Sixth grade was almost Leidy’s final year of school. Growing up as the eldest of seven children in rural Guatemala, she faced pressure to drop out and work, to contribute to the family.
Then REDMI Aq'ab'al stepped in. REDMI is a community-based organization that supports girls’ education and offered Leidy a scholarship. They helped Leidy convince her parents that investing in her education would contribute more to the family in the long run.
Now at 15, Leidy is a first-generation high school graduate — and so much more.
Leidy, 15, has directly experienced the impact of what REDMI Aq'ab'al learned in She’s the First’s Ellas al Frente program.
When Girls Are Heard, Entire Organizations Evolve
REDMI Aq'ab'al (REDMI, for short) is one of six organizations in the first cohort of She’s the First’s Ellas al Frente program. Ellas al Frente invests in Central American women-led organizations that are shifting focus to girl-centered programs to combat rising gender-based violence. The goal is to improve education, health, and life outcomes for girls.
Elizabeth is a co-founder of REDMI - she grew up in the Indigenous community and knows firsthand what it’s like breaking through systemic barriers. Reflecting on her three years in Ellas al Frente, she shared:
“Before Ellas al Frente, we had been using the same methodology for years, adapting it only slightly to each context. But once we received the funds and tools, we realized the girls’ needs were completely different from what we had been implementing. That pushed us to innovate our methodology, integrate new tools, and respond directly to what the girls told us.””
Through Ellas al Frente, She’s the First provided flexible funding, coaching, and training that enabled REDMI Aq'ab'al to strengthen its girl-centered approach. Listening to girls revealed their strong desire to continue building leadership skills and to support their peers.
In response, REDMI Aq'ab'al created a girls’ leadership program focused on their rights, leadership, and mentorship. (She’s the First also helped REDMI secure $39,000 in funding, so they could hire women to support the girls on a steady basis.)
Leidy stands with younger girls she mentors; this is a program that REDMI created with She’s the First’s support.
Leidy’s Chance to Lead
In REDMI’s girl leadership program, Leidy received training on human rights, self-esteem, life planning, sexuality education, and technology skills. Although she entered the program without a clear vision for the future, she now has a goal to continue her studies and become a lawyer, so she can defend girls and women in her community.
“ I would like to attend university; I would like to be a lawyer because I want to defend many women who face violence from their husbands and also to help other girls in my community to get ahead.”
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As a peer mentor, Leidy brings what she learns to other girls and women in the community. Girls see her as an inspiration to continue their education. And in the program, Leidy received support to bring her innovative ideas to life. For example, she launched an entrepreneurship project to create jobs for women who weave cortes, traditional Mayan clothing.
Leidy (front row, fourth from left) acting as a peer mentor for girls in her community.
“Leidy brings opportunities to her friends; she has convinced the families of other friends to let girls participate. At REDMI, we are very happy for Leidy, because young women from rural areas do not have development opportunities. She has taken advantage of this opportunity and has dreams and goals to continue growing inside and outside the organization.
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Leidy’s future would have looked very different without REDMI advocating for her. And REDMI’s ability to shift gender norms in the community wouldn’t be as powerful without She’s the First’s partnership.
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