Since 1973, Progresa has provided indigenous Guatemalans scholarships to study in Guatemalan universities.
Half of Guatemala’s population is Mayan, living in the Western Highlands region, which has 37 volcanoes. Many indigenous Mayans are subsistence farmers. Guatemala has the highest GDP in Central America, and, at the same time, the highest rate of poverty in Central America.
Progresa students are speakers of many of the 22 Mayan languages. Those who have graduated return to their communities to serve as engineers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, agronomists, and other professions. This year’s 86 scholarship recipients are studying more than 20 different majors.
Progresa supports students in performing community service projects in addition to their studies. The projects help build students’ resumes.
The program is managed by four Guatemalan staff members, three of whom are university graduates who received help from Progresa. Graduates form lasting networks with their fellow scholarship recipients.
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