RU Leadership Council Members Reflect on Guatemala Experience

Rise Up’s Leadership Council consists of 24 gender justice champions who contribute their time, talent, and resources to support Rise Up and form an active learning community with diverse opportunities for connection with global leaders and like-minded advocates. This March, a group of seven current and prospective Leadership Council members had one such opportunity – an immersive trip to see … Read More

Taking a Global Stand for Girls’ Rights in Guatemala

 Rise Up Leaders at the Generation Equality Forum Rise Up’s network of girl and young women leaders in Guatemala, Las Niñas Lideran, was selected to help lead the Action Coalition on gender-based violence for the Generation Equality Forum. Generation Equality was established by the United Nations to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a … Read More

New UN Report Highlights Rise Up’s Success Working with Girls in Guatemala and Malawi

By Claudia Romeu, Senior Program Manager Rise Up is honored to be featured in When Children Take The Lead, a new report created by the Office of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence Against Children. In a series of case studies, the report analyzes how civil society organizations, NGOs, and governments can successfully engage children as … Read More

Rise Up Guatemala – Veronica’s Story

In 2009, Veronica Buch was selected to join Rise Up’s first cohort in Guatemala. In the last decade, Veronica has mobilized girls, women, and their allies to create a more just and equitable country for girls and women – including successfully advocating to ban child marriage in Guatemala. Now Veronica’s daughter Melody follows in her mother’s footsteps – organizing girls … Read More

Girl Leaders Gather in Guatemala to Raise Their Voices for Change

In January, Rise Up facilitated a training for adolescent girls in Panajachel, Sololá, Guatemala, through our Girls’ Voices Initiative. Twenty-two girls, ages eleven to eighteen, along with ten adult allies participated in a five day workshop, which focused on leadership development, advocacy, community organization, communication, and networking. Roxana, a 14-year-old participant, along with Emerita Valdez, Rise Up’s Country Representative for … Read More

The Impact of Child Marriage on Women and Girls in Guatemala

The following remarks were made by Guatemala Fellow, Angelina Gonzalez, during the launch event of the International Center for Research on Women’s (ICRW) latest publication on the economic impacts of child marriage study on September 5, in Washington D.C. Click here to see a video of Angelina’s presentation.  During my years as a psychologist and Rise Up Champion, I have … Read More

Champions Organize Relief Efforts in Guatemala

The tragic and deadly eruption of the Fuego volcano earlier this month in Guatemala reminded us of the tremendous power of nature, and also of the relentless fortitude of our Champions and allies. More than 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes, thousands of acres of cultivated land were lost, and unfortunately more than a hundred were buried by mud in their … Read More