Maya Educational Foundation • 1770 Massachusetts Ave. #204 Cambridge, MA. 02140, USA • Phone (+1) 857 270 7940

Newsletter 2025-2026

Newsletter 2025-2026

The Maya Educational Foundation (MEF) supports the educational and professional advancement of the Maya people in Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize, with special consideration given to women and girls and to students from remote areas.

Dear Friends of MEF,
As we reach the midpoint of the year, we are excited to share some of what has happened so far with you. If you are not already signed up to our bulletins by email, please sign up on our homepage www.mayaedufound.org

In April 2025 we celebrated more than three decades of service of Elisabeth S. Nicholson before her retirement. In a final interview, Elisa talked about some of the changes over the years, including supporting more young women in their pursuit of higher education:

“During my time with MEF, I saw great progress in the girls; in their self-confidence and expectations about being able to do it, knowing that they can go further than middle school or elementary school. We have seen families change their minds and now encourage not just their boys but also their girls to study and to reach for the stars.”

On behalf of MEF and our community of scholarship students, thank you Elisabeth for the years of dedication to advancing MEF’s mission in opening new educational and professional opportunities for underprivileged Maya students in Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize.

MEF’s Engineering students enjoying group work at the annual ‘Encuentro Estudiantil’

Amy Holly took over as Executive Director of MEF in April 2025, and is working hand in hand with Jacquelyn Sincal and Norma Subuyuj from our Guatemala base. To get in contact with Amy directly, contact her via amy@ mayaedufound.org, via Whatsapp +502 48063588 or by phone on +1 857 270 7940. •

In April, Norma and Amy were welcomed by our partners Sna Jtz’ibajom, Chenalhó and Amigos de San Cristóbal in Chiapas, Mexico. MEF teamed up with our partner Armando Alfonzo from Daniele Agostino Derossi Foundation to visit the Tseltal and Tsotsil


MEF staff Norma Subuyuj, Amy Holly and Jacquí Sincal pictured here at the
2nd annual Student Meeting in CIRMA, Antigua in June.

Norma and Amy were welcomed by Sna Jtz’ibajom leaders and university students in Chiapas, Mexico in April.

Maya communities in the area, to help us get a deeper understanding of the work taking place in this vibrant Mexican region. MEF currently sponsors 38 university scholarships and 7 high school scholarships in Mexico.

MEF’s Maya Scholarship Program with CIRMA had its second annual student meeting in Antigua Guatemala. 48 university students and former scholarship recipient graduates came together from across the country to create connections, share experiences and reflect on the preservation of Maya culture.

Sharing experiences at the student event
Sharing experiences at the student event
“As a future professional, my dream is to bring knowledge to mothers in my community, to improve food security in their homes. At the same time, I want to help youth who have been limited by economic factors to carry on fighting for their goals and dreams.”
—Yessica

“Thank you to the donors, who despite not knowing me, didn’t hesitate to help. Now, as a graduate of Forensic and Criminal Investigation, I am committed to using my profession to help people; for communal wellbeing, and for truth and justice.”
—Carla

“The time is right now, for us youth to act. We have so much ability and capacity, and we can preserve and restore our culture.”
—Luis

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