| born 1982 | |
| 2001-2010 | Studied architecture at the Univeridad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) |
| 2007-2014 | Worked for the municipal water supply company EMPAGUA, Guatemala City |
| 2010 | Award for the final project of the degree programme |
| 2014-2016 | Master's programme in Monumental Heritage at the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Dessau |
| 2019-2020 | Collaboration on various UNESCO restoration projects |
| since 2021 | Leading position in the field of restoration at the Ministry of Culture of Guatemala |
Guatemala offers a broad field of work for architects who want to get involved in the restoration of cultural-historical buildings. In addition to world-famous ruins of Mayan culture, such as Tikal in the north of the country, it is also important to ensure the preservation of colonial, mostly sacred buildings, such as those in Antigua Guatemala. Architect Jeniffer Montes Murcia emphasises: "Cultural history is an indispensable reference for our identity as Guatemalans and Mayans. The preservation of cultural-historical spaces is an element of strengthening these identities".
Thanks to a KAAD scholarship, the young woman successfully completed the "Monumental Heritage" Master's programme at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. Today, she is employed by the Guatemalan government's Ministry of Culture and heads the World Heritage Department, which is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the 1972 UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in Guatemala. She is proud to be responsible for the application process for a fourth UNESCO World Heritage Site in Guatemala. Jeniffer Montes feels very committed to this important endeavour of the Guatemalan state, as the success of the project would further advance the protection of the country's cultural heritage. The training she received in Dessau qualifies her excellently for this task. At the same time, Jeniffer Montes Murcia emphasises that the social and spiritual experience she gained in Germany has strengthened her personality. She reports with a smile: "The person who returned to Guatemala in 2016 was not the same person who left for Germany in 2014.
Returning to her home country was undoubtedly a particular challenge for her: "Frankly, after almost three years in Germany, I found it difficult to reintegrate into the society and culture I had lived in all my life. I would describe this strange experience as 'reverse culture shock', which I only overcame slowly." In countries like Guatemala, a good degree from a prestigious international university does not automatically mean that career opportunities are immediately available. Clientelism, resentment and a lack of financial resources prove to be stumbling blocks for motivated returnees that need to be overcome. She summarises: "You have to make yourself known again, prove your skills and not make any great demands at the beginning. This process can be very hard, frustrating and demotivating, but in the end, superiors can't overlook the qualifications you brought with you from Germany."
Jeniffer Montes also looks to the future: "In Guatemala, we have a functioning network of KAAD alumni and we are on friendly terms. This is one of my favourite experiences with KAAD: experiencing the scholarship organisation as a Christian community (in the university communities, at seminars and the annual academy) is not limited to Germany. The KAAD structures are also open to alumni across national borders in the long term.
