When Na’atik was founded back in 2010, the school quickly became popular with students from Felipe Carrillo Puerto and the surrounding Maya communities keen to take advantage of the opportunity to learn English. With the growth of foreign tourism in the region's coastal towns, and the English language requirements put in place on many university courses in Mexico, the ability to speak English was fast becoming an important key to access opportunities for young people in the area. Cofounders Catherine and Pedro were conscious that students in and around Carrillo were at significant disadvantage compared to those living in other parts of the state where the influx of tourists and expats was giving people more opportunities to learn and practice English. Classes at Na’atik were allowing local people to invest in their own skills and future careers, ensuring they were not excluded from the economic and social changes taking place in the region.

Despite the popularity of Na’atik classes, Catherine realized that most of the students attending classes were from better off families, and that while some students from less privileged families and the surrounding Maya communities were attending, they often dropped out of classes with no notice. These dropouts were particularly concerning, as some of those students were among the most talented and committed learners. Catherine investigated the reason students were leaving, and it quickly became clear that inability to pay was the main cause. Over 70 percent of people in the Felipe Carrillo Puerto municipality are living below the poverty line, with many faced with extreme economic instability caused by unpredictable incomes and a lack of welfare support for illness and other emergencies. Despite Na’atik’s efforts to keep costs as low as possible, affording classes was still beyond many families' abilities.

Na’atik was not founded with the goal of offering classes to only those students who already had more opportunities than their peers, with Catherine and Pedro firmly believing that background should be no barrier to access to education. As a born and bred Carrillo local who had experienced first-hand the opportunities that learning English could offer, Pedro understood exactly how hard it was for students from less wealthy backgrounds to access higher education and bring back much needed experience, skills and expertise to the area. Together they vowed to find a way to ensure that those students who were committed to learning should be able to attend classes regardless of their family’s means.

It was at this time that one of Na’atik’s most promising young students, a boy from a nearby Maya community who dreamed of a career in film or teaching, stopped attending for cost reasons. Feeling that it would be a tragedy if such a talented student was not able to continue learning, Catherine decided that she had to find a solution. This was the beginning of the Maya Youth Scholarship Program, which matched students who had demonstrated a commitment to learning but could not afford to attend Na’atik with generous sponsors who donated to cover their tuition. The first scholarships began in December 2012, with five students being sponsored to study over the course of that school year. Scholarship students received the same classes as other Na’atik students, and also received their course text books, Na’atik t-shirts and a place on any paid activities or field trips.

Over the years since its inception, the Maya Youth Scholarship program has grown to cover over 40 students a year, around 20 percent of the students in total. Over a third of the scholarship students come from the Maya communities, with students traveling up to an hour each way to get to Carrillo for their classes. Of those who have received scholarships, over 90 percent have gone on to study at universities, many at some of the region’s best institutions. It has been amazing to see the students going on to success in their chosen careers, many bringing back new skills to help with the development of their local communities. Two former scholarship students have gone on to teach at Na’atik, with the very first sponsored student mentioned earlier in this article, Erick, becoming both an English and Spanish teacher, and now this year taking on the role of English Program Manager, ensuring that the next generation of students enjoy the same opportunities he did. His success is inspirational to local students and demonstrates the impact that a scholarship can have on the recipient.

Due to the low incomes in the region, there is always a waiting list of students who need support and Na’atik always ensures that scholarships are given only to those with both a genuine need and a commitment to learning. Families and students are interviewed beforehand and student attendance and performance is monitored, with an end of year report on student progress sent to the sponsor.

The growth of the program has helped Na’atik become a source of hope for many local families, some of whom continue to tell us that classes have changed their families lives or that they always felt schools like this would not be available for people like them. Catherine, Pedro and the team hope to continue to grow the program in the coming years, and eventually offer full or partial scholarships to around half of our students, ensuring that classes are available to everyone who wants them regardless of background.

All of this has only been possible because of the generosity of those who donate and sponsor a student. Everyone at Na’atik: staff, students and parents, are eternally grateful for the amazing support these sponsors give to our community. Those occasions where sponsors have been able to meet their scholarship students have been truly moving, with laughter, tears and grateful hugs. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor and changing the life of a Na’atik student, visit our Maya Youth Scholarship webpage or get in touch with us at supporters@naatikmexico.org.