October, 2026
SEPA recently spoke with Dennyse Nineth Aleidy Temaj Yat, the niece of Virginia Yat (school director in Santa Elena).
Dennyse was born in Santa Elena, but when she was a little girl, her family moved so that her parents, both teachers, could work in a community in Ixcán, about an hour’s distance from Santa Elena. Three years ago, the family decided to return to Santa Elena to live. Although Dennyse and her parents still work in Ixcán, their decision was worth it: Dennyse gets along well with her neighbors and knows everyone in Santa Elena.
Like her parents, Dennyse also works in education. But her work is different: Rather than teaching students in a school, she teaches entire communities. In fact, she works with 17 communities in public and rural health (work in which there aren’t many people).
Her job involves many areas: water, the environment, animals, illnesses including malaria and dengue, and the prevention of teen pregnancy.
In each community Dennyse tests the water and teaches the community members how water can become contaminated: through animal feces from local farms or latrines located close to a well. Additionally, she teaches community members how to assure that the water is potable through filtering, bleach or boiling.
Her work in the environment is to teach the best way to dispose of trash and scrap. In her work with animals, she is in charge of immunizing dogs and cats against rabies. Additionally, she stresses the importance of keeping animals away from the places where food is prepared.
Dennyse also brings sex education to the youth of the communities. To open the conversation, she begins with the parents. Each conversation is different depending on the family’s religious beliefs. While abstinence is best, it’s inevitable that some adolescents will engage in sexual activity. For this reason, Dennyse recommends that the youth use condoms to prevent both pregnancy and the spread of disease. Recently, Dennyse worked with a pregnant 15-year-old girl. First, the authorities spoke to her parents to discover the identity of the baby’s father and whether it was a consensual act or not. Thankfully, it was. Even so, the girl will need help: “Girls cannot raise children.” For this reason, she will receive psychological and medical attention and visits from social workers. Despite this story, Dennyse has seen many changes in her first year of work: The number of pregnant adolescents has fallen from 50 to 16.
Dennyse explains that she likes to talk, teach and be of service to others, using the common phrase “carry my grain of sand.” She is a true role model to others: As a student. As a worker. And as a young woman. “I’m 22 years old,” she says frequently to the girls of the communities in which she works. “I am single. I don’t have children because I’m not ready to have them.”
According to Dennyse, the most important thing is to have economic stability. With stability, she can prepare for her future, a future that might include her own house, a spouse, and, in time, children of her own.
News:
Website:
We’re pleased to announce our new website where you’ll find upcoming events, updates from the community, and more.
Film
To celebrate our 30th year, documentary filmmaker and Oberlin College Student, Cassielle Campi, will be working with SEPA, Copal AA, and Santa Elena to produce a long-form documentary or a series of short clips.
Delegation:
In October, two members of SEPA’s board will visit the communities of Santa Elena and Copal AA for the first time. We hope to begin offering delegations to the Oberlin and wider community soon.
Copal AA:
Rafael Coy Chocooj, Director of the community school recently shared this story.
In September, 27 Copal AA students, along with two teachers and three community leaders went to Tikal to visit sacred Maya temples. The objective of this annual trip is for the youth to know more deeply their stories, their identity, and the challenges faced by the Maya. The students carried out various projects, including selling products harvested from their gardens in small markets. The idea is that the students themselves raise enough money and pay their own expenses during the trip. We are very happy that they have reached that goal.
See our webpage for more photos.
Copal AA invites you to follow their school Facebook page.
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