Alejandra Teleguario, a 23-year-old feminist activist from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, is dedicated to promoting youth and women's rights and preventing gender-based violence. She currently serves as a counselor in family planning for youth and women in the Western Region of Guatemala. Alejandra previously served as the President of the Young Artists for Social Justice NGO.

Over the past decade, Alejandra has been involved in women's leadership schools, workshops on comprehensive sexuality education, and research on migration and gender-based violence. She has represented Guatemala's youth and women at regional and international forums in 11 countries and has received recognition for her contributions to youth and women's development from the Municipal Council of Quetzaltenango and civil society organizations.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Western Highlands Young Women's Network for Peace and Security

The project will empower 12 women leaders between the ages of 18 and 30 from Guatemala's western region, enhancing their participation and advocacy skills in peace and security, with a gender and youth perspective. The network will facilitate dialogue among young women, provide leadership and peacebuilding training, foster alliances among stakeholders, raise awareness about the role of young women in peacebuilding, and collaborate with intergovernmental bodies to enhance Guatemala's National Action Plan on women, peace, and security. Activities will include regional meetings, virtual workshops, community dialogues, and engagement with governmental organizations. The network seeks to empower young women to become effective agents of change in their communities.

In September, Alejandra completed five virtual sessions on key topics related to peacebuilding and gender equality, with 13 participants discussing UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the importance of women's participation in peace processes and the protection of women and girls in conflict settings. Alejandra is finalizing a session with the Inter-Agency Roundtable on Women, Peace and Security (MIMPAZ).

“I hope to contribute to the development of the leadership of young women from the Western Highlands of Guatemala who have the tools and capacity to promote actions in favor of the security and comprehensive protection of other women and girls in their communities, in addition to contributing to the strengthening of the work carried out by government entities to comply with the National Action Plan of Guatemala on women, peace and security, considering the realities faced by women in the communities of the region.”- Alejandra Teleguario

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Alejandra participated in the IVLP Project Women Leaders - Promoting Peace and Security, organized by the U.S. Department of State and World Learning, in partnership with Global Ties Sacramento, Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, WorldChicago, and World Affairs Council - Seattle.

Alejandra’s exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award project: “Being the youngest participant from the Western Hemisphere during [my IVLP], I was inspired by the Commissioners of Seattle City Hall and representatives from Pikes Peak Library District and The Place at Colorado Springs to promote The Western Highlands Young Women's Network for Peace and Security, which seeks to provide recommendations to local and national authorities and implement workshops for the prevention of violence and risk situations from the perspective of young Guatemalan women and strengthen alliances between government and civil society.”

U.S. Communities Visited

Sacramento, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Washington, D.C.; Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA

Country: Guatemala

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