Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation Updates

December 2011 Chiapas trip

2011-12-17T13:34:00.000-08:00

Every December I lead a small group in Chiapas. Linda and I went about 5 days early so we could have a meeting with Carmen and I could make sure the trip arrangements were in place.

The group this year consisted of our own Mujeres' director Mary Norton, Pat Gritman, Sandy and Jim Reed, Yvonne Starkey, Zanna Brock and Susanne McCoy, as well as Linda and me. As usual we were there during the annual Guadalupana festival when the Virgin of Guadalupe is honored. The roads are full of people running with torches to honor her, parades of floats and dancers appear regularly, and churches decorate accordingly. The photo here is of the Iglesia de la Virgin de Guadalupe in San Cristóbal de las Casas.

We attended the women´s bi-monthly workshop and were invited to stay for their annual Christmas posada and piñata celebration. Both Mary and Sandy had their turn at whacking the piñata. The following week we had the opportunity to visit our Saturday Children´s Program in Zinacantan as well as have a meal at the house of two of our scholarship recipients.

The week was filled with activities including sightseeing at La Cascada de Chiflon and the ruins of Toniná, hearing talks by Frayba organization, Sergio Castro, Chip Morris (expert on weaving and fashion in Chiapas, author of Living Maya) and Miguel at the Museum of Medicina Maya. Excursions were made to the towns of Chamula, Zinacantan, San Andrés Larraínzar, and Magdalenas. Everyone enjoyed the shopping at the indigenous market and the great food of the region.

As Board Chair of Mujeres, which is a huge privilege and gift, I want to wish all our supporters a heartwarming holiday season. Thank you for all you do to help the wonderful women and girls of the cooperative to have access to education. As we enter our 7th year, we are seeing amazing results.

With gratitude,

Judith

WOW! Dazzling night for Mujeres

2011-10-30T16:56:00.000-07:00

Last night was our sixth annual Día de Muertos event....our most important event of the year.
Despite stiff competition from other popular local events, we served 103 dinners and held our most successful auction yet. Board member Molly cooked and coordinated an excellent vegetarian Mexican dinner.

(At right is Eric Rust, volunteer server and auctioneer)

The silent auction contained 82 items. Our live auction consisted of 6 very special items that were auctioned off and without doubt showcased our supporters' generosity.

(At right are the condiments for the tortilla soup on trays crafted by Dave LeRoux)

An event such as this cannot take place without wonderful volunteers.

Thank you very much to:

Nash's Organic Farm Sunny Farms and QFC for table decorations Raven's Brew Brewing Company for the Deadman's Reach Coffee

(At right, simmering tortilla soup)

Auction Contributors:

Sequim Lavender Farmers Assoc., Robert Converse, Martha Lumia, Eric Rust, Sharle Osborne, Tom Huntington, Pheryl Montroy, Cathy Van Ruhan, Glenna Campbell

Publicity:

Diane Urbani de la Paz and the Peninsula Daily News
The Sequim Gazette
Sequim This Week
Karen Hanan and her weekly Art Beat program at KONP
Mark Harvey and his weekly Helpline program at KONP

Music:

Ron Munro and Steve Gilchrist

Auctioneer:

Eric Rust

Set-up, Servers, Clean-up Volunteers:

David Fox, Bob Pasco, Dave LeRoux, Bharti Desai, Kathy Strozyk, Beth Fetrow, Eric Rust, Alan Morris, Cathy Van Ruhan, Steve Gilchrist, John Boetsch, Marilyn Gilchrist,Pat Gritman, Rhonda Carls, Suzanne Fleming, Susanne McCoy, Gail Mabbut, Barbara Brooner, Nancy Shaw, Pam Erickson, Linda Crowley, Ann Tjemsland, Leslie Campbell, Karen Hanan, Barbara Wieseman and Carrie Rodland.

Deborah Carlson, President of Soroptimist International of Sequim, presented us with a $500 check. We are grateful to partner with and be supported by this wonderful organization.

Although we had fewer participants, we still were at least $1000 over last year's event. Our gross take this year was just a bit over $7500!!! This is almost one-third of our current year's budget!

Thank you all again for your loyal support. This is a huge boost to programs, projects and scholarships.

Event 2011

2011-09-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

6th Annual Día de Muertos Dinner, Program and Auction

Save the date! Saturday, October 29!

The Best Yet selection of handicrafts, weavings, clothes, ceramics, jewelry, purses, ornaments and more from Chiapas, México plus donations from local artists, many surprises, and even an airplane ride!

Something for everyone!

Doors open at 5:30 for dinner and silent auction

Music by Ron Munro

Suggested donation $20. No advance tickets....purchase all tickets at the door.

Sequim Prairie Grange

290 Macleay Road

All proceeds go to Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation (tax exempt 501(c) (3))

www.MujeresDeMaizOF.org

CHIAPAS VISIT AUGUST 2011

2011-08-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

Linda and I just spent 15 days in San Cristóbal de las Casas working with the women of the cooperative and tending to Mujeres' business.
In addition to the joy of awarding scholarships to five more young women (go to Home page and click on "Scholarship Recipients") and delivering a computer to be used by the students a la library check-out mode, we had the opportunity to dialog with the women about the possibility of future projects. It is important to note here that we don't approach these talks with "shoulds", but rather the women assess their own needs and come up with possibilities.

We also attended the Saturday Children's Program in Crucero. 20 children awaited us in the new structure built by their community just for this program. For more photos go to HOME page and then click on "Experiences" and "Projects." The children had written original stories in Spanish and in Tsotsil and had drawn pictures to illustrate them. Some were enthusiasic, some were painfully shy. All were beyond cute!

We spent 3 days at the bi-monthly reunion of the women. They were busy with workshops on the role of women, batik, nutrition for children, and leadership.

The surprise this year was the popularity of the eye exams and glasses! Glasses are still not widely used in Maya culture. Every year we provide eye exams and glasses if needed. This year 23 women have new glasses! What impressed us was three women that received glasses in previous years were back because their prescriptions needed adjustment. And older women are coming when they hear that their embroidery and close work is made easier with glasses. Our budget this year was just under $300 for glasses and we spent $1000 instead! Pictured are our scholarship recipient Juana with a new glasses owner from Zinacantán.
We also had the opportunity of attending the festival of the patron saint in the community of Zinacantán. The Fiesta de San Lorenzo is the biggest fiesta of the year and the time when the women wear their new fashion creations. There are horse races through the main streets, religious observances, dances and processions. Below are photos of some of the new colors and designs.

The next trip will be in December with a group of 8 persons! Can´t wait to introduce them to Chiapas and to the wonderful women with whom we partner.

Abrazos de Judith

New Alternative Gifts International Catalog!!!

2011-07-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

The hot-off-the-presses brand new edition of the Alternative Gifts International catalog is available! We are Project 14!!! AGI does an outstanding job in engendering support for 35 non-profit organizations and promoting the idea of "alternative gifts" at the same time.

This is the third year that Mujeres has been accepted in the catalog. We are delighted and honored.
The folks at AGI are great to work with and their hearts are certainly in the right place!

Do check out the catalog at http://alternativegifts.org/

Maybe you'll want your club or church to organize a fair!!

Thanks, AGI.

Judith

GARAGE SALE A SUCCESS!

2011-05-26T19:10:00.000-07:00

This year's garage sale (May 21, 2011) was the best yet! We had some wonderful donations. Thank you to all who provided us with such great "stuff" for the sale. Our former secretary Pat Lang donated all her calligraphy materials...a substantial amount...and then alerted the Peninsula Scribes who not only showed up to buy but also carted away what was left over and sent Mujeres a $75 check.

A sincere thanks goes to Rose Bridge who toiled many hours (along with Linda) setting up the sale and being cashier on sale day. Thanks to participating board members as well!

The weather was not the best and the drizzle persisted until about noon. But the chilly and damp did not dissuade the many people who just kept coming!

Several people noted that our annual "quality" sale is definitely one to watch for!

Judith

The Latest News and Holy Week in San Cristobal

2011-04-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest lessons I have learned in working in Mexico is that things don´t always go as planned and that going with the flow usually produces the best result. The women in the cooperative found a large house last December that would be ideal for their facility. Many of you donated to our capital campaign fund to help the women with the purchase. The building was inspected for wiring and plumbing. The cooperative has become the legal equivalent of a 501(c)(3) but the bank has been stalling in letting them open an account because they don´t have a permanent address (this is a bit of a Catch 22.) We were poised to send the deposit for the building as soon as they had the new bank account. And then Carmen thought it might be a good idea to also bring in an architect to look at the premises. He did and found structural issues in the bathroom walls due to lack of ventilation. He estimated the repairs at $15,000 and of course he couldn´t say what they really would find when the walls came down.

Even though the owner came down on the price a bit, the co-op and Carmen (the co-op coordinator) felt that perhaps this wasn´t the best idea. They emailed us and we definitely concurred. So currently the search is on again for a new building or a small piece or property where a facility could be built.

