Grafemos
Development & Research
Organization
GRAFEMOS
TEAM
Fieldwork & Training Team
Santo Domingo Xenacoj
The team facilitating field operations consists of six women from the Ixkoj Ajkem Council who combine community leadership, ancestral knowledge, and experience in education, communications, media, and logistics. Their diverse strengths include Maya weaving, natural medicine, intercultural education, community development, digital tools, and organizing local initiatives. All six are Grafemos-certified facilitators with extensive training in instructional design, learning activities, data collection, the learning engineering process, and privacy and ethics procedures. This combination of knowledge, skills, and experience enables them to conduct fieldwork with cultural sensitivity, community commitment, and professional rigour while building a trusted connection between the project and participating communities.
Gloria García
Local Coordinator & Facilitator
ABOUT ME
Local Coordinator. Knowledge Keeper, Mayan weaving teacher and member of the Ixkoj Ajkem Council. Member of the Board of Directors. A community leader and weaving instructor with extensive experience supporting women, defending natural and cultural resources, promoting community workshops, and strengthening family gardens. Since 1990, she has provided guidance in Santo Domingo Xenacoj and actively participates in community and national weaving organizations. A Grafemos-certified facilitator trained in instructional design principles, Grafemos activities, data collection, the project’s learning engineering process, and privacy and ethics procedures.
Salomé Chocoyo
Logistics Support & Facilitator
ABOUT ME
Logistics Support. Knowledge Keeper, Mayan weaving teacher and member of the Ixkoj Ajkem Council. She is a skilled textile artisan with strong experience in traditional weaving, especially backstrap and pedal loom techniques. Her strengths include craftsmanship, colour combination, garment-making, production costing, and leadership in community-based artisan initiatives. She brings deep knowledge of ancestral textiles as expressions of memory, identity, resilience, and collective heritage. A Grafemos-certified facilitator trained in instructional design principles, Grafemos activities, data collection, the project’s learning engineering process, and privacy and ethics procedures.
Hortencia Rac
Logistics Support & Facilitator
ABOUT ME
Logistics Support. Knowledge Keeper, Mayan weaving teacher, and member of the Ixkoj Ajkem Council. Brings strong expertise in natural medicine, self-care, traditional weaving, and colour composition. A Grafemos-certified facilitator trained in instructional design principles, Grafemos learning activities, data collection, learning engineering processes, and privacy and ethics procedures.
Ilsí Chile
Pedagogical Support & Facilitator
ABOUT ME
Pedagogical Support. Member of the Ixkoj Ajkem Council. Intercultural primary teacher with experience in multigrade classrooms and in different school grades; high school teacher in multicultural bilingual education, with an emphasis on Mayan culture. She has completed courses and diplomas in the Kaqchikel language, in linguistic rights, methodologies and innovation. It stands out for its commitment to intercultural education, early childhood learning, and strengthening cultural and linguistic identity. Certified Grafemos facilitator, trained in instructional design principles, Grafemos activities, data collection, the project learning engineering process, and privacy and ethics procedures.
Estela Farelo
Communications Support & Facilitator
ABOUT ME
Communications Support. Member of the Ixkoj Ajkem Council. Specialist in Rural Well-being and Community Development, with Microsoft Office knowledge and customer service experience. Skilled in communication, teamwork, and leadership, with the ability to handle complex situations and work under pressure. Grafemos-certified facilitator trained in instructional design principles, Grafemos activities, data collection, the project’s learning engineering process, and privacy and ethics procedures.
Belsi Escot
Social Media Support & Facilitator
ABOUT ME
Social Media Support. Proactive, organized, and adaptable team member with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently or as part of a team. Her strengths include active listening, empathy, working with diverse age groups, using social media, and continuing to develop her English language skills. A Grafemos-certified facilitator trained in instructional design principles, Grafemos activities, data collection, the project’s learning engineering process, and privacy and ethics procedures.
OUR RESEARCH APPROACH
FRAMEWORKS & EDUCATIONAL ALIGNMENT
This work directly supports key global and regional educational priorities:
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Decolonizing and culturally sustaining education
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Indigenous methodologies and ways of knowing
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Systems thinking and complexity education
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Learning engineering process and design-based research
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Inclusive and equitable education aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4
