For María Castro Lux, a young mother of three children, being part of one of the UNESCO-Malala-Mineduc Centers has meant learning to value her self-esteem, undertake new initiatives and, become a fighter.

Education has positive effects on the lives of women such as María, who despite getting married at an early age and, having to interrupt her studies of elementary school, is currently studying her last year of junior high school. María, a proud mother of two girls and a small boy, is one of the female leaders of the UNESCO-Malala Center located in Santa María Chiquimula.

María believes that starting a family in early adulthood is not an obstacle to continue working towards a better future. “I help my girls with their homework, I am watching my baby grow up because he is already walking and talking, he recognizes the sounds of animals, because I am following up his development,” María says. She also recognizes the support received from her family and of her husband, which she believes is a key element to continue with her studies.

Maria’s road has not been easy. In addition to taking care of her children and her family, and continuing her junior high school studies, Maria is committed to her community, supporting one of the women's groups as a female leader in one of the UNESCO-Malala-Mineduc Centers. This responsibility has led her to recognize the importance and power of education in transforming people's lives. 

When María talks about fighting for her life, she refers to the sacrifices that she makes towards the wellbeing of her children, her family, the women that she is leading, and of her community. The gaps in education remain a major challenge in rural areas of Guatemala. Therefore, the support and accompaniment of ally institutions, such as the Guatemalan Institute of Radiophonic Education -IGER by its Spanish acronym- which awarded María with a scholarship to continue with her studies, is fundamental to promote indigenous women right to education.

The panorama in Santa María Chiquimula and San Andres Xecul is different from how it was three years ago when the project supported by the UNESCO Malala Fund for Girls Right to Education began. The participants of the project, just like María Castro, feared to participate and raise their voices, of getting involved in project activities and obtain new knowledge, of daring to talk about their needs and dreams while creating support networks. Today, women are empowered: they recognize and fight for their right to education.