News

Not every story of transformation begins with a celebration.

Some begin with waiting.

Waiting for an interview.

Waiting for an acceptance letter.

Waiting for funding to come through.

Waiting for another semester, another chance, another opening.

At Adelante Mujer, we spend a lot of time in this in-between space. And while it may not always be visible, it is holy ground.

Recently, we celebrated an important milestone for Vilma and Melanie in Guatemala. Both young women have completed the first phase of their nursing education, earning their credentials as nursing technicians. This is no small achievement. Nursing education in Guatemala is rigorous, demanding, and deeply competitive. For Vilma and Melanie, this milestone represents years of discipline, sacrifice, and determination. And still — their journey is not over. They continue forward with two more years of study ahead, choosing again and again to keep going.

At the same time, two other young women in Guatemala are standing at the edge of a different threshold. They are preparing to begin medical school — one with an acceptance in hand, and the other waiting for final confirmation. These moments mark a profound turning point. Medical education opens doors not only for these women, but for their families and communities for generations to come. The difference between acceptance and waiting can mean the difference between two very different futures.

Meanwhile, in Nicaragua, the waiting looks different — and just as real.

Right now, more than 20 young women are waiting to see if they might be accepted into the Adelante Mujer program in a future semester. These are capable, determined women. Many are already studying. Many are working. All are hoping. Because of limited funding and limited spaces, not everyone can be accepted right away. For some, this means waiting another semester. For others, it means reapplying, interviewing again, and holding onto hope a little longer.

This is the reality of education rooted in excellence and equity: it is competitive, it is costly, and it requires patience.

But here is what we believe, deeply and without hesitation:

Waiting is not failure.

Waiting is not the end of the story.

Waiting is still movement.

At Adelante Mujer, we do not only walk with women at the finish line. We walk with them while they are gathering transcripts, preparing interviews, studying late into the night, and daring to believe that their future can be different. We walk with them when the answer is “not yet.” We walk with them when the dream still calls, even when the path feels long.

In a world that often measures worth by speed and outcomes, this work asks us to practice a different kind of love — one rooted in persistence, dignity, and faithful presence. Love that stays. Love that believes. Love that does not turn away when the road takes time.

This month, we are holding space for women in many places along the journey:

Women celebrating milestones.

Women beginning new chapters.

Women waiting, still hoping, still preparing.

Their stories are still being written.

Thank you for walking with them — not only in moments of arrival, but in the waiting that makes transformation possible.

An Invitation to Walk With Us

If this story speaks to you, we invite you to consider walking alongside these women.

Your support helps make waiting possible — covering tuition, books, transportation, and basic needs so that women can remain in school, prepare for interviews, and keep moving forward even when the path is long. Because of donors like you, a “not yet” does not become a dead end.

Every gift, in any amount, is an act of belief. An affirmation that these women’s dreams matter, that their education is worth investing in, and that their futures are still unfolding.

Thank you for being part of this story — for walking with women not only at moments of celebration, but in the quiet, courageous work of waiting.

If you’d like to support a student today, you can do so at

www.womanadvance.com/donate

Adelante, mujer. Forward, woman.

The new year didn’t begin in a classroom or an office for Jeyling. It began on muddy paths in the Rosario Murillo neighborhood—umbrella in hand, boots on her feet, clipboard tucked under her arm—going door to door to care for patients diagnosed with malaria and to check on the health of neighboring families.

“No obstacles stop us,” she shared.

Jeyling is an Adelante Mujer student, and this moment captures everything our work stands for: women showing up for their communities with courage, skill, and deep compassion—often long before diplomas are framed or titles are earned.

Her story is not an exception. It is evidence of what becomes possible when women are given access to education, support, and opportunity.

The Global Impact of Educating and Supporting Women

Across the world, decades of research confirm what we see every day in Nicaragua and Guatemala: when women are educated and supported, entire communities thrive.

The World Bank consistently identifies girls’ and women’s education as one of the most effective strategies for reducing poverty and strengthening economic growth. Each additional year of schooling for a girl increases her future earnings by an estimated 10–20 percent, while also improving health, nutrition, and educational outcomes for her children.

Research further shows that women reinvest up to 90 percent of their income back into their families and communities—far more than men—creating a powerful multiplier effect that strengthens households and local economies.

Women in Healthcare: A Multiplier for Community Health

In healthcare, the impact of investing in women is especially pronounced. The World Health Organization emphasizes that strengthening the health workforce—particularly through locally trained providers—is essential for improving access to care, reducing maternal and child mortality, and responding to infectious diseases.

Women healthcare workers often serve in their own communities, where they are trusted and culturally attuned. Their presence improves early diagnosis, disease prevention, and long-term public health outcomes—especially in rural and under-resourced regions.

This is precisely what we see in Jeyling’s work: care that is immediate, relational, and rooted in deep knowledge of community needs.

Why Women Healers Create Lasting Change

According to UN Women, women’s leadership in health and development consistently leads to more inclusive and sustainable outcomes. Women healthcare providers are more likely to prioritize preventive care, family health education, and outreach to vulnerable populations—key factors in breaking cycles of illness and poverty.

