Barbara Recinos Morales is an incoming first-year student at Syracuse University. Raised by her single mother in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, she grew up witnessing the economic hardships of her community, particularly in coffee-harvesting regions. These experiences shaped her deep appreciation for Guatemala’s social history, culture, and natural resources.

A dedicated scholar, Barbara earned a place in the Access Microscholarship Program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in 2018, where she became an internationally certified English teacher. This opportunity allowed her to support her family financially and fund her high school education. She later served as an assistant coordinator and teaching assistant for the Ixtatán Foundation and remains active on the board of AJEDE, the Access Alumni Association. She completed high school on a merit-based scholarship and was awarded the “Women in Engineering” micro-scholarship from Del Valle University, enabling her to develop a potable water project for rural communities.

Barbara’s passion for leadership and service led her to co-lead the STEP program, providing English lessons and community aid projects. Through her SHE-CAN Take the Lead project, she founded Girls Talking, educating 45 teenage girls on sex education, women’s rights, and financial literacy to prevent teen pregnancy. In 2022, she directed Youth Leadership for the Prevention of Violence Against Women, Children, and Vulnerable Populations, a national initiative executed by Guatemala’s Ministry of Social Services, delivering over 100 educational workshops.

Beyond her advocacy work, Barbara volunteers as a medical interpreter for the Department of Defense, Command Surgeon Cell, and serves as a media producer and photographer for the Ixcanul Foundation, which promotes social awareness through art and cinema in Guatemala.

After graduating, Barbara aspires to drive social change in Guatemala through science and advocacy, inspired by her mother’s resilience and unwavering commitment to their community.