Overarching Goal and Objectives:

Goal:

to build leadership and life skills of youth in the Americas through exchange, civic engagement, and collaborative community development

Objectives:

1. Increase active youth involvement in communities
2. Increase knowledge and awareness of cultural, environmental, and health issues
3. Collaborate with community members on Community-Based Initiative (CBI) process

Project Specific Activities:

Volunteers will collaborate with El Sistema para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia to promote healthy life styles through nutrition education.  This includes working with Puente a la Salud Comunitaria in selected communities to educate local community members about the native grain of amaranth.  Volunteers will work with women’s groups to run planting and cooking demonstrations and to promote the benefits of community and family gardens. University students from UNIVA will also be visiting Volunteers in their community to give presentations on a variety of different health topics.  

Volunteers will also co-facilitate activities on environmental education and preservation, working with children ranging in age from 5 to 12.  Topics include reforestation, recycling, water conservation and care of the general environment.  Members of Sistema de Agua Potable (SAPAS) will be visiting communities to aid Volunteers in discussions about water purification and general care of the environment.  Volunteers will also work with older youth in the community to create an environmental project to present at the annual Ecological Fair.   

Furthermore, Volunteers will be working closely with community members on the planning and implementation of a Community-Based Initiative (CBI).  Example CBI projects from 2007 include constructing a library, organizing community clean ups, planting trees, draining ditches, and building soccer goals.

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 the Youth-to-Youth Community Development program. This year will mark the 5th year that we have been in Michoacán, since our return.

Partner Agencies:

Desarrollo Integral de la Familia
Secretaria de Salud de Michoacán

Further Actions:

• Apply to Volunteer
• Apply to Serve on Project Staff
• View Photos from the 2007 Michoacán Project!