International Recognition: Leading the Way in Rural Education

ESOSCO Innovation Fair Invitation (2011) Ak’ Tenamit was invited by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ESOSCO) to present our education program at the 2011 Innovation Fair in Geneva. We were one of only 30 education programs worldwide invited to share best practices, providing a direct opportunity to speak with UN Ministers of Education and then-Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. This invitation recognized our program’s potential to inspire similar initiatives globally.

World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Finalist (2010) Our innovative rural education program was a finalist for the prestigious WISE Awards, selected from nearly 500 applicants across 79 countries. Ak’ Tenamit was the only Central American finalist, standing alongside organizations like Save the Children, UNESCO, and Carnegie Mellon University. As a finalist, we were invited to participate in both the 2010 and 2011 WISE Summits in Doha, Qatar.

Commitment to Sustainability

Rainforest Alliance’s Green Deal Certification Ak’ Tenamit’s student-run Bugamama Restaurant received the Green Deal Certification for preserving indigenous cuisine and maintaining environmentally sustainable operations. The certification, monitored by the Rainforest Alliance, confirms the restaurant’s steps to protect the environment, conserve energy, and comply with strict health standards—all integral parts of our student work-study program.

National and International Support