Meet the Fellows!
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Documents and downloads for Fellows.Wilson Rigoberto Norales
Wilson Rigoberto Norales, selected at age 23 is an experienced Garifuna sexual and reproductive health educator and human rights advocate from Livingston. He has facilitated trainings in human rights, discrimination, racism, HIV and democracy for both local organizations and the Guatemalan government. He is awaiting the results of a proposal he submitted to UNESCO that would create employment, education and health opportunities for youth in Izabal. Wilson has a high school diploma in computers and was a seminary student in Nicaragua in 2006. He plans to begin studying psychology at a local university early in 2009.
Abigail Ortiz Dubon
Abigail Ortiz Dubon was selected at age 18 when she was still in high school. The Ladina woman is a member of a local Mayan cultural association, where she has participated in workshops on leadership, conflict resolution, self-esteem, the environment and HIV/AIDS. She is very interested in environmental protection and the importance of sexual and reproductive health in maintaining the balance between human population and nature. Abigail hopes to strengthen her knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, particularly HIV/AIDS prevention, family planning and adolescent pregnancy prevention, in order to influence youth in her community to practice healthy sexual behaviors.
Elder Eduardo Ventura
Elder Eduardo Ventura, selected at age 19 is a Ladino high school teacher at his family’s private school in Rio Dulce. While the school does not have a sex education curriculum, Elder has researched sexuality and reproductive health on his own and shares this information with his students in the hope of reducing the high rates of adolescent pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, school desertion and single motherhood in the region. He is an intern at a local radio station in Rio Dulce, where he hopes to create a sex education radio program geared toward youth. Elder is completing a BA in Humanities at the University of San Carlos in nearby Morales.
Edgar Anival de Leon
Edgar Anival de Leon, who was selected at the age of 19, is a Q’eqch’i’ Mayan volunteer of the Grupo de Jovenes Jesus, which works to prevent teen pregnancy by encouraging abstinence and healthy sexual behavior. He participates in the leadership training activities of a Mayan cultural association and has volunteered with the HIV prevention and anti-discrimination projects of the local Red Cross. He is a passionate advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention, and is eager to study sexual and reproductive health and share this information with other youth in his rural community. He is completing his third year of high school and plans to pursue a BA in Pedagogy upon graduation.
Flor de Maria Cordón
Flor de Maria Cordón runs information, education and communication programs for youth at the government health center in Los Amates. Selected at age 26, Flor is a young Ladina woman, with significant experience working with children and youth, first as a primary school teacher and principal, then as an educator for the Department of Social Projects of the Office of the First Lady. She is a member of the Council for Community Development in Quirigua and volunteers with Plan International to develop and fundraise for projects in her community. She has trained health promoters and midwives in rural communities and will soon graduate with a BA in Social Work.
Dennis Castillo
Dennis Castillo selected at age 20, is a Garifuna from Livingston. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Livingston Garifuna Youth Group, which works to improve the lives of young people in the area. Since the age of 15, Dennis has participated in numerous groups working in the areas of HIV, human rights and political participation. He led, for example, a group that provided recreational activities for young people with the goal of reducing drug abuse and commercial sex work. Dennis recently graduated from high school and plans to begin his university studies in law, after which he plans to become mayor of Livingston.
Walter Hernandez
Walter Hernandez was an 18-year old senior at Independence High School, when he was selected for GOJoven where he graduated as one of the top three students in his class. He is a leader of his church youth group in the community of Bella Vista and has done some work around youth pregnancy prevention and sexual health. Four years ago, he organized a youth group in his neighborhood to do community service work, and the group is still going strong. He is confident, ambitious and determined, and although he doesn’t have a strong background in the area, he is very excited to learn more about sexual and reproductive health. He is a visionary who would like to study medicine in the future.
Virgen Bermudez
Virgen Bermudez, selected at the age of 23, is a Spanish teacher at a Catholic high school in Dangriga. Despite her young age, Virgen was appointed the head of the Spanish Department last year, where she supervises ten teachers and teaches six classes. She is a role model and informal counselor to the youth in her school, the majority of whom come from broken homes and have a history of poor academic performance. Virgen also serves as the treasurer of Friends in Partnership Reaching Out (FIPRO), a volunteer group that does peer education around HIV and other health issues. She is dedicated to preserving her Garifuna culture and is a leader in a youth group that teaches the Garifuna language to young people. She hopes to complete her BA in Education in the future.
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
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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