The bank´s stalling turned out to be a good thing...as the co-op would have signed papers without knowing of the problems. No money was lost....no down payment or earnest money had been paid.

The co-op, with its legal status now attained and the funds we have collected sitting in the escrow account, is in a stronger situation to purchase something else. We are holding off on fundraising until a new property has been identified. We will keep you posted.

I made an impulsive decision to travel to Chiapas as I always wanted to be here for Semana Santa. It has been fascinating. I´ve seen the Passion Play and followed Jesus as he carried the cross for 4 of the stations of the cross....the crowds prevented me from continuing. Unfortunately, a torrential downpour of rain cancelled the crucifixion. Saturday night is the burning of the Judases....traditionally huge paper mache figures which are loaded with fireworks and exploded. But now more socially relevant scapegoats are constructed. There were 11 this year, including Khaddafi, "No to War", the Narcotraficantes, the mayor of San Cristobal, misogynists, and the Future of Mexico as taken over by the multi-national corporations. At 10 pm I returned for the burning and fireworks and found incredible crowds. I did manage to stay for 5 of the "explosions" but the dense crowd got to me and I had to leave. The crowds during this past week have been unbelievable.

I´ve been able to see women from two communities and talk extensively with Carmen. Our first two scholarship girls will be graduating from university in 18 months. In May we'll have news of new scholarship girls. Remember our fourth annual Quality Garage Sale coming up on May 21. And many thanks to Danni Lowe for all her work on the benefit at the Oasis in Sequim on April 29 on our behalf.

Judith

International Women's Day 2011 a Big Success!!

2011-03-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

The Olympic Cellars Winery and Womanfest celebrated the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day with a wonderful array of soups and breads. The donation at the door,coupled by a percentage of wine sales, was divided between a local charity (Serenity House) and an international one (Mujeres!). The event was well attended. In addition to the $500 donated to us from the proceeds, Womanfest honored us with a $500 check. What a great evening!

In San Cristobal de las Casas, women from the cooperative also honored this day by marching in the International Women's Day parade. Indigenous women are not accustomed to the concept of "honoring women" because their lives have traditionally been governed by the men in their families and communities. One woman said "We've been taught to put up and shut up." We are so proud of the girls and women who have educational scholarships with us....they are pushing the boundaries and learning that self-determination is possible. The adult women who attend the literacy classes are doing so because they are weary of being on the sidelines, they want to participate in their communities. The women and girls are creating role models which speak loudly to others. Their voices are getting stronger and they are being heard. (At right is Gabriela, our youngest scholarship recipient. She is 13.)

Thanks to Womanfest, Olympic Cellars, and to Molly, one of our directors, a co-owner of Olympic Cellars and the new president of Womanfest. She was very instrumental in making this event a big success.

TAKING ON A CHALLENGE!!

2010-12-27T17:18:00.000-08:00

Two years ago the women of the cooperative set some goals and prioritized them. The goal at the top of the list was to own their own building and pass it on as a legacy to their daughters and the younger members. We have been searching for such a site ever since. A suitable building at a reasonable price has been found. Carmen showed it to me earlier this month and I got really excited.

We have now launched a capital campaign to help the women purchase this facility. A true challenge for the board and for our loyal supporters! But what a gift......!

The goal amount is $87,500. This includes the house, closing costs, appliances, furniture, and "sprucing up" funds plus a bit for unexpected expenses. We already have $30,500....very close to the amount needed for a down payment. We are looking for January pledges to seal the deal and permit occupancy and then we have a year to work on the balance.

For pictures, particulars and lots more information, please go to our project page.

Please help and email mujeres@olypen.com with the amount of your pledge. What a difference we can make together!

In gratitude, Judith

Winter 2010 Trip to Chiapas

2010-12-16T08:58:00.000-08:00

Holiday greetings!

I just returned from 4 weeks in San Cristóbal de las Casas. The weather was great! A bit nippy at night in unheated rooms but intense blue sky and daytime temperatures about 70!

I arrived mid-November and had 10 days by myself to meet with Carmen (the coordinator of the cooperative), go to Crucero to do a mid-year evaluation of the Children's Project there, and network with people who live and work in Chiapas. Then Eric, my son, arrived, and three days later Linda Snow, Kathy Strozyk, Dr. Gene Turner and Cathy VanRuhan flew in and we were a group of six.

The Crucero Children's project is in its fifth month. Scholarship recipients Tere and Martha are the organizers and work with the children on academic skills and literacy in Tsotsil. Certified instructors come in for workshops and creativity development. The class, held every Saturday morning, is in a rudimentary building. There is no heat and the children were bundled up on this chilly, rainy day. Tere and Martha were helping the children with addition, subtraction and division. Only 13 children were in attendance due to the weather but usually there are 22. I was so impressed at the work ethic of the children who ranged from first to fourth grade. All participated and were very attentive.

After the group members arrived we all attended the December bi-monthly reunion of the women. The toothbrushes were dispersed (thanks, Soroptimists of Sequim!) as was the toothpaste (thanks to Michael Bucierka.) Three group members carried down 3 laptop computers which were given to the three new communities that have joined the cooperative. Thank you, Cathy, Kathy and Eric for your help carrying the laptops from the US. Dr. Gene Turner, retired pediatrician from Port Angeles, gave the women a talk about normal child development.He then took many questions about various issues and listened to hearts and lungs of several women with concerns. Thank you so much, Gene, for contributing your knowledge and expertise to the women in this workshop. It is much appreciated.

Each group member then joined a small group of women and exchanged some English expressions for Tsotsil or Tseltal expressions. Much fun was had by all as we all struggled to pronounce and remember the words in the other language.

That evening we were invited back for a traditional Posada. The Mexican tradition involves songs about Mary trying to find shelter in Bethlehem. We carried lit candles room to room and sang. Afterwards piñatas were broken and we all enjoyed wonderful chicken tamales.

Toward the end of the trip, we visited the Children's Project in Zinacantán. Juana, one of our university scholarship recipients, was leading the lesson on literacy in Tsotsil, the Maya language of that area. The children showed us the Spanish-Tsotsil dictionaries that they had made. At the end of the class we all participated in games, including "The Wolf in the Forest" game that involved a lot of running and shouting.

One of the most exciting aspects of the trip was that Carmen has found a house for sale that would be perfect for the women of the cooperative. As of now they rent a house for their bi-monthly reunions when they come in from their communities. The house Carmen found is very large, with room for workshops, bedrooms for students who must study in San Cristobal and lodge during the week,and a place for a store where the women could sell their handicrafts and clothing. I will be blogging again soon as soon as we get more details. I saw the house and think it would serve the women well. It is priced at $1 million pesos, about $90,000.

It was a wonderful trip. We are adding one more scholarship girl at this time (brings the total to 20) and are also funding the tables and tiny chairs that had to be purchased for the Crucero Children's Project...those were not initially in the proposal. Thanks to all of you for your generous support. Have a lovely holiday season.

Con cariño, Judith

WOW! EVENT A HUGE SUCCESS!

2010-10-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

Last night was our 5th annual Día de Muertos dinner and auction. It was a jam-packed day for the 6 members of our board and hard working volunteers. The dinner was a HUGE success! We served 156 dinners...tortilla soup, jicama salad, seasoned beans, tortillas and Mexican wedding cookies to rave reviews!! Judith and Linda presented the program and Eric Rust, Judith's son, was the auctioneer for the live auction. He was a hit! People dug deep in their pockets!

Too many exclamation points? Not if you were there! It really was a rousing evening. The silent auction had over 75 items and the bidding was fast and furious. The beaded ornaments, bracelets and Mujeres cards sold like hotcakes.

Our Day of the Dead altar was dedicated to Vicki Coons, a Mujeres supporter who passed away in July. She was a lovely spirit and will be missed. Thank you, Joan,for providing us with a photo of Vicki.

Molly, Board Member and chief chef, heard nothing but praise for the meal. Guitarist and singer Ron Munro added to the festivity with a set of Mexican songs. Gracias, Ron. Thanks to volunteers: Kathy Strozyk, David Fox, Rhonda Karls, Neilu Naini, Gail Mabbutt, Eric Rust, Rose Bridge, Bob Pasco, Katie Norris, Beth Fetrow, John Boetsch, Ruth Behnke, Dave LeRoux, Mary Ann Deuth,Steve Gilchrist, Mary Kuntz,and Grant Simpson.

