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At just 17, Selina Sanic López already stands out as a young woman of quiet determination and talent. Growing up in the lower part of Chivarabal with her parents and three younger siblings, Selina has always embraced her role as the eldest with a strong sense of responsibility and purpose.

After finishing middle school, she completed a sewing and garment construction course with the local NGO Haz Crecer in Tecpán, where she developed her skills in creating huipiles and cortes through traditional weaving. Though she’s still exploring her long-term path, her commitment to learning and working is unwavering.

Selina decided to join our cook training course not just to build new skills, but because it felt like a return home. She remembers fondly the time she spent with us as a child, and this course offered her the chance to pair her love of learning with her enjoyment of working in the kitchen. Her quiet dream is to one day prepare the daily meal for the children in our programs entirely on her own.

From the moment she joined, Selina impressed us with her strong work ethic and open heart. She brought with her a spirit of curiosity and the kind of inner strength that speaks volumes without needing to shout.

A Taste of Transformation

Reflecting on her experience after the course, Selina shared:

“I learnt a lot with Norma, particularly about better hygiene when preparing food. I learnt to make different meals, very different from what I usually cook and eat. I enjoyed all the food I tried and prepared here.”

One of her favourite dishes was pepián, especially learning how to make it without meat, so she could recreate it for her family. Inspired by our lessons on nutrition, Selina is now eager to grow her own vegetables like kale at home and build a healthier way of eating for her whole family.

“At home, we use a lot of fat – oil, butter, that kind of thing. Here, I learnt how to make tasty food that’s much healthier, and I’ve put on weight. I’m really pleased I’ve put on weight.”

This matters deeply. Like many of the young women in our cooking courses, Selina arrived underweight and malnourished. Through daily nutritious meals and practical lessons on building balanced plates, rich in vegetables, proteins, and carbohydrates, Selina not only gained skills, but also gained strength.

A Path Forward

Selina now plans to continue working from home, growing her small business creating and selling aprons, huipiles, and cortes in Chivarabal. With the earnings from her cook training course, she’ll invest in raw materials to support this dream.

She also hopes to one day work with our visiting volunteer groups, to share her story, learn about others, and keep growing through connection.

Selina’s journey reflects the heart of what our cook training program is all about: dignity, health, skills, and opportunity. Whether in the kitchen, at the loom, or in the garden, Selina is weaving a future filled with possibility: for herself, her family, and her community.