After three years of preparation, a new generation of Maya language interpreters received their certificates this Friday upon completing the 2023-2026 cycle of the Municipal Institute for the Strengthening of Maya Culture. The ceremony emphasized the need to train individuals who will contribute to keeping alive one of Yucatán’s most important cultural heritages.
During the closing ceremony, educational and municipal authorities highlighted that the graduates are not only completing an academic program, but are also acquiring a commitment to promote and defend the linguistic rights of Maya-speaking communities.
Karla Berrón Cámara, Director of Identity and Culture for the Mérida City Council, noted that since 2012, the Municipal Academy of the Maya Language has been certifying interpreters through a job training program endorsed by the Yucatán State Department of Education (SEGEY). During this period, more than 230 men and women have graduated.
She acknowledged the effort involved in completing a three-year program, especially for those who travel from different communities to attend classes, and noted that the goal is for the new interpreters to contribute to the effective exercise of the linguistic rights of the Maya-speaking population.
She also highlighted that the Municipal Institute for the Strengthening of Maya Culture not only operates at its main headquarters but also offers courses and workshops at various cultural centers in Mérida, expanding opportunities to learn and preserve the language.
For her part, Zoila Castro Reguera Baduy, supervisor of Zone 009 of the SEGEY (Yucatán State Education Secretariat), affirmed that each graduating class represents another step in preserving Maya identity.
Authorities emphasize the graduates’ commitment. She noted that, throughout the academic year, the students not only learned vocabulary and structures of the language but also delved into the history, traditions, and wisdom inherited from the indigenous peoples. He also highlighted that the final projects developed by the students reflect their respect and admiration for the Mayan civilization.
Addressing those who completed their training, he emphasized that the certificate they received symbolizes their decision to invest in their own development and in a learning experience that will stay with them throughout their lives.
“You already have the tools, your skills have been tested, and the knowledge now belongs to you permanently,” he stated.
On behalf of the graduating class, student Braulio Chi thanked the teachers for guiding them throughout the training process and affirmed that the knowledge they acquired commits them to becoming promoters of the Mayan language and culture.
“With you, learning was a shared journey in which we built knowledge together,” he noted.
Source: 24horasyucatan
