Helena Leiva de Holst (1897–1978) was a Honduran socialist who traveled to both China and the Soviet Union to study Marxism.
When the United Fruit sponsored coup d'état overthrew Guatemalan president Jacobo Árbenz, Leiva was exiled to Mexico.
[1] Leiva had traveled to both China and the Soviet Union to study Marxism[2] and in addition was a supporter of feminist causes, attending the Primer Congreso Interamericano de Mujeres held in Guatemala City in 1947.
[4] Leiva continued with her leftist activities, providing lodging for Che Guevara,[5] who was so taken with her that he described her philosophy as "close to communism"[6] and dedicated a 1954 poem, "Invitación al camino" to her.
[7] In mid-July, 1954, she was arrested[8] during the United Fruit coup d'état against Guatemalan president Jacobo Árbenz[4] and was exiled to Mexico.