Michoacán Midway Update
July 18, 2008
¡Saludos from Michoacán!
Three weeks into the project and with only three left to go, Volunteers
here are busy with a variety of project-related activities both in their
communities and out.
Last weekend, Volunteers had an opportunity to share ideas
and best practices as well as relax and explore the cities of La Piedad and
Puruándiro at two regional day-long workshops.
In La Piedad, Volunteers from the municipalities of Tanhuato,
Churintzio, Tlazazalca, Penjamillo and La Piedad met at Parque Morelos, a
beautiful city park where they participated in activities under covered gazebos
and enjoyed the first sunshine in almost a week. During free time, they explored the Saturday
street market and city center and many took the opportunity to call or email
home.
In the city of Puruándiro, Volunteers
from the municipalities of Villa Morelos, José Sixto Verduzco, Angamancutiro
and Puruándiro received a warm welcome at the local DIF office, still housed in
its original colonial building that used to be the only place for women to wash
clothing in the city. Volunteers participated in activities facilitated by
their Project Supervisors to help problem-solve and set goals for the weeks to
come and then had free time to explore the city, enjoy the company of their
fellow Volunteers and call home.
This week, Volunteers will begin to purchase materials for
their community projects, which will be completed with the help of youth and
community members before Volunteers leave in August. Each project reflects the specific needs and
desires of its respective community: clearing land for a new sports field,
making critical repairs to classrooms at a school to prevent water damage,
creating and rejuvenating community parks and gardens, outfitting a community
health clinic and building a community bus stop are only a few examples of
these diverse community-bases initiatives.
Many communities have also successfully fundraised for their project in
order to receive more funds from AMIGOS in the peso-por-peso fund-matching
program. From holding dances and inviting surrounding communities to selling tamales
after church on Sundays and charging admission for a series of movie nights,
we’ve been blown away by the energy and motivation of communities across the
board to come up with their own funds.
For the next two weeks, in addition to finishing projects
and continuing to lead educational classes for kids, Volunteers will
collaborate with local youth to come up with a creative and meaningful project
to present at the 3rd Annual Environmental Fair on July 28th. This year’s theme is “Youth United Against
the Contamination of Earth and Water” and youth will compete to win prizes by
presenting innovative ideas and solutions to environmental problems that impact
the region and their individual communities. We’ve already heard some of the
exciting projects that under way, from debates on current events and video
productions to recycled jewelry and crafts, and are looking forward to an event
that will bring everyone involved in the project together.
Volunteers are now settled into life in their communities
and spend their downtime playing basketball and soccer with new friends,
learning how to make tortillas and tamales with their host families and even
attending a women’s exercise class! The
coming of the rainy season has had a definite impact and frequent downpours
have turned the landscape a beautiful, verdant green, with rapidly growing
cornfields stretching for miles around.
There’s a lot to do in the coming weeks. As they say in Michoacán,
¡Andale pues!
