Would you like to strengthen your skills in translating from Spanish to maya t'aan?
Would you like to learn the fundamentals of translation?
Would you like there to be more news and other texts available in Yucatec Maya?
Would you like to create written content in Yucatec Maya?
Would you like to not only create written content, but also join a community of practice of Yucatec Maya translators?

If you answered yes, Rising Voices and Global Voices Lingua would like to invite you to learn about and participate in K’exej. This new activity, launched as part of the Mayan Language Digital Activism (ADLM) project, aims to develop and strengthen participants’ skills in Yucatec Maya at the same time as increase the amount of news articles available in the language, by way of membership in an online community dedicated to translating global stories about activism, human rights, digital culture and more. K’exej is made possible thanks to support from the Kellogg Foundation. 

Over the last few years, ADLM has led the development of community initiatives in and around Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and Chiapas that revolve around digital activism among Mayan language speakers. This latest activity, K’exej, focuses on Mayan language speakers from the Yucatán Peninsula and invites them to take part in virtual workshops on translation from Spanish to Yucatec Maya. Participants will level up their skills, and then put what they've learned into practice as members of a community of translators. 

The first phase consists of six virtual sessions in the form of introductory translation workshops, where you will learn about translation methodology and practices, as well as topics such as linguistic purism, loan words, neologisms and terminology.

The second phase will be shaped by participants’ interest in creating a community of translators. More information will be given about the process during the workshops. 

Overall, participants in K’exej will gain knowledge in the following topics:

• Basic concepts in translation
• The translation process: editing, publication and quality control
• Translation strategies and techniques
• Translation of informational texts

Workshop dates:

• Virtual introductory workshop #1 (2 hours): Thursday, 6 November 2025 – 17:00 – 19:00 hrs (Mexico City)
• Virtual translation workshop #2 (2 hours): Friday, 7 November 2025 – 17:00 – 19:00 hrs (Mexico City)
• Virtual translation workshop #3 (2 hours): Saturday, 8 November 2025 – 17:00 – 19:00 hrs (Mexico City)
• Virtual workshop on Spanish-Maya translation #1 (2 hours): Thursday, 27 November 2025 – 17:00 – 19:00 hrs (Mexico City)
• Virtual workshop on Spanish-Maya translation #2 (2 hours): Friday, 28 November 2025 – 17:00 – 19:00 hrs (Mexico City)
• Virtual workshop on Spanish-Maya translation #3 (2 hours): Saturday, 29 November 2025 – 17:00 – 19:00 hrs (Mexico City)

Anyone who completes all six sessions will receive a certificate of participation. Participation is limited to 30 people.

Requirements:

• Be 18 years or older
• The ability to write, read and speak Yucatec Maya
• The availability to connect virtually and participate in all six sessions 
• Preferably, the ability to join the sessions from a computer with an internet connection (all of the work is online)
• The submission of an application to attend through the application form.

How to apply:
Submit your interest using the following form:

Note: The workshops are free. Applications must be received by Friday, 31 October at 23:59 hrs (Mexico City). Selected participants will receive a confirmation email by Monday, 4 November. 

Workshop facilitators:

Verónica Aguilar is from Abasolo del Valle, a Mixtec community in Veracruz, México. She received an undergraduate degree in Hispanic Language and Literature from the Veracruzana University and a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has worked as an editor and a translator from French and English into Spanish, and has published translations of literary and scientific texts. She is currently working on developing written materials in the language of her people, saꞌan savi.

Irma Pomol is from Valladolid, Yucatán, México. She has an undergraduate degree in Mayan Linguistics and Culture and a master's degree in Intercultural Ethnography and Education. She is a translator from Maya to Spanish and vice versa, as well as a Maya language teacher. She also creates educational content that supports the teaching of Yucatec Maya and consults on Maya language and cultural projects. She is the co-author of various publications, including “U almejen Noj A’almajt’aanil u Múuch’ Péetlu’umilo’ob México” (The Political Constitution of the United States of Mexico in Maya), the educational book “U súutukil in kaambal. Mi momento de aprender” (My Moment to Learn) and the book “U chilam Báalamil Chumayel” (The Chilam Balam from Chumayel), which creates a version of the historic text in contemporary Mayan language. She is a member and contributor to the movement U Péekbal Waye’, which aims to strengthen and promote the use of the Mayan language in various environments.