When women are supported not only to study, but to lead, entire systems begin to shift. Health improves. Educational attainment rises. Economic resilience grows.

This is why Adelante Mujer focuses on accompaniment—walking alongside students throughout their education and early professional years. Our goal is not simply graduation, but transformation.

From One Woman to Many Lives

Jeyling’s day—treating malaria, checking in on families, navigating difficult terrain—is not just about one patient or one neighborhood.

It is about children staying healthy enough to attend school, parents being able to work, and communities becoming more resilient in the face of preventable disease.

This is how change happens: woman by woman, household by household, community by community.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we step into 2026, Adelante Mujer is filled with gratitude and anticipation.

This year will bring new students beginning their journeys, current students entering advanced clinical training, graduates stepping fully into professional roles, and deeper community health impact across Nicaragua and Guatemala.

None of this happens without the generosity and belief of our donors and supporters.

When you invest in Adelante Mujer, you are not funding a moment—you are fueling a movement of women healers who are already changing the world, one muddy path at a time.

Thank you for walking alongside them.

Here’s to great things coming in 2026!

Adelante, mujer. Forward, woman.

References

World Bank. (2020). Girls’ education and women’s empowerment. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/girlseducation

World Bank. (2018). Missed opportunities: The high cost of not educating girls. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/girlseducation/publication/missed-opportunities-the-high-cost-of-not-educating-girls

World Health Organization. (2016). Global strategy on human resources for health: Workforce 2030. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-HIS-HWF-2016.01

UN Women. (2020). Women and health. https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/women-and-health

“Good evening, I am Laysha, coordinator of the 6th year of Intercultural Medicine.

We are deeply grateful to Adelante Mujer for accompanying us throughout these years of training through their valuable scholarship program. Your support has been fundamental not only for our academic growth but also for our personal and professional development as women.

Thank you for believing in us, for encouraging us to keep going, and for giving us the opportunity to fulfill our dreams. Your commitment to education and women’s empowerment leaves an indelible mark on our lives and on society.

With gratitude and admiration, thank you, Adelante Mujer, for walking alongside us.”

To you, our donors: this is your impact.

Because of you, women are completing their medical school education, stepping into leadership, and preparing to serve their communities as healers and professionals.

Thank you for believing in women.

Thank you for walking with Adelante Mujer.

Adelante, mujer. Forward, woman.

A Milestone of Hope: Adelante Mujer Celebrates 106 Doctors in Nicaragua

This week marks one of the most meaningful moments in Adelante Mujer’s history.

As the semester comes to a close, our 11 graduating seniors gathered to receive the symbols of everything they have worked for: their final stethoscopes and their long-awaited white coats. These tools are more than equipment — they represent years of sacrifice, discipline, and courage. They represent the dreams of young women who refused to give up.

And with this powerful group of new graduates, Adelante Mujer has officially reached a milestone we once only dreamed of:

🌟 106 women in Nicaragua have now become doctors through Adelante Mujer.

From rural communities to city clinics, from crowded hospitals to underserved regions, these 106 women now serve as healers, leaders, and advocates. They care for mothers and babies, treat chronic diseases, respond to emergencies, and provide compassionate medical care in communities where doctors are desperately needed.

Behind every white coat is a story — a daughter whose family sold food at the market to support her dream, a first-generation college student studying by candlelight, a young woman who walked miles to get to class, a student who refused to quit even when life made it nearly impossible.

And behind every one of those stories… is you.

Your generosity has provided:

✔ tuition support

✔ stethoscopes and clinical tools

✔ transportation assistance

✔ laptops

✔ exam fees

✔ emergency support

✔ hope

Without donors, these young women would never have had the chance to step into the medical profession. Your belief in their potential has rewritten their futures — and the futures of the thousands of patients they will care for throughout their lifetimes.

Why This Moment Matters

Reaching 100 doctors isn’t just symbolic. It means:

• More doctors in rural areas where healthcare is limited

• More women in leadership within the medical field

• More families receiving compassionate, culturally grounded care

• More girls growing up believing they can be anything — even a doctor

Adelante Mujer began by helping a handful of women pursue medical school. Today, we stand in awe of what this community has built: a movement of women who heal.

The Next 100 Starts Now

While we celebrate this incredible milestone, we also recognize that the need has never been greater. Many more young women are waiting — hopeful, determined, and ready to study medicine… if they can receive support.

This is where you come in.

Your gift today directly funds a woman’s medical education.

It places a stethoscope in her hands.

A white coat on her shoulders.

And a future full of possibilities before her.

👉 Donate today: www.womanadvance.com/donate

✨ Help us open the door for the next 100 women doctors.

Thank you for standing with these courageous women, for believing in their dreams, and for helping transform healthcare — one doctor at a time.

Together, we are building a world where women heal the world.

And we’re just getting started.

Adelante, mujer. Forward, woman.

On this Giving Tuesday, we’re reminded of a simple but powerful truth:

Light shared is never lost.

That’s the heart of Adelante Mujer’s work — and the heart of every person who chooses to stand with women in Nicaragua and Guatemala as they pursue their dreams of becoming nurses and doctors.

