SUMMER NEWS, 2009
Dear Friends,
Summer 2009 has been an exciting time for "Mujeres".
First, here's the news on what we are doing. A new program, proposed by one of the communities, is supporting adult women who want to complete their primary education. Three women immediately signed up and we are proud to sponsor them. Two girls are doing university level work, two are attending preparatory (grades 10-12), and eight are in secondary school (grades 6-9). This makes fifteen scholarship recipients in all.
Each community has now been provided with a laptop computer and a solar light. Fourteen women and girls had eye exams last week and eleven received glasses. We are helping to fund workshops at the women's bi-monthly reunions. Linda noticed that the women were using butcher block paper for their charts on the wall, and speakers wrote on paper taped to the wall as well. She suggested that we buy some white boards and dry erase markers which will be much more visible and greatly reduce the use of paper. Carmen, the cooperative coordinator is looking into that.
The community of Las Margaritas had sent us a proposal for the funding of seven day and a half workshops for members of outlying communities. Topics include human rights, gender equity, self-esteem, domestic violence, etc. The attendees would carry what they learn back to their communities. This was an impressive proposal that would by ripple effect reach many people. We approved it.
Linda and I just spent two weeks in Chiapas and we were lucky enough to be able to go to Las Margaritas and sit in on one of the workshops mentioned above. The topic was gender equity. Twenty-three adults (four of whom were men) and three children partic
ipated. We were very impressed with both the presentation, which was organized, thoughtful and dynamic, as well as the level of participation on the part of all who attended.
We also attended the three day bi-monthly workshop in San Cristobal. The women had a full day computer workshop, a talk on the significance of recent elections in Mexico, the importance of voting, and the status of the current situation in Honduras. An i
nteractive workshop given by a university intern dealt with sales techniques in the marketplace. I carried down a lot of toothbrushes and toothpaste donated by local dentists and gave a presentation on toothbrushing technique.
Because our Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos) dinner and silent auction is coming up on Saturday, October 31, Linda and I purchased weavings and clothing from the women in the cooperative. We also went to the ceramic-famous village of Amatenango to pick up some pieces for the event. Just a hint....this year will be the best auction yet!! We have beautiful things and something for everyone.
The economic downturn and the over-the-top publicity on the swine flu has seriously hurt Mexico. Chiapas, as the poorest state, is severely affected. Usually at this time of year San Cristobal is full of European travelers. This year there were only a few, and the tourists were mainly Mexicans, who due to the economy were staying in-country.
The International Network of Women: LIlla (an Australian based organization) has just published a directory
called Las Luchas por los Derechos de las Mujeres en Chiapas: Un Directorio de Organizaciones Sociales que Trababan a Favor de las Chiapanecas. (The Struggles for Women's Rights in Chiapas: A Directory of Social Organizations that Work for Women in Chiapas.) We are delighted to be included in the comprehensive directory of sixty-two organizations. Linda and I attended the presentation of the directories in San Cristobal. It is so good to know how many people are, as one man said, "on the same road."
Sunrise Rotary of Sequim gave us some good news mid-July. They are donating $1000 to help with workshops, scholarships and glasses. We are most appreciative.
For those supporters with email addresses, an opportunity list went out giving our friends the chance to volunteer for a number of different possibilities. If you didn't receive this list and would like to, please call or email me and I'll send you a copy. (Contact information is on the website) Thank you to those who have already responded.
Thanks again to all of you, Mujeres is growing and making a difference.
Judith
Summer 2009 has been an exciting time for "Mujeres".
First, here's the news on what we are doing. A new program, proposed by one of the communities, is supporting adult women who want to complete their primary education. Three women immediately signed up and we are proud to sponsor them. Two girls are doing university level work, two are attending preparatory (grades 10-12), and eight are in secondary school (grades 6-9). This makes fifteen scholarship recipients in all.
Each community has now been provided with a laptop computer and a solar light. Fourteen women and girls had eye exams last week and eleven received glasses. We are helping to fund workshops at the women's bi-monthly reunions. Linda noticed that the women were using butcher block paper for their charts on the wall, and speakers wrote on paper taped to the wall as well. She suggested that we buy some white boards and dry erase markers which will be much more visible and greatly reduce the use of paper. Carmen, the cooperative coordinator is looking into that.
The community of Las Margaritas had sent us a proposal for the funding of seven day and a half workshops for members of outlying communities. Topics include human rights, gender equity, self-esteem, domestic violence, etc. The attendees would carry what they learn back to their communities. This was an impressive proposal that would by ripple effect reach many people. We approved it.
Linda and I just spent two weeks in Chiapas and we were lucky enough to be able to go to Las Margaritas and sit in on one of the workshops mentioned above. The topic was gender equity. Twenty-three adults (four of whom were men) and three children partic
ipated. We were very impressed with both the presentation, which was organized, thoughtful and dynamic, as well as the level of participation on the part of all who attended.We also attended the three day bi-monthly workshop in San Cristobal. The women had a full day computer workshop, a talk on the significance of recent elections in Mexico, the importance of voting, and the status of the current situation in Honduras. An i
nteractive workshop given by a university intern dealt with sales techniques in the marketplace. I carried down a lot of toothbrushes and toothpaste donated by local dentists and gave a presentation on toothbrushing technique.Because our Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos) dinner and silent auction is coming up on Saturday, October 31, Linda and I purchased weavings and clothing from the women in the cooperative. We also went to the ceramic-famous village of Amatenango to pick up some pieces for the event. Just a hint....this year will be the best auction yet!! We have beautiful things and something for everyone.
The economic downturn and the over-the-top publicity on the swine flu has seriously hurt Mexico. Chiapas, as the poorest state, is severely affected. Usually at this time of year San Cristobal is full of European travelers. This year there were only a few, and the tourists were mainly Mexicans, who due to the economy were staying in-country.
The International Network of Women: LIlla (an Australian based organization) has just published a directory
called Las Luchas por los Derechos de las Mujeres en Chiapas: Un Directorio de Organizaciones Sociales que Trababan a Favor de las Chiapanecas. (The Struggles for Women's Rights in Chiapas: A Directory of Social Organizations that Work for Women in Chiapas.) We are delighted to be included in the comprehensive directory of sixty-two organizations. Linda and I attended the presentation of the directories in San Cristobal. It is so good to know how many people are, as one man said, "on the same road."Sunrise Rotary of Sequim gave us some good news mid-July. They are donating $1000 to help with workshops, scholarships and glasses. We are most appreciative.
For those supporters with email addresses, an opportunity list went out giving our friends the chance to volunteer for a number of different possibilities. If you didn't receive this list and would like to, please call or email me and I'll send you a copy. (Contact information is on the website) Thank you to those who have already responded.
Thanks again to all of you, Mujeres is growing and making a difference.
Judith
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