Many thanks to Nash's organic vegetables...every year a generous donation of vegies is sooooo appreciated! Thanks to Raven's Brew Coffee for their donation of Dead Man's Reach coffee for the event and also for their coffee and teeshirt auction item. Thanks to the Alpaca Ranch of Sequim for their auction donation item. And to Pat Lang for numerous items from Chiapas,Gail Mabbutt for her quilted wall hanging,Colleen Blazier for the two beautiful molas, Donna Leavitt for her beautiful drawing, Melissa Penic for her creative glass tapas set, Catherine Mix for her painting, Dr.Melissa Smith for her donation of an office visit and dog treats,Sarah Fitzpatrick for her original oil painting,Karon's Frame Shop for mounting Chiapas' posters, Robert Converse for the ink painting,and Magda Bassett for the tamale making workshop.

Kathy Purcell and Kathryn Haapanen of Soroptimist International of Sequim presented Mujeres with a check for $500 and a bag with 100 toothbrushes. Soroptimist has been a faithful supporter of Mujeres since our inception and we can't tell you how much we appreciate the wonderful, generous women in that organization.

A huge GRACIAS to Diane Urbani de la Paz of the Peninsula Daily News for all the great publicity! Thanks to Karen Hanan of KONP "Art Beat" for having Judith as a guest the week before the event.

And to our wonderful attendees...thank you for coming! Without YOU, Mujeres would not be what it is today. You are caring, generous, loving people and we cannot thank you enough.

Hugs and gratitude to all,

Judith (Linda, Patsy, Mary, Martha and Molly)

GET READY FOR OUR DIA DE MUERTOS EVENT!

2010-10-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

Coming up on October 30 is our 5th Annual Día de Muertos dinner and silent auction.
We are excited about the beautiful array and huge selection of handicrafts from Chiapas and Oaxaca. We have ceramics, weavings, clothing, jewelry, beaded ornaments! Unusual gifts! Biggest selection ever!

We have offerings from local artists....remember the stunning glass plate donated by Melissa Penic last year? Wait until you see her donation this year!!

Magda Bassett, who gives many cooking classes, is donating once again the fun tamale making class that she offered last year. (contact her if interested in other cooking classes.....magdalenabassett@gmail.com)

We will again be serving a vegetarian dinner. Your $15 donation includes the dinner, the auction, the program and music. No tickets necessary....just come!

All proceeds go to our projects and programs for indigenous women in Chiapas.

You'll have a fun evening and help provide educational opportunities for girls and women.
Such a deal!!

When: Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 5:30 pm.
Where: Sequim Prairie Grange at 290 Macleay Road

Need more information: Call Judith at 360-683-8979

AUGUST 2010 IN CHIAPAS

2010-08-12T15:38:00.000-07:00

Linda and I just returned from over three weeks in Mexico, first in Oaxaca and then in Chiapas. The latter was dedicated to Mujeres. In a short ten days we accomplished a lot. We spent two days at the women's bi-monthly workshop where much of the time was spent in a workshop on gender equity. We distributed our donation of 84 children's backpacks and the Soroptimist donation of a suitcase full of toothbrushes and toothpaste. Ten women and girls had eye exams and seven received glasses.

On Saturday morning we attended the Zinacantán Children´s Saturday Project. 25 children arrived and put on puppet shows that dealt with values, read their original stories in Spanish (remember, Spanish is their second language!), and then played bingo with multiplication tables and practiced penmanship. We were very impressed with the dedication of the teachers (four of our scholarship girls) and the interest shown by the children.

We spent another morning in the community of Crucero. The women gave us a demonstration of the process of weaving from the carding of the wool to the backstrap loom. Crucero had changed a lot from our last visit as a new road had been constructed, changing the landscape and making the community much more accessible, as evidenced by more houses and more population.

Our meetings with Carmen were productive. We also spent time looking at houses for sale, with the idea in mind that the cooperative needs a permanent location in San Cristóbal to hold their meetings, lodge when needed, and where they are not paying rent.

The weather was not the best this time. We dodged both rain showers and torrential downpours. But as usual San Cristóbal worked its charm and we enjoyed the trip. This last picture is of the church in El Cerrillo district, decorated with flowers for its annual festival.

Please check our website for pictures and news of our new scholarship girls as well as the Experiences page for new photos.

All for now. Judith

GRANT AWARD AND BACKPACKS!

2010-06-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

We just received a $1000 grant from the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation of Boston! The grant is part of their Equity and Justice Grants Program. If you'd like to know more about these grants or about the UUWF, please go to the About Us page and scroll down to the list of organizations and find the UUWF link.
The funds are dedicated to the new full year literacy project in Altamirano (Chanal), Chiapas. Thank you to the UUWF for this honor and for the confidence you have placed in us.

As you know, most of our efforts go to education starting at sixth grade because that is when education is no longer free in Mexico. We do have the one full year program for primary school students in Zinacantan, but aside from that we work mainly with girls over 12 and young women. We thought about a way that we could do something for primary school children that would demonstrate to them how important we think education is and came up with the idea of backpacks. So when Linda and I go to San Cristobal the end of July, we will be schlepping 96 backpacks! Once we are there, we'll buy notebooks and pencils for each pack. These are good quality 17 inch packs. We were able to buy them at a discount site so they only cost $4.60 apiece. If you'd like to chip in for a back pack or two or ten, hit the DONATE button!

Thank you for supporting Mujeres.

Soroptimists Strike Again plus Garage Sale News

2010-05-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

Linda accepts the suitcase from Soroptimists Kathryn Haapanen and Colleen Blazier

Soroptimist International of Sequim just presented us with a suitcase full of toothbrushes, toothpaste, and hard glasses cases. Thanks to all Soroptimist members and special thanks to Kathryn Haapanen who proposed and organized the project. Every time we go to Chiapas our goal is to take 100 toothbrushes and we are ready for our July trip with this great donation.

Our 3rd annual Mujeres Quality Garage Sale took place May 22. Thanks to all your donations and the good weather, it was the busiest and most successful sale to date. We raised $1100.00!
Thank you, Rose Bridge, for volunteering 15 hours to help us organize, price and sell. Our supporters are the best!

NEW PROJECT AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2010-2011

2010-05-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

The community of Crucero has just submitted a comprehensive full year project for fifteen primary school students. The project was designed by current scholarship girls who are fulfilling their one-hundred hour per year community service obligation. It's a terrific project that will strengthen math and Spanish skills, teach literacy in their Maya language, develop creativity, and includes workshops on self-esteem, garbage recycling, Al-anon and sexuality.
We are delighted to fund this project.

The two current full year projects, one for the children of Zinacantan and the other for women's literacy in Altamirano, are progressing well. At the end of July, Linda and I are looking forward to attending some of these sessions, as well as meeting with the coordinators of the projects to assess progress and review the evaluations that will have been done by that date.

As of August first, we will have nineteen girls and women on scholarships. Yoli, our first recipient, is now in her fifth year of study. Martha and Tere (below right), who started with us three years ago, are just finishing secondary study (age 16) and will be entering in preparatory school this summer.We assured their mother (and them!) three years ago that we would be there for them for the duration of their academic career.

We are planning to provide backpacks and school supplies to primary school children related to the women in the cooperative. We could use help with this...send an email if you'd like to be involved. Soroptimst International of Sequim is putting together a suitcase of toothbrushes and toothpaste. The last two visits to Chiapas we've carried down about 100 of each and we plan to do this every visit.

Please remember, that everything we've been able to accomplish is due to you, our supporters. You can take pride in the change you've made in the lives of these young women. They are growing and learning and becoming role models for others in their communities.

ALTERNATIVE GIFTS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

2010-04-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

Pat Lang and I just attended a conference given by Alternative Gifts International in Wichita, Kansas. (www.alternativegifts.org) MUJERES is honored to have been selected to be in the AGI catalog for 2010-2011. There are 37 non-profit organizations featured and all of them do amazing work! We may well be the smallest and one of the few that have a "working board."

If you would like to learn more about the AGI alternative gift markets, please contact Surinder at surinder@alternativegifts.org. These markets are great ways to benefit your community, to support the wonderful organizations, and to model alternative gift giving.

Pat and I learned a lot and met inspiring people.

Judith

Premio "Ruby" de Soroptimist International de Sequim 2010

2010-03-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

Soroptimist International de Sequim le felicita a Judith Pasco, la directora de Mujeres de Maíz Opportunity Foundation. Ella es la ganadora del premio anual ¨Ruby¨. Este premio reconoce a mujeres, que a través de sus actividades personales o profesionales, trabajan para mejorar las vidas de mujeres y niñas.

¨Mujeres¨ le agradece mucho al club de Soroptimist para este premio y para su apoyo de nuestros esfuerzos en Chiapas.

Soroptimist International of Sequim 2010 Ruby Award

2010-03-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Soroptimist International of Sequim congratulates Judith Pasco, Board Chair of Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation, the winner of its 2010 Ruby Award. The annual award acknowledges women, who through their personal or professional activities, are working to improve the lives of women and girls.

"Mujeres" thanks Soroptimist International of Sequim for this recognition and for its continuing support.

