Meet the Fellows!
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Documents and downloads for Fellows.Juan Carlos Martinez
Juan Carlos Martinez, selected at the age of 21, is the president of his Catholic youth group, where he often talks to teens about the importance of valuing their sexuality and protecting themselves against HIV infection. He is passionate about educating youth about their rights and sees unwanted pregnancy and drug addiction as major barriers for youth in Bella Vista Village, where he lives. Juan Carlos currently works as the Human Resources Director for Banana Enterprises, a contracting business in Independence. He is a dynamic young leader who is often sought out in his community to settle disputes amongst youth. He is eager to expand his knowledge about sexual and reproductive health so that he can help his community develop.
Wilma Esquivel Pat
Wilma Esquivel Pat became a fellow at age 25. She has taught middle school biology in Felipe Carrillo Puerto for the past two years. Wilma feels an obligation to educate her young students about sexual and reproductive health, beyond what her school’s curriculum delineates. She thrives on working with her students and plans to continue teaching and to acquire a Masters Degree in Education. She recognizes that teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and a lack of tolerance for sexual diversity pose significant challenges to youth in Carrillo Puerto, especially in her students’ indigenous communities. She is particularly interested in educating her students and their parents about sexual and reproductive health so that the information is reinforced at home. She looks forward to expanding her knowledge and learning how to better mobilize her community.
Escuela Secundaria Técnica #26
Sony Marcial Erosa Villanueva
Sony Marcial Erosa Villanueva became a Summit Fellow at age 27 and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Psychology. He has been working as the academic counselor at the National Technical Professional High School (CONALEP) in Chetumal. In his work, he addresses issues of self-esteem, sexual health and family violence, and he aims to make a difference in his students’ lives. Sony also runs a radio program called “The Voice of Youth,” and has some very creative ideas on how to use the media to educate youth about sexual and reproductive health. Sony is a dynamic team player with a strong commitment to youth development. He aims through GOJoven to learn more about using the media as a tool to reach youth and to help them break out of traditional gender frameworks.
Colegio Nacional de Educación Profesional (CONALEP)
Cecilia Kay Nicté Chablé Berlín
Cecilia Kay Nicté Chablé Berlín, became a Summit Fellow at age 23 and is originally from Yucatán. She is currently an educator at the Development Center of Quintana Roo, a non-profit institution in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Development and Education and gives workshops on gender equity to children, youth and adults in both the urban and rural areas of Carrillo Puerto. She has experience developing youth-centered media in various forms, including web design, CD-ROMs, magazines and radio shows. Cecilia is currently the editor of “Your Alternative Space,” a cultural gazette which has a section on sexual and reproductive health geared towards indigenous youth. Cecilia speaks and writes Maya, and is taking advanced Maya language courses to increase her language proficiency.
Centro Quintanarroense de Desarrollo A.C.
Rafael Alejandro Rivero Aburto
Rafael Alejandro Rivero Aburto, 23 years old upon receipt of the Summit Fellowship, is the general secretary of the Youth Assembly of Quintana Roo and president of the local chapter of a national political youth group called the Revolutionary Generation. Both groups work to mobilize youth politically and train them in democratic participation, as well as other topics such as sports, reproductive rights and public speaking. He is interested in forming peer education groups as a means to communicate the importance of sexual and reproductive health to other youth. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Rafael already shows incredible leadership in the field of politics. His long-term goal is to run for Congress as part of Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party.
Generación Revolucionaria ”Luis Donaldo Colosio”
Ivonne Yolanda Díaz del Valle Oliva
Ivonne Yolanda Díaz del Valle Oliva became a Fellow at age 26 and has volunteered for seven years at the National Association of Alumni Fellows for the Development of Honduras. She facilitates camps for hundreds of youth throughout Honduras, developing their leadership through environmental awareness and team activities. Ivonne and her organization see in GOJoven an opportunity to learn more about sexual and reproductive health and plan to integrate the topic into their camps in the future. Ivonne is in her final year of a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and is completing her thesis on knowledge and behavior in relationship to the environment. She is a passionate young leader who believes strongly in peer education and who values teamwork. Her dream is to open an environmental education and research center.
Asociación Nacional de Exbecarios para el Desarrollo de Honduras (ANEDH)
Alex Eduardo Sorto Ortiz
Alex Eduardo Sorto Ortiz became a Summit Fellow at age 21 and is the founder and general secretary of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Association of Guatemala (ARCOIRIS). ARCOIRIS promotes human, sexual and reproductive rights and provides legal assistance to the LGBT populations of Comayaguela and Tegucigalpa. It also functions as a safe space for youth in the region. Alex develops projects, fundraises and designs the organization’s training curriculum. He recently obtained grants for his work from the American Jewish World Service and the Central American Women’s Fund, and was selected by USAID to monitor the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s work in Honduras. Visionary and directed, Alex sees himself working with the United Nations or an NGO helping people from marginalized communities. He is currently studying management and social development at the local university.
Asociación LGTB Arcoiris de Honduras
Wendy Lizeth Aguilar Martinez
Wendy Lizeth Aguilar Martinez was 21 years old when she became a Summit Fellow and is the HIV Project Coordinator for the Association for Free Expression, an NGO that works in collaboration with the United Nations Association in Tegucigalpa. She helps HIV-positive and HIV-affected youth photograph their realities, and then organizes photo exhibits across the country to share these stories. Wendy previously volunteered for the Pan American Health Organization, working on HIV/AIDS issues. She belongs to numerous national and international youth networks and has used her networks and skills to obtain project funding from public and private sources. Wendy was responsible recently for her organization becoming the first Honduran NGO to receive support from Kodak. She is working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, and her long-term vision is to create a cultural center and gallery that provides a space for art and leadership for youth affected by HIV.
Asociación Libre Expresión en Honduras
Israel Antonio Barahona Reyes
Israel Antonio Barahona Reyes became a Summit Fellow at age 20 and is a dynamic and charismatic volunteer at the Population Services International-sponsored Club en Conexion in Tegucigalpa. Antonio has worked for over two years as a facilitator at the Club, where he trains peer educators and monitors their work to educate youth on sexuality and reproductive health. He has a high school diploma and hopes to eventually obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Accounting and a Masters in Human Resources Psychology. With a true commitment to working with youth, Antonio hopes to one day manage radio programs that inform young people about sexual and reproductive health. He believes that each person is born a leader and wants to help develop their potential.
Proyecto Club en Conexión/PASMO
Sandra Marivel Pérez Pop
Sandra Marivel Pérez Pop became a Summit Fellow at age 18 and is a Mayan woman from Livingston, Izabal. Currently, she is a student of sustainable tourism at the Ak Tenamit Association. Sandra has three years of volunteer experience working on an AIDS prevention project using clown methodology. She travels with a group of clowns to rural communities and to Livingston to teach the population about the importance of HIV prevention. Recently, Sandra was invited and awarded a grant to represent Guatemala in an International Conference on Women and HIV in Kenya, Africa to share her experiences from Izabal. Sandra wants to continue to uncover in the field of counseling and community work on HIV and hopes to study psychology in the future.
Instituto Particular Mixto Ak´tenamit Instituto Ak ´tenmit
GOJoven's Mission
GOJoven promotes and supports young leaders to act as catalysts for social change in Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health. Read more here
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