Help Maria Become a Doctor

Meet Maria (pictured in the middle next to me, the gringa).

Maria lives in San Pedro la Laguna, Guatemala. She wants to be a doctor so she can help other indigenous women receive good medical care. In the Mayan culture, many women are uncomfortable showing their bodies to male doctors (and almost all the doctors are male). As a result, these women suffer or even die from treatable illnesses. Maria wants to change that.

Maria’s parents, Clarita and Jose, are good, honest, hard-working people. But in Guatemala it is almost impossible to save money and get ahead. The high cost of tuition puts medical school out of reach for Maria. But with your help, it’s not out of the question. It costs about $5,000 USD per year for six years to change Maria’s life and the lives of countless other women in Guatemala.

I have already personally donated and fundraised enough money to cover Maria’s first year of med school, and she is thriving there. She just passed her final exams and is home for the holidays. Instead of taking a well-deserved break, she is volunteering at the local maternity clinic to gain valuable medical experience.

How I Know Maria

Maria is the daughter of my dear friend and (the world’s greatest Spanish teacher), Clarita. I’ve known this family for 10+ years, and their kindness and generosity never cease to amaze me. Clarita has given me handmade gifts, taken me on field trips, and invited me into her home for food and fellowship on multiple occasions. She even escorted me to the pharmacy once when I needed medicine.

The school where Clarita teaches supports extremely poor families in the area by delivering food and building houses. In Guatemala, it is typical for women to stay home and raise children as their careers. Clarita somehow manages to balance caring for her family with teaching and community outreach. She is currently working on economic development projects for her town as well.

Maria is 18 years old and has learned from her mom’s powerful example. Maria is an excellent student, talented artist, and (so rare in Guatemala) a feminist. Before beginning med school, she already had two years of medical training due to volunteering.

Please consider making a donation of any size to help Maria on her way to becoming a doctor. All funds will be used to cover her university tuition. She and her entire family will be eternally grateful for your support. I will be too. Muchas gracias.

Sincerely,

Andrea Price