Programs

The programs on this page are ongoing.

Children’s Programs:

Currently there are weekend children’s programs in 5 communities. These programs are conceived, proposed and run by scholarship recipients as part of their community service obligation. The Zinacantan program started in 2009, followed by Crucero in 2010, Ocosingo in 2012, Yajalon in 2016 and Altamirano in 2018. Children meet for 3 hours to strengthen academic skills, learn about environmental stewardship, and develop creativity. The goal is to stimulate interest in learning and encourage students to continue their education after the 5^th grade. A nutritious meal is included.

Two first grade students in the Zinacantán program demonstrate their printing skills

Enthusiasm in the Children’s Program in Ocosingo!

Pati, also in the Zinacantán program,
distributes marbles as she learns long division

A peek into the Ocosingo program.

Crucero

A participant in the Crucero program

An extra session of the Zinacantán program to prepare
for Lenten festivities. The boys are all dressed as monks.

Mini-Libraries:

In 2020 we started to create mini-libraries in the communities where the children’s programs take place and in 2021 have doubled the number of books. Books include readers for primary and secondary levels and among them are scaled-down versions of both Spanish and English classics. Spanish titles you may recognize are Platero y Yo, Marianela as well as children’s stories, and translated English novels include Pride and Prejudice, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Gulliver’s Travels and 1984 among others.

Additional books provide exercises and help with mathematics and activities for young learners. The books may be loaned to children attending the children’s programs. Our plan is to expand the mini-libraries yearly.

Adult Literacy Program: The municipality of Chanal, and specifically the community of Naranjal, is about four hours from the principal city of San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico. A group of women from Naranjal belong to the cooperative with which we partner and proposed a full year certified program of literacy for fifteen women who did not have the opportunity to complete their primary education. The ability to read and write will permit their participation in the community’s councils and assemblies. They are becoming valued members of their community, their self-esteem is increasing and it is giving them the self-confidence to dedicate themselves to other areas of learning and to take on new responsibilities. Because a number of men in the community were also interested, they were welcome to join the class. This program started in 2010 and ended in 2016. In 2016, there were many issues with teacher strikes in response to drastic changes made by the government to “modernize” schools. The teacher who had worked with this program for 6 years was no longer able to, and no replacement has been found as the community is very remote. We are pleased that the attendees had the success they did, and that many of the class members became literate as a result of this program.

Computers: Since 2007 we have funded a laptop to each participating community as well as three desk computers for the “computer corner” in the women’s center. We continue to replace them as needed.

Eye exams and glasses: All scholarship recipients are required to have an eye exam and those exams are also offered to any women and children in the cooperative. Eye glasses are provided as necessary.

Workshops: We fund educational workshops (marketing, domestic violence, alcoholism, current events, computer skills, gender equity, human rights, nutrition, etc.) both at the bi-monthly meetings and in communities.

In addition, two or three times a year we fund workshops designed especially for the girls on scholarship.

Workshop on current events, August 2016

Chart used in breast self-exam & breast cancer workshop

The chart used in the workshop on breast self-exams and breast cancer, August 2016

Scholarship recipient Martha, studying for a nursing degree, gives talk on nutrition,
February 2016

Alternative Gifts International has been an amazing resource for us. Here is the video that Linda and Judith made for them in Chiapas in August, 2013.

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