DOS PROYECTOS NUEVOS PARA 2010

2010-01-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

A fines de 2010, unas mujeres de las comunidades en que trabajamos en Chiapas, nos presentaron con dos proyectos. Después de repasarlos, decidimos aceptar el desafío de juntar fondos para apoyarlos.

El primer proyecto viene de la comunidad de Zinacantán y fue creado por 4 de nuestras becarias. Es un proyecto que durará un año entero para 30-35 niños de la primaria. En un taller de tres horas a la semana, los niños van a tener la oportunidad de reenforzar sus destrezas académicas, aprender a escribir en su idioma maya, asistir a unos talleres en cuanto al autoestima, etc., desrrollar su creatividad, y aún aprender como reciclar la basura. Va a incluir un desayuno ligero, todos los materiales y capacitadores certificados.

El segundo proyecto es de la comunidad de Altamirano. Consiste en un programa, también de un año, para que 15 mujeres puedan cumplir su educación primaria...es decir, aprender a leer y escribir. Después pueden participar en las asambleas de su comunidad y pueden sentirse valoradas y capaces de continuar su educación.

Estos dos proyectos tiene todo que ver con la autodeterminación. El año pasado vimos personalmente como eran los talleres en Las Margaritas. Fue el primer proyecto de ese tipo que apoyamos. Estamos muy entusiasmadas por los dos nuevos proyectos, porque promueven la educación a y la vez crean el auto estima.

En marzo sale nuestra carta anual que solicita fondos que va a incluír más detalles de los dos proyectos nuevos.

Muchísmas gracias.

New Full Year Projects...We Are Enthused!!

2010-01-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

At the end of 2009 we were sent two proposals created by the women in Chiapas and based on their assessment of some critical needs. After reviewing both of them, we have accepted the challenge of providing the funding. These projects both demonstrate and promote self-determination.

The first, in the community of Zinacantan, has been designed and will be run by four of our scholarship young women (ages 14, 17, 21, and 30). They will conduct a weekly three hour program for 30-35 primary school children that will reinforce academic skills, promote self-esteem, reinforce literacy in their Maya language, develop creativity and even teach garbage re-cycling. The program will last all year and be evaluated after each unit as well as every quarter.

The second project, in the community of Altamirano, will provide the opportunity for 15 women to complete their primary education through a year long certified literacy program. The women will then be able to participate in their communities assemblies and thus feel more valued. In addition, they will gain confidence in their abilities.

We are delighted with both these projects. In our coming annual funds solicitation letter in March, more details will be discussed.

Last year we funded the workshop project designed by the women in Las Margaritas and were personally able to confirm its organization and impact. Now, other communities are assessing their needs with respect to education. We are delighted with this new and expanding direction that Mujeres is taking.

Thank you again for your continuing support. You are indeed making a difference in the lives of these amazing women.

Judith

DECEMBER 2009 CHIAPAS TRIP plus RAVEN'S BREW COFFEE

2009-12-22T17:32:00.000-08:00

San Cristobal de las Casas continues to enchant. I just got back last week after leading a group of seven very congenial people. Three (Ingrid Sorensen, Margaret Gardner and Pheryl Montroy were adult students of mine, and Mary Ann Kirkpatrick, Fred Tuttle, Donna Leavitt and Linda Crossland represented the Unitarian Church in Edmonds, one of our staunch supporters.)

We were fortunate to be in Chiapas during the festival of the Guadalupana...the Virgen of Guadalupe. Antorcha groups were running all directions but most were heading for the church of the Virgen in San Cristobal. Groups from parishes make pledges to honor their devotion to the Virgen by running in relay fashion to an appropriate church. The San Cristobal church is one of the most significant in Mexico and thus hundreds of Antorcha groups were running in. One of our scholarship girls, Petrona, was with the group that drove to Mexico City and then ran back. The person running carries a lit torch. The groups are transported and supported by pick-up trucks decorated with balloons, pictures of the Virgen, corn stalks, etc. Everyone participating wears tee-shirts or tunics with the Virgen's picture.

We attended the December meeting of the cooperative. One of the workshops this time dealt with motivation and was given by an intern from Puebla University. We also delivered a goodly supply of toothbrushes and toothpaste. Carmen promised that interesting proposals from communities would soon be coming our way.

The weather was glorious and we all found it difficult to come home.

Complete change of subject: Raven's Brew Coffee provided the coffee for our Dia de Muertos dinner this year and in addition donated a great "Deadman's Reach" teeshirt and pound of coffee for our auction. We received many positive comments about the coffee that evening. Raven's Brew is dedicated to " quality, sustainability and culture. We use shade-grown, organic and naturally-processed coffee beans in most of our blends, and support small family growers through our buying practices." It has become my personal favorite coffee. So I am letting you in on a terrific sale of coffee, mugs and teeshirts for $7 apiece if you go to their website (http://www.ravensbrew.com/) between December 25 , 2009 and January 4, 2010. Thank you all for your continuing support. Love and caring know no boundaries and your generosity is proof.

Feliz navidad y un próspero año nuevo.

Judith

ALTERNATIVE GIFTS INTERNATIONAL and US!!

2009-11-25T16:16:00.000-08:00

I'm sure that many of you are familiar with Alternative Gifts International and their annual catalog highlighting many non-profit organizations. In their own words, "Alternative Gifts International is a non-profit organization that inspires support for humanitarian and environmental causes. We offer donors the option to designate charitable gifts through carefully selected agencies in the name of their relatives, friends and associates."

We are delighted to be included in the Alternative Gifts International catalog this year. It was an honor to be selected and see our name in print with some very high profile organizations. The catalog is a tribute to so many people who are working hard to improve our world.

We are so thankful that our work is receiving this wonderful recognition. To AGI we say "¡MIL GRACIAS!

If you would like more information, AGI will shortly have a link on our "About Us" page. We also have a few of the catalogs left if you would like to request one.

Judith

Spotlight on Soroptimist International of Sequim

2009-11-18T08:07:00.000-08:00

We owe a debt of gratitude to Soroptimist International of Sequim for their continuing support these past four years. When we first started our work, they gave us a donation letting us know that they believed in what we were doing. Every year since, at our Día de Muertos celebration, another check arrived. This year, Kathleen DeJong, presented Mujeres with a generous $500.

In addition to financial support, SI of Sequim has invited Judith twice to speak about the work of the foundation.

Kathy Purcell puts together a terrific monthly newsletter for SI. She is so conscientious about including news of Mujeres almost every month. Her articles are creatively laid out with photos so they are appealing to the eye.
She does us a great service in keeping SI members apprised of what we are doing. Thank you, Kathy.

We are linked on their website, and now we have linked SI on ours.

Mil gracias, Soroptimist International of Sequim for accompanying us on our journey to provide access to education to our sisters in Chiapas.

LA CELEBRACION DEL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 2009

2009-11-02T11:18:00.000-08:00

Acabamos de tener nuestro cuarto evento para celebrar El Día de Los Muertos. Fue todo el éxito. ¡Las personas que nos apoyan son las mejores! La cena, creada y cocinada por Molly Rivard y Ankur Shah, era muy sabrosa. Por primera vez había música durante la comida. La subasta fue grande y diversa con una selección extrardinaria de cosas.

Mil gracias a los voluntarios que vinieron y donaron su tiempo y esfuerzo. Sin Uds, no sería posible este evento.

Les agradecomos mucho a los individuales, los músicos, los negocios y las organizaciones que nos donaron cosas para la cena y para la subasta. Hay una lista completa de ellos en la versión inglesa de este blog.

En esta época de recesión, nuestros amigos de nuevo nos mostraron su generosidad en asistir a nuestra celebración y además en abrir sus carteras para comprar.

Les puedo asegurar de que las mujeres en Chiapas van a agradecerles otra vez para su apoyo y les prometimos que vamos a continuar trabajando diligentemente por ellas.

Saludos cordiales de Judith

DIA DE MUERTOS CELEBRATION OCTOBER 2009

2009-11-02T10:25:00.000-08:00

Wow! This year's Dia de Muertos Celebration, our 4th, was the best ever. Mujeres supporters enjoyed a wonderful meal, a lively band, a diverse silent and live auction and the company of good friends. Our menu was created by Molly Rivard (one of our board members and food expert) and by Ankur Shah (a staunch supporter, our website guru, acclaimed chef and all around global citizen.) 125 dinners were served.

Volunteers abounded. Thank you one and all for all your time and effort. We appreciate you immensely.

Those of you who donated to our auctions are wonderful! Mil gracias to:

Nash's Produce whose organic vegetables make our vegetarian meal the best!
Wildwood Farm for their generous food donation.
Port Townsend Creamery who make the most delicious cheese!
Raven's Brew Coffee (Deadman's Reach blend) who provided us with coffee for the event in addition to a great auction item of coffee and a teeshirt! (This is my new favorite coffee!!)
The Sequim Lavender Growers Association and Cathy Angel for the most gorgeous bag of lavender products!
Mary Norton for the most gorgeous Day of the Dead quilt!
Melissa Penic for a fused glass platter to die for!
Magdalena Bassett for a 12 student class of tamale making! What a great idea!
Martha Lumia for two of her wonderful handbag creations.
Pheryl Montroy for original cards of her painting of a Maya cross.
Renaissance in Port Angeles for the basket of two pounds of fair trade coffee.
Gilberto Molina for the beautifully sewn laptop bag.
Vicki Coons for the auction popular Mexican statues.

