeks, Leiveldina began to let go of her fear and realized she was in a place where no one would make fun of her for trying and making mistakes, she realized that in the program, mistakes were seen as opportunities to learn. Once she realized that, she started trying and has made remarkable progress in overcoming shyness and improving her Spanish abilities. She is the third of 3 siblings and the first in the family that is getting an education. Her older sister did not have this opportunity. Her dad died recently. Her mom is a very hard worker and now has the responsibility of the family. Leiveldina feels sorry for her mom but at the same time she is encouraged to keep studying, accomplish her goals and support her mom in the future.

Ximena

Ximana is in Grade 11 at the local village high school and is studying to become a preschool teacher. she lives with her mom, and her dream is to overcome their hard situation through education and have a better life for her and her mom who did not have the opportunity of going to school. So, thanks to this scholarship she has been able to keep going and achieving her dream this year. Here you can see her doing her community service teaching to the little kids at La Casita and growing as a person because it is not just community service but also a way that she gets to overcome her fears and empower herself.

Miguel

Miguel attends CETEC in Panajachel and is in Grade 8. Miguel is a hard-working young man. He lives with his family in San Antonio. He wants to continue with his education in order to support his family. His siblings could not go to school due to the lack of resources; therefore, he wants to continue with is studies to be an example to his siblings. His father is a farmer but the money he makes is not enough to cover family expenses and give his children an education. Miguel works with his dad in the fields to help make a little bit more money. His mother is a housewife; she oversees the house chores and takes care of the family. There are times where they can’t make enough money to cover their expenses and that has made Miguel seek for help to continue with his education. The desire to continue studying and supporting his family one day is obvious in Miguel’s face and we are sure he is going to do great things to achieve his dreams and goals.

Maynor

Maynor attends CETEC in Panajachel and is in Grade 8. Maynor has two siblings and lives with his parents in San Antonio. Maynor’s parents are illiterate; they were never able to go to school because they didn’t have the resources to do it and neither of them have a formal job. His father has diabetes and the rest of the family do everything they can to afford the medication he needs. His mother is a weaver, she sells her products on the streets, and the little money she makes goes towards household expenses and medication. When his dad finds work, he works as a sailor. They live on the money they make each day. Maynor dreams to continue with his education to be able to offer his family a better life. He is a smart boy with big dreams and goals. Maynor is a very artistic boy who dreams to study graphic design in the future.

Roxana

Roxana is receiving a scholarship for the first time and is attending CETEC in Panajachel. Roxana is 13 years old, and is in Grade 8. Her wish is to keep studying as her dream is to become a doctor, her mom is trying to support her but life is not easy since their economic hardships threaten her studies and that means that she will then keep the same path as her mom has had but Roxana Maria has the potential of changing her path through education, she wants to build a nice house for her mom and for her.