For Marina, a mentor at Colegio Horizontes, empowerment is not just a concept—it’s a deeply personal experience that has shaped both her life and now the lives of the students she mentors. Having once been a scholarship student herself, she knows firsthand the transformative power of education and Limitless Horizons Ixil’s support.
“Compared to my peers who didn’t participate in LHI’s programs, I think I am more resilient and optimistic,” Marina shares. “I am also one of the most empowered women I know when it comes to trying to get ahead and speaking my mind.”
Marina credits much of this empowerment to the workshops she received as a Youth Development Program scholar starting in 2007, particularly those on gender equity and reproductive health. “LHI’s workshops impacted my growth, first as a scholarship student and now as a staff member,” she explains. “I try to pass the concepts I learn about on to the girls I work with—helping them make their own decisions, starting with small things like choosing what color of huipil [traditional blouse] to wear or what activity to do. These small steps help them become empowered to then make bigger decisions for themselves.”
Marina’s own story of resilience—growing up in a large family with few resources and breaking cultural norms by continuing her education beyond high school and waiting until she was 30 to marry (rather than the more typical 20 or younger)— inspires the students she now works with at Colegio Horizontes. “My journey proves that education can change everything,” she reflects. “Now, I get to be the one giving back and helping students believe in themselves.”
One success story that especially resonates with Marina is that of one of her mentorship students who was very timid and suffered from low self-esteem when she entered Colegio Horizontes. “Before I started working with her and her family, she didn’t have the support she needed at home. Now, she’s noticeably happier and more prepared at school. She has higher grades, more self-love, and uses her empowered voice.” For Marina, witnessing this kind of positive change in her students’ life as a result of her mentorship is the greatest reward of her work. “Watching students grow—from entering school with fear and trepidation to developing into confident young women—is my biggest motivator.”
Marina’s story is a powerful reminder that empowerment begins with believing. By passing on the lessons she learned through her own journey, she is creating a positive ripple effect that will inspire future generations to have the confidence to think and speak for themselves and determine their own futures.
This giving season, support Limitless Horizons Ixil to empower more changemakers like Marina.