A special thank you goes to the band who provided us with great Mexican music during dinner.
Steve Gilchrist, Ron Munro, Waynne Shields and Jenny James...you guys were great!

In a time of recession and worry, you, dear supporters, opened your hearts and your wallets and have given to the women of Chiapas more than you can imagine. We, the Mujeres Board, are humbled and grateful for this support.

Judith

NOTICIAS DEL VERANO, 2009

2009-08-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

Queridos amigos,

Primero, aquí tienen Uds. las últimas noticias. Un programa nuevo, propuesto por una de las comunidades, es apoyar a adultas que quieren cumplir su educación primaria. En seguida tres mujeres solicitaron esas becas y estamos muy orgullosas de darles el apoyo que necesitan. Además dos jovenes estudian en el nivel universitario, dos asisten a la preparatoria, y ocho están en la secundaria. En total, hay quince becarias.

Cada comunidad ahora tiene su propia laptop y una luz solar. A principios de agosto catorce mujeres de la cooperativa visitaron al optómetro y once recibieron lentes. Estamos ayudando a patrocinar talleres durante las reuniones bi-mensuales. Linda observó que durante los talleres las mujeres usaban papel atado a las paredes con cinta para apuntes y diagramas. Ella sugirió que compráramos unas pizarras blancas y marcadores. Son mucho más fáciles para ver y bajará el uso del papel. Carmen, la coordinadora de la cooperativa, va a investigar.

La comunidad de Las Margaritas nos mandó una propuesta pidiéndonos los fondos para una serie de talleres. Los tópicos incluyen los derechos humanos, la equidad de género, el auto-estima, la violencia doméstica, etc. Fue una propuesta excelente y la aprobamos.

Linda y yo acabamos de pasar dos semanas en Chiapas y tuvimos la suerte de estar allá durante uno de los talleres mencionado arriba. El tópico fue la equidad de género. Veintitrés adultos asistieron. Nos impresionó mucho la presentación que fue organizada, dinámica y considerada.

También asistimos al taller bi-mensual durante tres días en San Cristóbal. Las mujeres participaron en una clase de computadoras que duró un día entero y escucharon un discurso que tuvo que ver con las elecciones recientes en México y con el golpe de estado en Hondudras. Una estudiante universitaria presentó un programa en cuanto a la mercancía y como vender en el mercado. Yo llevé muchos cepillos de dientes y pasta dentífrica desde los Estados Unidos y di una presentación sobre como cepillarse los dientes.

Nuestro evento anual, la celebración de Día de Muertos con la cena y la subasta es sábado, el 31 de octubre. Por eso, Linda y yo compramos tejidos y ropa de las mujeres en la cooperativa. También fuimos al pueblo de Amatenango, famoso por su cerámica, para escoger unas cosas para el evento. ¡ Tenemos que confesar que este año tenemos la selección mejor que nada!

El problema con la economía del mundo y la publicidad mala en cuanto a la influenza le hicieron mucho daño a México. Chiapas, el estado más pobre, tiene la situación más grave. Normalmente durante esta temporada San Cristóbal está llena de turistas europeos. Pero este verano, había pocos. Los turistas eran de otras regiones de México y debido a la economía no estaban viajando fuera del país.

La Red Internacional de Mujeres: Lilla (una organización basada en Australia) acabó de publicar un directorio que se llama Las Luchas por los Derechos de las Mujeres en Chiapas: Un Direcotrio de Organizaciones Sociales que Trabajan a Favor de las Chiapanecas. Estamos muy orgullosas de haber estado incluído en este directorio de 62 organizaciones. Linda y yo asistimos a la presentación de los directorios en San Cristóbal. Como un señor nos dijo,¨ Es bueno saber cuántas personas están en el mismo camino.¨

El Club Rotario de la Madrugada de Sequim nos dio muy buenas noticias en julio. Van a donarnos $1000 para ayudar con los talleres, los lentes, y las becas. Estamos muy agradecidas.

Para nuestros amigos con direcciones de email, mandamos una lista de oportunidades para hacer servicio voluntario. Si no recibió Ud esta lista y querría una copia, por favor mándenos un mensaje y le enviaré una copia. (La información de contacto esta en el sitio de web).
Gracias a Uds. que ya han contestado.

Gracias a todos, Mujeres está creciendo y haciendo una diferencia en las vidas de las mujeres de Chiapas.

Judith

SUMMER NEWS, 2009

2009-08-08T12:39:00.000-07:00

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 participated. 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 interactive 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

Noticias para la primavera

2009-04-15T21:33:00.000-07:00

Nos gusta mucho esta estación del año porque siempre recibimos las noticias de las nuevas becarias para el otoño que viene. Carmen, la que trabaja de parte de las mujeres y de nosotras en San Cristóbal, junta toda la información y nos manda.

Este año tenemos cinco becarias nuevas. Cuatro de ellas vienen de la comunidad de San Andrés y van a asistir a la secundaria. En México la secundaria corresponde con el sexto hasta el octavo grado. La quinta becaria es del pueblo de Zinacantán y va a asistir a la preparatoria, que corresponde con el noveno, décimo y úndecimo grados en Estados Unidos. Bienvenidas a nuestra ¨familia¨ de becarias.

Además, cuatro mujeres de Margaritas nos propusieron que asistieran a un curso de la primaria para que pudieran aprender a leer y escribir. Con mucho entusiasmo estamos de acuerdo con su idea. Para nosotras es un privilegio tener la oportunidad de ayudar a esas mujeres.

Como hemos dicho antes, creemos sin duda que la educación es la mejor manera de parar el ciclo de la pobreza y también elevar el auto-estima y dar la confianza.

A Uds, amigos leales, de parte de las otras directoras y de las mujeres en Chiapas, les damos un gran abrazo y muchísimas gracias.

Judith

Exciting Spring 2009 News!

2009-04-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

This is always an exciting time of the year for Mujeres because this is when we find out about the scholarship applicants for the new school year starting in the fall. Our invaluable liason Carmen gathers and compiles information and sends us the information.

There are five young women who have applied for scholarships. Four are from the community of San Andres and will be attending secondary school, which corresponds to 6th grade here. The fifth is from Zinacantan and she will attend preparatory, which corresponds to 10th, 11th and 12th grades here. We are so pleased to welcome these five girls into our scholarship family.

But this year we also have something new! Four adult women in the community of Margaritas have sent us a proposal so that they can receive the primary education that they never had. This is wonderful news....these women are anxious to join the ranks of the literate, and we are privileged to give them the boost that they need.

The total of girls on scholarship (excluding the four adult women) will be eleven. These girls are becoming role models in their communities. As we have said before, education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. The girls have increased self-esteem and confidence.

Without your generous, caring support this wouldn't be possible. On behalf of them and on behalf of the board, I send all of you a huge THANK YOU.

Judith

El viaje en diciembre y enero

2009-04-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

Linda, nuestra tesorera, y yo pasamos la navidad en San Cristobal. Poco después, aprovechamos la oportunidad de visitar dos comunidades donde viven unas de las mujeres que pertenecen al cooperativo. Primero hicimos el largo recorrido de cuatro horas a Yajalón, y allá, con la ayuda de Francisca, la directora del grupo, subimos la montaña. Empezamos a subir primero en un camión abierto en una nube de polvo, pero después de poco el camino se acabó debido a la construcción, y por eso caminamos media hora más arriba para llegar a la comunidad. Un grupo de mujeres nos saludaron y nos prepararon una comida muy típica de arroz. Hablamos de unos de los programas que ofrecemos y les presentamos una de las luces solares. Estas luces dan luz por la noche cuando no hay electricidad. Regresamos a Yajalón para pasar la noche.

Unos días después Linda y yo, acompañada de Carmen, nuestro contacto en San Cristóbal, fuimos a Margaritas. ¡Qué bueno tener la chance de conocer a nuestra becaria, Ana Belén, y sus padres. Ellos la apoyan mucho en cuanto a sus planes de continuar la educación hasta hacerse una abogada especializada en los derechos humanos. Ella ya ha ayudado con talleres que enseñan los derechos humanos a los niños de la comunidad. Las mujeres allá son muy activas en varios programas. Una señora nos pidió la oportunidad de cumplir su educación primaria. Linda y yo estábamos muy entusiasmadas con esta idea y les sugerimos que nos hicieran una propuesta.

Linda volvió a casa a principios de enero, pero yo me quedé allá para servir de guía de un grupo de amigos. Fue un viaje excelente.

