The Cooperative for Education (CoEd) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empower girls in rural Guatemala, transforming lives through the power of education. Since 1996, CoEd has engaged more than 295,000 students with programs that focus on literacy, technology skills, and youth development. By working in close collaboration with local communities and education authorities, CoEd is working to break the cycle of poverty and ensure girls have tailored support that meets their unique needs.
Girls in Guatemala face systemic barriers that limit their access to quality education, especially those living in rural Indigenous communities. Due to rising financial constraints, families often have to prioritize basic needs for survival over their children’s education, which means girls are often the first to leave school when families cannot afford to pay for school fees and associated costs. As a result, girls are at a high risk for marrying at an early age, denying them opportunities to reach their full potential.
With support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, CoEd will expand its Rise Youth Development Program. The program addresses the range of challenges indigenous girls face, providing individualized support to enable them to complete their education. Students will receive comprehensive financial support to cover the costs of attending school, paired with one-on-one tutoring, life skills workshops, and mentoring. The program will also offer classes to help girls gain essential soft skills, such as leadership and job readiness, while fostering a sense of social responsibility through community service projects.
Co-Ed will support 230 new program participants through this initiative. As the Rise Program grows, more and more graduates will not only help themselves but pass the benefits of education to others—their younger siblings, their peers, and their entire communities. By providing girls essential skills training and education, CoEd envisions a future led by strong, young women who have the power to drive change for a brighter future. Ultimately, the organization seeks to promote sustainable change, breaking cycles of poverty in rural Guatemala. To learn more about CoEd, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
See more projects: Latin America & the Caribbean, Education, Leadership & Life Skills Development