Get inspired by Rigoberta Menchu, a Guatemalan who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work to improve human rights for indigenous Guatemalans.

1. Rigoberta Mench ú Tum Written by: kidworldcitizen.org

3. Rigoberta Mench ú Tum and her family are Quiché Mayan . The Quiché Mayan people are an indigenous , or Indian, group that has lived in the highlands of Guatemala since pre-Columbian times (before the Spaniards came). Like other Indians in Guatemala, her family did not have citizen rights; they could not own land, did not have access to education, and could not vote. When Rigoberta was 12 years old, she worked as a maid in a rich family’s home. She slept on a mat on the floor, and said the dog was treated better than she was.