My Nonprofit Reviews

I have worked with MEF for about 15 years as a volunteer, and I also served for seven years as a member of their board. It's a lean, well-run organization that focuses most of its resources on support for Maya students who are pursuing a university education in Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico. Many organizations help fund educational programs for younger children in these areas. However, there are very limited opportunities to move on to an academic or professional degree, which can be so crucial to the economic and political advancement of these highly-talented Maya students and their families. MEF partners with a small number of local, carefully-vetted nonprofits to address this need. In addition, MEF supports programs that further students' understanding of their Maya history and culture.

After more than two decades of experience supporting educational opportunities for Maya students, MEF's success can best be seen in the many amazing graduates who grew up in poverty and now are in productive careers. Among them are lawyers who provide legal services to their indigenous clients, engineers who work in renewable energy technology, advocates for justice and human rights, doctors and nurses who serve in both urban and rural settings, and agronomists who help farmers improve crop production while preserving important natural resources.