When a woman receives educational support, her life changes. But the impact doesn’t stop with her. Her family feels that light. Her community feels that light. Patients who come to her for care — often in places where there are few healthcare providers — feel that light too.

Your generosity doesn’t just help one woman succeed.

It illuminates an entire path forward.

Today, on Giving Tuesday, we invite you to be part of that light. Your donation directly supports women who are studying against all odds, determined to create healthier, stronger communities for generations to come.

Your gift is more than charity — it’s a spark of dignity, opportunity, and hope.

If you feel called to help fight poverty by supporting women’s education, you can make a Giving Tuesday gift at:

👉 www.womanadvance.com/donate

Thank you for helping light the way.

Together, we rise.

Adelante, mujer. Forward, woman.

🎉💙 WE DID IT — AND EARLY! 💙🎉

Because of your incredible generosity, The Rita Thomas $50,000 Matching Gift Challenge is officially FULLY FUNDED!

This is an extraordinary milestone for Adelante Mujer — one that means more women in Nicaragua and Guatemala will have access to medical and nursing education, mentorship, and a clear path toward becoming the healthcare providers their communities desperately need.

Reaching this goal early doesn’t mean our work is done. As we move into the holiday and end-of-year giving season, your continued support still matters deeply. Every gift—of any size—helps us fuel scholarships, supplies, transportation, clinical hours, and so much more.

Because of you, we are changing the world together.

Thank you for believing in these women, their futures, and their impact. ✨

Adelante, mujer. Forward, woman.

The Office is Buzzing — We’re Getting Ready for Our Open House!

There’s art on every wall (and more waiting to be hung!) as we get ready to welcome you to the Adelante Mujer Office Open House & In-Person Art Auction.

Handmade Guatemalan pottery, paintings, jewelry, and fine art are filling our space — each piece a celebration of creativity, culture, and community.

Monday, Nov 10 | 4–7 PM

757 S. Main St. Suite 9, Fond du Lac, WI

Enjoy light snacks, refreshments, wine, and special Buy-Now items available only at the open house.

Stop by, see the art up close, and be part of something beautiful — every purchase helps women in Central America become doctors and bring healing to their communities.

Adelante, mujer. Forward, woman.

Bidding is officially open! Explore an incredible collection of handmade Guatemalan pottery, paintings, jewelry, and fine art — each piece telling a story of resilience, creativity, and hope.

💜 Every bid supports women in Central America studying to become doctors, bringing healing and opportunity to their communities.

🕛 Bidding is open now through Thursday, Nov 13 at 7 PM CST

🔗 Join the auction: givebutter.com/adelantemujer

Don’t wait — start bidding and be part of something beautiful.

👉 Join us. Bid generously. Change lives.

Adelante, mujer. Forward, woman.

Thanks to your incredible generosity, 21 Adelante Mujer students are starting this school year with brand-new laptops in their hands — and hope in their hearts.

For many of these young women, a computer isn’t just a tool. It’s a lifeline. It’s how they’ll research, study, write papers, and connect with the professors and classmates who will help shape their future careers as doctors and nurses.

When you give to Adelante Mujer, this is what your support makes possible — not just access to education, but the empowerment that comes with it. Each laptop represents opportunity, dignity, and belief in a brighter tomorrow.

From all of us at Adelante Mujer, thank you for making moments like this possible. Your kindness fuels dreams and changes lives every single day. 💙

And don’t forget — our online auction opens November 1 at noon!

🎉 Browse items and register today:

www.givebutter.com/adelantemujer

Every bid helps us continue this mission — one student, one story, one dream at a time.

Adelante, mujer. Forward, woman.

This November, you can make a difference with every bid.

The Adelante Mujer Art Auction brings together beauty and purpose — a stunning, curated collection of handmade Guatemalan pottery, paintings, jewelry, and locally made fine art, each piece crafted with care and rooted in the vibrant spirit of Central America.

When you bid, you’re doing more than purchasing art — you’re helping women in Guatemala and Nicaragua become nurses, doctors, and healthcare leaders in their communities. Every dollar raised helps fund tuition, supplies, and hope for women pursuing medical degrees against the odds.

Join the Auction Online

🗓 Saturday, Nov 1 – Thursday, Nov 13

🕛 Bidding opens at Noon CST and ends at 7:00 PM CST

🔗 Sign up and start bidding: givebutter.com/adelantemujer

Visit Us In Person

Office Open House & In-Person Bidding

📍 757 S. Main St. Suite 9, Fond du Lac, WI

🗓 Monday, Nov 10 | 4–7 PM

Enjoy snacks, refreshments, and an exclusive selection of Buy-Now items available only during the open house. Bring a friend and experience firsthand how art can spark change!

Why It Matters

At Adelante Mujer, we believe that educating one woman transforms an entire community.

Your participation in this auction helps fund the next generation of healthcare providers who are bringing healing and hope to their families, villages, and nations.

Together, we can turn creativity into compassion — and art into action.

👉 Join us. Bid generously. Change lives.

givebutter.com/adelantemujer

Adelante, mujer. Forward, woman.