Rewarding Winter Visit to Chiapas

2009-01-21T10:58:00.001-08:00

From December 24th until January 5th, treasurer Linda and our respective husbands enjoyed the warm sunny days and chilly nights of San Cristobal. Linda and I had wanted to visit two of the outlying communities of women who belong to the cooperative. Due to lower elevations and thus hot, humid summer temperatures, we decided to make the two journeys in the winter.

First we went to Yajalon, about four hours from San Cristobal, and then made our way up the mountain by truck and on foot. We carried pineapple, oranges and beans.(Left: Linda and Tim on mountain walk to community)

We were welcomed by women and children and fed rice. We were able to meet and talk with the mother of Rosita, our scholarship girl who is attending secondary school and boarding in Yajalon...it's a 2 1/2 hour walk from town up to the community. We gave them the solar light and await feedback on its usefulness. We have purchased one light for each of the 7 communities at this point. It was wonderful to have a "visual" on this community, so far up the mountain. After descending the mountain to Yajalon, an attractive city of about 25,000, we spent the night and made our way back to San Cristobal the next day.

A few days later Linda and I went to Las Margaritas. Linda is going to add to the blog shortly, and I'll let her give the details on this trip. Suffice to say it was enlightening and that we were very impressed by the community work done there. We had a chance to visit with Ana Belen, a scholarship recipient who attends preparatory and hopes to become a human rights attorney.

(At right, Carmen (purple shirt), our contact and coordinator of the cooperative and son, Israel in red, Ana Belen at end of table on the left flanked by her parents, Linda on right, and Juana, the coordinator of the Margaritas women in right corner)

When Linda and our husbands flew home on January 5th, I was joined by our board member Carol and travelers Marilyn and Steve Gilchrist, Graham and Dory Hutchins and Bonnie Orr. Highlights from the group trip included a visit to a cloud-forest horse ranch and then a drive to the spectacular waterfalls of El Chiflon. We were fortunate to see ceremonies in the Chamula church and enjoyed a visit to the home of two scholarship recipients in Zinacantan where we enjoyed dinner and a walk in the hills to sacred sites.
We did too much to mention!

Chiapas is always a reality check. It never ceases to amaze me how much we (I) take for granted. Woman by woman, girl by girl, we are seeing what education means to those who live in poverty. Thank you all for your help that permits us to serve.

In constant gratitude, Judith

La Fiesta de Día de Muertos 2008

2008-11-15T10:08:00.000-08:00

¡Qué noche más fantástica! Nuestra organización y 17 voluntarios pasaron el día entero, el sábado, primero de noviembre, preparando para la tercera celebración anual de Día de los Muertos. Este año tuvimos que alquilar el salón mucho más grande de Sequim Prairie Grange porque el año pasado no había suficiente espacio. Pusimos mesas y sillas para 144 personas, y por casualidad, ¡vinieron exactamente 144 personas!

Ankur Shaw, cocinero local y autor de Cooking com Bigode (www.mangolandia.com) planeó y preparó la comida con unos voluntarios muy hábiles y amables. La comida consistió en enchiladas rellenas con calabaza en salsa de mole, arroz y frijoles negros. ¡Cada plato fue una obra de arte! Nuestra Molly Rivard pasó todo el día en la cocina ayudando a los otros cocineros y además preparando el postre. Gracias a Neilu Naini, Bharti Desai, Vanessa Downer, Marlene Dehlinger y Christopher Holmes.

Los meseros también trabajaron mucho. Mi hijo, Eric Rust, que llegó de Everett, su novia Courtney Anderson, apoyantes de Mujeres Beth Fetrow y John Boetch, y estudiantes de la secundaria Olivia Boots, Michael Swender, Quintin Cornell y Katrina Chan...¡gracias a todos!

Vicki Coons nos ayudó mucho con las mesas para la subasta silenciosa. Tim Finch nos prestó su tiempo para armar todas las mesas y sillas. Rose Bridge hizo el papel de cajera. Steve and Marilyn Gilchrist, Mark Spencer and Dave LeRoux limpiaron y limpiaron después del evento. Bob Pasco trabajó todo el día con todos los quehaceres, incluso horas de limpiar platos. Bonnie Bless-Boenish nos ayudó con la tecnologia para el programa.

El programa después de la cena tenía que ver con la vida diaria de las mujeres con quienes trabajamos en Chiapas. Entonces, John Bridge condujo la subasta viva. Gracias a todos que nos contribuyeron cosas para la subasta...nos ayudó en hacerla todo el éxito.

Como ven, nuestro evento dependió de la ayuda y el tiempo de muchas personas. Hablo de parte de las otras directoras de Mujeres de Maíz Opportunity Foundation cuando les agradezco a todos que asistieron, que ayudaron, y que estuvieron con nosotras en espíritu.
Y hablo de parte de las mujeres de Chiapas que van a recibir las frutas de este labor de amor cuando les digo cuánto aprecian ellas su esfuerzo.

¡Lo que hagan Uds sí hace una diferencia!

Judith, la presidenta (con Linda, Pat, Molly, Martha y Carol)

Día de Muertos Celebration 2008

2008-11-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

What an amazing evening! All the board members and about 17 volunteers put in a long day on Saturday, November first, to prepare our third annual Day of the Dead celebration. This year, we moved the event to the Sequim Prairie Grange Hall because we needed more space. By the time we finished decorating and arranging, the hall looked warm, welcoming and festive. Interestingly enough, tables and 144 chairs were set up and exactly 144 people came!

Ankur Shah, local chef and author of "Cooking Com Bigode" (www.mangolandia.com) planned and prepared the meal with a very willing and able volunteer cooking staff. Diners feasted on squash stuffed enchiladas in mole sauce, rice and beans. Mujeres' board member Molly Rivard spent all day in the kitchen helping the crew as well as preparing the shortbread drizzled with chocolate. Thank you Neilu Naini, Bharti Desai, Vanessa Downer, Marlene Dehlinger, and Christopher Holmes.

Servers included Eric Rust (my son who drove in from Everett), his girlfriend Courtney Anderson, Mujeres' supporters Beth Fetrow and John Boetsch, and high school students Olivia Boots, Michael Swender, Katrina Chan and Quintin Cornell.

Vicki Coons was a big help with setting up the auction tables. Tim Finch helped with morning set up. Rose Bridge cashiered. Steve and Marilyn Gilchrist, Mark Spencer and Dave LeRoux were invaluable clean-up helpers. Bob Pasco worked all day with set-up, kitchen errands, dish washing and clean-up. Bonnie Bless-Boenish was our tech support person.

The after dinner program was about the women we serve and what their daily lives are like. Then John Bridge conducted the live auction. Thanks to all of you who donated items to the auction...you helped make it the success it was!

As you can see, our event depended on the assistance of many people. I speak for the Mujeres' Board when I express our gratitude to all of you who attended, who helped, and who were there in spirit. And I speak for the women in Chiapas who will receive the fruits of this labor of love when I tell you how much they appreciate your support.

What you do makes a difference!!!

Judith, Board Chair

El Viaje del Verano de 2008

2008-09-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

El viaje anual a Chiapas fue todo el éxito. La primera parte de mi viaje de tres semanas estaba dedicada a un grupo de seis mujeres: Patsy Simpson, Mary Norton, Mary Ann Deuth, Diane Urbani de la Paz, Pat Lang (nuestra secretaria) y su nieta, Katie Lang. Lo pasamos muy bien explorando la región y aprendiendo algo de la cultura y la historia. San Cristóbal, esa ciudad tan linda, nos encantó. Aparte de las actividades turísticas como el barco en el Cañon de Sumidero, el museo de ambar, el mercado indígeno y el zócalo, tuvimos otras oportunidades que nos presentaron una mirada mejor a la cultura.

Después de un discurso en cuanto al tejido, visitamos el pueblo de Tenejapa. Además de visitar a unas tejedoras, fue el primer día de la fiesta anual. Las autoridades locales (los hombres) estaban en la iglesia. Todos llevaron su traje de fiesta con los sombreros con cintas de muchos colores. Participaban en una ceremonia en la cual cada hombre recibió posh y cigarros. La música del arpa llenaba la iglesia y el aire estaba nublado con el incienso y la luz de centares de velas.

Otro día visitamos dos de nuestras becarias en su pueblo de Zinacantán. Nos preparó una sopa muy rica de pollo y verduras, nos mostró sus tejidos, y las acompañamos en una caminata a los cerros. Los chales que llevan las mujeres de Zinacantán son morados y turquesas y muy, muy bonitos.

Las viajeras también visitaron el Museo de Medicina Maya y el museo de NaBolom. Participaron en un taller de como hacer papel, y fueron a la fiesta de San Cristóbal. Además había excursiones a las ruinas Maya de Toniná y el pueblo de San Juan Chamula, y una visita al cementerio local, un lugar verdadero fascinante.

