Project Specific Activities:
Project Area:Michoacán is a state in the mid-west of Mexico known for its diverse natural beauty featuring miles of coast along the Pacific Ocean, the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains, a volcanic chain and acres of forest. AMIGOS' headquarter city is La Piedad, located inland in the northernmost part of Michoacán. The land in the area of La Piedad is used for farming and ranching, and much of the economy is based on livestock, dairy, and crops. All host communities are located within three hours of La Piedad. Abundant fields of wheat, corn, onions, chilies, lettuce, carrots, beans, and other produce are typical in the land surrounding communities. It is known for its delicious flavorful dishes and extremely popular fresh fruit popsicles. Michoacán has the highest rate of immigration to the states out of all of Mexico. This greatly affects the communities where AMIGOS work as most of the men and youth are in the United States. Volunteers should be prepared to work with lots of women’s groups and small children. People are eager to talk about politics concerning the United States and Mexico, because many laws and decisions created in the United States have a direct impact on their personal lives. Project History:AMIGOS Volunteers worked for many years in Michoacán promoting healthy households through sanitation education and latrine construction. The project was closed in 1997 for several years due to the changing needs of the area. In 2004, Volunteers returned to Michoacán and began implementing youth education focused programs. Partner Agencies:Desarrollo Integral de la Familia Further Actions: |
“AMIGOS increased my self-confidence, provided me with an opportunity to experience life outside of the United States, and taught me the invaluable lesson of how people can achieve challenging goals through cooperation.” –Veteran Volunteer |
