Mujeres De Maiz Opportunity Foundation

01/17/2026

It's been quite a while since we posted on this page, but rest assured, Mujeres de Maiz OF is still going strong. We have downsized a bit, but our 10 final scholarship girls are working toward their goals. Erika from Zinacantan finished her law degree and Yessica from Crucero will finish this year. Sara from Yajalon has one more year to finish her nursing/obstetric degree and Karla is in the 2nd year of business administration. Yessenia is loving her training to be a pre-school teacher, and Eugenia is delighted with her advanced classes in sewing and design. Antonia recently completed her preparatory degree and both Paty and Perla are in preparatory. Many thanks to the generous folks sponsoring these girls.

We have 5 Children's Programs running. The scholarship recipients have been in charge of these programs, and for the first time, as girls have completed their education and no longer have that obligation, we are giving stipends to folks in the communities that are interested in making sure these programs continue.

As always, we fund workshops 6 times a year to the members of the cooperative with which we partner, and 3 times a year for workshops dedicated to the scholarship recipients. We also continue funding eye exams and glasses.

We are now in our 21st year and all our successes are due to our loyal supporters who have generously funded us through the years.
Although we are not currently soliciting donations, we gratefully accept them. You can donate on our website page (www.MujeresDeMaizOF.org} or mail to PO Box 1956, Sequim, WA 98382

For further information, write to [email protected]

09/09/2024

We are always delighted to get news of our children's programs that have been running since 2008. Our scholarship recipients run the programs in their home communities. The children meet once a week for 3 hours to strengthen their math skills, their Spanish and their reading. Ages start at 5 and go up to 10. A meal is provided. At the moment we have programs running in 5 communities.

05/27/2024

Chiapas trip April 2024
All of my trips to Chiapas have been wonderful and this was no exception. From the time I arrived until the day I departed I was filled with gratitude for my 20 years working with indigenous women and children. Around every corner of San Cristobal de las Casas were memories from my previous 30 + trips to this beautiful mountainous city and the communities surrounding it.
The remodeling of the women’s center had just been completed. As many of you know, Gabriela, had completed her degree in architecture and the design of the remodel was her final project. Gabriela had been on scholarship with us since the 6th grade and with her mother (also a scholarship recipient) had been key to a very successful children’s program in her town of Ocosingo. She and her brother (who has a degree in engineering) organized and supervised the remodel itself.
I had been very much looking forward to seeing it. And I was amazed! Gabriela had brought increased light and airflow into the original structure. Now it has a second story, and second bathroom, and large airy sleeping rooms. What a difference! I was privileged to be present for the Maya ceremony to purify the center. With flowers and copal, every room was purified. All present had to go out the front door and then walk in again surrounded by the copal incense.
During the week I met with 2 former scholarship girls, both with the university degrees they had earned. I also went out to Zinacantan to visit 2 families with whom Mujeres has a long history of scholarships and children’s programs. The following weekend I was delighted to attend one of the workshops dedicated to the current 13 scholarship recipients. I talked with each of them individually about their educational interests and progress and their lives in general. It is always delightful to have that personal contact with them.
Thanks to all the Mujeres' supporters over the years.

Judith, Board Chair

12/07/2021

Am excited to be giving a talk about Mujeres at the Open Circle Society in Ajijic, México, on December 12th. Enlarge photo to see the blurb toward the bottom of the page in the publication "El Ojo del Lago." A couple of weeks after the talk, the recording will be available on the opencircleajijic.org webpage.
Judith

11/03/2021

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/opinion/diane-urbani-de-la-paz-foundation-grows-opportunities/

Thanks so much to Diane Urbani de La Paz for the following article in the Peninsula Daily News November 3, 2021

Nearly sixteen years ago, I was a freshly hired Peninsula Daily News reporter walking into Judith Pasco’s classroom at Sequim High School. There, in the course of an interview with Pasco, I learned about a similarly brand-new partnership: the Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation (MujeresdeMaizOF...

07/17/2021

Please see our website at www.MujeresDeMaizOF.org for updates on our programs, our blog, and our scholarship recipients. We have just been awarded the Great Nonprofits badge for 2021, and if you'd like to know what folks are saying about us, please visit their website as well. Our annual Mexican Breakfast and Men with Guitars events are postponed until 2022 in the interests of health and safety, but we are looking at another online auction in September.

Home About Us Scholarship Recipients Projects Programs Upcoming Events Donate / Contact Us Blog Terms of Service Privacy Policy Mujeres de Maíz (Women of Corn) Opportunity Foundation is a registered non-profit tax-exempt [501(c)3] organization based in Sequim, Washington. We are dedicated to partne...

07/02/2021

A visit to Chiapas was not an option last year, so I am so pleased to tell you that I just got back from there a few days ago. It was an affirming visit in many respects. Our scholarship recipients are continuing their academic dreams even after a frustrating year of online classes. Our children's programs continue, as does our funding for classes, eye exams, workshops, mini-libraries and computers. We are very appreciative of our supporters who donated generously.

06/25/2020

Volunteer, donate, read reviews for Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation in Sequim, WA plus similar nonprofits and charities related to Civil Rights, Education, Educational Services, International, Women, Womens Rights

06/25/2020

Thanks to our fans, we are one of the first winners of a 2020 Top-Rated Award from GreatNonprofits! Read inspiring stories about us and add your own! https://greatnonprofits.org/org/mujeres-de-maiz-opportunity-foundation.

Volunteer, donate, read reviews for Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation in Sequim, WA plus similar nonprofits and charities related to Civil Rights, Education, Educational Services, International, Women, Womens Rights

04/04/2020

Martha, who was under scholarship with us from 6th grade until she graduated with a degree in nursing, is now on staff in a clinic in an indigenous community close to hers. We touched base with her last week with concerns about the coronavirus, and she responded that they had been apprised of the situation and of the measures that need to be taken. A few days ago she posted the following poster explaining symptoms, etc. in both Tsotsil and Tseltal (and Spanish.) We are so proud of her and her work.

03/09/2020

The terrific article, written by Diane Urbani de la Paz and published on the front page of the Peninsula Daily News, spurred a lot of folks to give our breakfast a try. We also appreciate the coverage given on KSQM radio. 166 breakfasts were served and as usual, people raved about the food. Board me...