Una de nuestras directoras, Martha Rudersdorf, y su amiga la artista Sarah Fitzpatrick, presentaron dos talleres de arte, uno para los niños y jovenes de una comunidad cerca de San Andrés Larrainzar, y el otro para las mujeres del cooperativo. Gracias a Geoff Tozzer, un ex-alumno mío y también de Martha, que llegó para pasar diez diás con nosotras y ayudar con los talleres. Las personas que participaron en el taller recibieron instrucciones en como pintar un auto-retrato, y los resultados eran muy impresionantes.

La reunión bi-mensual de las mujeres fue muy interesante. Tuvieron arreglados varios discursos incluso uno de Al-anon. El alcoholismo y la violencia doméstica que resulta es un problema serio en Chiapas. Otro taller se trató con el liderazgo y las mujeres discutieron los problemas de ser una mujer en su sociedad. Otro discurso fue dado por un sociólogo que habló de los problemas que enfrentan Chiapas hoy día. Por ejemplo, hay el problema de las corporaciones internacionales y nacionales que querían tener los derechos al agua y a los minerales.

Nos gustó mucho otorgar tres becas más. Ahora hay ocho becarias en total. Donamos tres laptops más y contribuimos fondos para patrocinar unos talleres. Catorce jovenes y mujeres recibieron gafas. Todo esto es posible debido al apoyo de Uds.

Las mujeres en el cooperativo tienen muchas ganas de encontrar un lote en el cual podían construir su propio edificio, el Centro de Oportunidades Mujeres de Maíz. Ahora alquilan una casa y el dinero con que pagan la renta es dinero perdido. Nos gustaría encontrar una manera de ayudarlas. Si tienen Uds. ideas o sugerencias, por favor, contáctanos. Va a costar por lo menos $25,000 (USD). Una casa construida con la ayuda de voluntarios serviría para los talleres bi-mensuales, para reuniones entre cooperativos, para alojamiento de las mujeres cuando vengan a San Cristóbal, para hospedaje para las estudiantes que estudien en la ciudad y no puedan regresar a su casa de noche, y para un lugar seguro para las victimas de la violencia doméstica.

Nuestra conexión con las mujeres del cooperativo sigue aumentando y ellas tienen cada vez más confianza en nosotras. Ellas luchan diario con la pobreza y el racismo y creemos sin duda que la educación va a ayudarlas. Las mujeres están muy agradecidas por su apoyo, y nosotras también les decimos ¨mil gracias¨.

Judith
el 9 de agosto, 2008

TRAVEL TO CHIAPAS, JULY, AUGUST 2008

2008-08-09T08:43:00.000-07:00

Chiapas was truly amazing this year. The first part of my three week trip was devoted to a group of six women. Mary Norton, Patsy Simpson, Mary Ann Deuth, Diane Urbani de la Paz, Pat Lang (our esteemed secretary) and her granddaughter, Katie Lang. We had a wonderful time both seeing the region and learning about the culture, recent history and people. San Cristobal, that beautiful city with deep blue skies and striking cloud formations, charmed us all. Aside from the more usual tourist activities such as the boat ride down Sumidero Canyon, the museum of amber, the indigenous market and the zócalo, we had other opportunities that gave us a better glimpse into the culture. (Photo at right: Priests blessing vehicles for the Fiesta de San Cristobal)

After a talk about the villages and the regional weaving, we traveled to Tenejapa the following day.

In addition to visiting weavers there, it was the first day of the annual festival. The local authorities (men) were all in their festival dress in the church, their hats festooned with multi-color ribbons. They were participating in a ceremony in which posh (the local fermented beverage) and cigarettes were being offered to each man. A harp was being played, and the women sat on the floor off to one side. The church was filled with candles and incense. The spirituality was palpable. (Mary Ann with a Tenejapa weaver)

Another day we visited Yoli and Juana, two of our "becarias" (scholarship recipients) in their village of Zinacantan.

They served us dinner, a delicious chicken and vegetable soup, showed us their weaving, took us for a walk in the hills where the grandmother was grazing the sheep, and gave a tortilla making demonstration. The shawls used by the women in Zinacantan are of turquoise and purple...just gorgeous!...we have one to auction off at the Dia de Muertos dinner this year on November first. (Grandma with sheep in Zinacantan)

The Museum of Maya Medicine is always interesting as it explains the use of native herbs and customs of childbirth. The Na-Bolom foundation offers a fascinating tour about the life of the Lacondon Indians. The travelers also participated in a paper-making workshop at the Taller Leñateros cooperative and climbed the many steps to the Church of San Cristóbal the night of the festival. An excursion was made to the ruins of Toniná, about two hours away. The village and amazing church of San Juan Chamula were also visited, as was the incredible cemetery of San Cristóbal. All in all it was a wonderful experience.

Martha Rudersdorf (director) and her friend Sarah rented a house in San Cristóbal for a month. When the group left, an ex-student of both mine and Martha's, Geoff Tozzer arrived to give us a hand with the workshops and be a general "gopher". Martha and Sarah presented two art workshops, one for the children of a small community near San Andrés Larrainzar, and the other for the women of the cooperative. Children and adults received instruction on how to draw self-portraits, and the results were colorful and impressive. It was a challenge to structure the first workshop on the ground outside a one room house, surrounded by corn and chickens, but everyone found a flat surface and participated one hundred percent.
(Daniel with his self portrait)

The bimonthly he bi-monthly workshop of the cooperative women was inspiring as always. They had a number of talks lined up, including one from Al-anon. Alcoholism and the resulting domestic violence is a very real problem in Chiapas. Another workshop dealt with leadership, and the women discussed the problems of being a group leader as well as the difficulties of finding women role models in their culture. A third talk was by a sociologist who spoke of the proposed government plans for Chiapas, such as selling off the mineral rights and water rights to international and national corporations. The consequences of this could be dire indeed, and included forced moving of entire communities into "resettlement villages."

We were pleased to award three more scholarships, bringing the total to eight girls. We also donated three more laptops and contributed money to fund workshops. Eighteen girls and women received vision exams, and fourteen pairs of glasses were ordered. All of this is possible, thanks to you, our supporters.

(María with self'portrait)

The women in the cooperative are very anxious to find a piece of land on which they could build their own meeting place, the Mujeres de Maíz Opportunity Center. They now pay a monthly rent for the house they use and that money just goes out the window. Property and houses in San Cristóbal have increased dramatically in recent years. We would like to find a way to help them buy property. If you have any ideas, please contact us. We are looking at an amount around $25,000 USD. A house on this property would be used for their workshops, for girls attending school in San Cristóbal, for meeting with other cooperatives.....all related to educational purposes which meets the criteria of Mujeres de Maíz Opportunity Foundation.

Our connection and trust with the women of the cooperative is growing. They struggle daily with poverty and racism and we firmly believe that education will help on both fronts. Thank you for your support. The women are so appreciative, and so are we.

Judith
August 9, 2008

Pronto la primavera

2008-04-29T20:36:00.000-07:00

Queridos amigos,

Durante el invierno mientras muchas cosas se quedaban dormidas, Mujeres estaba floreciendo.

Kiette Tucker, una senior en Northeastern University en Boston, arregló una exhibición de fotos de mujeres indígenas de México, y nos cobró donaciones. Ella perserveró mucho para llevar a cabo su proyecto y nos mostró un espíritu generoso impresionante.

Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church in Edmonds, Washington nos contribuyó la ganancia de su ofrenda por el mes entero de diciembre. Es el segundo año en fila que nos han dado este honor. Las donaciones de esta congregación generosa van a ayudar mucho en la realización de proyectos corrientes y metas del futuro.

En Port Townsend, Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship también nos dio la ganancia de su ofrenda un domingo. Le agradecemos mucho por incluírnos en la lista de caridades que apoyan.

St. Andrew´s Episcopal Church de Port Angeles nos incluyó en su bazar de comercio justo un domingo por la tarde en diciembre.

Estábamos incluído en un catálogo de regalos alternativos, publicado por Cedars Unitarian Universalist Church de Bainbridge Island. Ellos tienen un programa excelente de apoyar a muchas organizaciones sin gana de lucro, y de verdad, ¡ fue un honor ver Mujeres de Maíz Opportunity Foundation en su catálogo!

El Día Internacional de Mujeres está celebrado por Olympic Cellars de Port Angeles. El 5 de marzo, tuvieron una cena de sopa con la oportunidad de probar varios vinos. Además había música de Sequimarimba (nuestra directora Martha Rudersdorf toca la marimba con este grupo). Se divide una porción de la ganancia entre una caridad local y una internacional.....¿puedes adivinar cuál organización recibió este honor? Sí, ¡Mujeres!

Gracias a todos por su apoyo, ánimo y ayuda.

Almost Spring, 2008

2008-03-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Supporters,

Over the winter when many things lie dormant, Mujeres was blooming!

Kiette Tucker, a senior at Northeastern University in Boston, put on an exhibition of photographs of indigenous women of Mexico, and sent the proceeds to us. Kiette showed perserverance and a spirit of giving that is most impressive.

Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church designated us as the offering recipient for the entire month of December. This is the second year in a row that we have been so honored. The gifts of that generous congregation will go far in accomplishing current projects and future goals.

Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Port Townsend also named us as recipient for one of their designated offering Sundays. Again, this was the second year we were fortunate to be on the list of charities that they support.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Port Angeles included us in a Sunday afternoon fair trade bazaar in December. We were excited to be there.

Cedars Unitarian Universalist Church of Bainbridge Island included us in their alternative gift catalog this winter. They have a terrific program of supporting many wonderful groups, and we were humbled to be among them.

International Women's Day is celebrated by Olympic Cellars of Port Angeles. On March 5, they sponsored a soup dinner and wine-tasting, with music by Sequimarimba (our own board member Martha Rudersdorf plays with this amazing group.) A portion of the proceeds are divided between a local and and international charity....and guess who received the international designation??? Mujeres!

Soon our annual funds solicitation letter will arrive on your doorstep. Thank you, in advance, one and all, for your help, encouragement and support.

Judith

Friends of Mujeres

2007-12-01T13:58:00.000-08:00

Thursday, October 18, 2007

We have a new designation...Friends of Mujeres....for people that have shown a special interest in our organization. The first recipients are: Pat Garrity, who accompanied us to Chiapas this past summer. She arranged that the Unitarian Church of Edmonds donate their offertory to us during the months of January and December, 2007. Moreover, she is in the process of contacting other groups to familiarize them with what we are doing. Martha Lumia also went to Chiapas and attended the workshop of the women in the cooperative. She participated in the workshop that we gave about how to make packing lists in English for the products being shipped to the United States. Her enthusiasm for Mujeres is contagious! Last year she created two very pretty original purses for us to sell at our auction. We appreciate Pat and Martha's contributions of time and energy on our behalf.

Eventos en octubre

2007-11-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

"Mujeres" patrocinó dos eventos en octubre y nos da placer decirles que los dos tenían mucho éxito. Ankur Shah, el deseñador de nuestro sitio de web y además el autor de Cooking com bigode (Cocinar con bigote) dio una clase de como cocinar chiles en nogada, un plato tipico y sabroso de México. Asistieron doce personas y todas se divirtieron en preparar y comer la comida que resultó. (Para regalarse una copia del libro de cocinar mencionado arriba, diríjanse a www.somethingconstructive.net/jamanta)

Menos de dos semanas más tarde, el 27 de octubre, dimos la segunda celebración anual de Los Días de Muertos. Una cena tradicional chiapaneca fue servida a 125 personas. Nuestra directora Molly, acompañada de Ankur y dos voluntarias extraordinarias, utilizaron sus distrezas culinarias para preparar una comida excelente. Además hubo un programa de diapositivas que tenía que ver con el Día de Muertos en Oaxaca. La subasta silente consistía en muchos artículos hermosos de Chiapas incluso tejidos y otra artesanía. El Sr. John Bridge condujo la subasta viva.

La organización Soroptimists International de Sequim por segunda vez nos seleccionó para su caridad internacional del año y nos regaló un cheque por $250.

Gracias a todos, especialmente a los que asistieron a estos eventos y nos apoyaron a facilitar el aceso a la educación para las mujeres del cooperativo en San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Judith Pasco

October Events

2007-11-01T21:44:00.000-07:00

Mujeres sponsored two events in October and we are pleased to report that both were worthwhile and successful. Ankur Shah, our venerable website designer and author of "Cooking com Bigode"(go to www.somethingconstructive.net/jamanta to treat yourself to a copy), presented a cooking class that spotlighted the Mexican delicacy, chiles en nogada. Twelve people attended and enjoyed the food preparation and dinner that followed.

Less than two weeks later, on October 27th, the Second Annual Dia de Muertos Celebration was held. A traditional Chiapas dinner was served and a slide program about the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca was presented. The silent auction of wonderful weavings and handicrafts that we had brought back from Chiapas was terrific...not one item remained. John Bridge did a great job as our auctioneer for the several items we had chosen for the live auction. Board member Molly used her skills in the kitchen along with Ankur and two terrific assistant cooks to serve 125 meals! The hall was packed, and people were good natured about moving their chairs, standing at times, and just being accommodating.

The Soroptomists International of Sequim again chose us for their choice of international charity and presented us with a check for $250.

Our board is indeed wonderful. This event couldn't have run as smoothly as it did without everyone playing her part.

Thanks to all, especially those who attended one of these events and supported education for the indigenous women in Chiapas.

Judith Pasco

¡Viaje a Chiapas 2007 realizada!

2007-11-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

Traducida por Ana DiBenedetto

VISIÓN: La educación es multifacética. Un día mientras mirábamos a las mujeres coser, nos dimos cuenta de que se les forzaban los ojos mucho. No sólo hacen trabajo muy de cerca, pero el humo penetrante dentro de sus casas afecta su visión adversamente. Nuestra primera idea era asegurarnos de que las ganadoras de becas recibieran exámenes de visión, pero también pudimos extender la oferta a las mujeres en el taller que también sentían que no veían bien. Una clínica de visión había sido montada fortuitamente en San Cristóbal mientras estábamos allí, y llevamos tres de nuestras nuevas ganadoras de becas, además de Yolanda del año pasado. Cuatro mujeres de la cooperativa nos acompañaron. Todas recibieron exámenes y necesitaron lentes correctivos. Disfrutaron de probarse y seleccionar las monturas. Por el día siguiente, cada una de las ocho tenía gafas nuevas.

TALLER: Linda Finch y Carol Bell, Directoras, y Martha Lumia, una designada Amiga de Mujeres, me acompañó en San Cristóbal a finales de julio. Carmen, nuestra socia invaluable allí, nos pidió que presentáramos una clase para las mujeres de la cooperativa que venían para el taller bi-mensual. Algunos de sus productos están enviados a los Estados Unidos y las listas de contenidos acompañantes necesitaban estar en inglés. Carmen quería que les enseñáramos a las mujeres a hacer una lista de contenidos en inglés. Pasamos dos horas traduciendo listas de productos, descripciones y tamaños del español al inglés. Luego diseñamos una fórmula de código de colores, hicimos ejemplos de práctico con tarjetas, y estábamos listas para empezar. A finales de una hora, las mujeres entendían el orden necesario de las palabras para una lista de contenidos. Fue una experiencia divertida para todos.

COMPUTADORAS: Una de nuestras metas este año fue proporcionar por lo menos una computadora. ¡Felizmente pudimos donar dos! La primera fue una Dell Inspiron comprada en los EEUU pero equipado con programas y un teclado en español. Se compartirá esa computadora entre todas las aldeas. Compramos la segunda computadora en San Cristóbal. Es un modelo ordenador de mesa que proveerá la cooperativa con práctica con una computadora, comunicaciones aumentadas, y un conocimiento más amplio del mundo. En el futuro esperamos añadir más ordenadores portátiles para compartir entre las ocho aldeas que participan en la cooperativa.

VIAJE A GUATEMALA: La Fundación para Oportunidades de las Mujeres de Maíz y Adopt a Village (Adopta una Aldea) de Guatemala patrocinaron juntos un taller en el Centro Maya de Adopt a Village en el norte de la primera semana de agosto. El propósito era de facilitar un intercambio de ideas entre las mujeres indígenas de los dos grupos, con la esperanza de otorgamiento de poderes. Carmen, nuestra socia, y Ceci y Viki de la cooperativa hicieron un viaje laborioso....horas en la parte atrás de una camioneta en caminos duros y montañosos. El taller consistía en un número de ejercicios de dramatización y conversaciones sobre problemas actuales y maneras de superar los obstáculos. Ambas partes sentían que se habían beneficiado del intercambio.

Judith Pasco, 28 de agosto, 2007
Etiqueta: espanol Anunciado por Judith a las 5:26 PM 0 Comentarios

Domingo, 19 de Agosto, 2007
Pensamientos sobre Chiapas, agosto 2007

Las memorias son fenómenas raras. En cuanto salí del vestíbulo de nuestro hotel, Casavieja, en San Cristóbal, mis memorias del pueblo de dos veranos atrás rápidamente me inundaron la mente. Los colores vibrantes de las casas y los mercados indígenas, la amabilidad de la gente, el ambiente tranquilo del zócalo y los restaurantes, y la increíble ética laboral de la gente...todos seguían tal y como los recordaba. Pero esta vez noté otros aspectos de vivir en México. No fue hasta ayer que otra memoria me ayudó a clasificar mi experiencia este verano. Esta viene de un texto mío de geografía del sexto grado. Había un capítulo sobre México con un subtítulo, “La tierra de contraste.” Ahora palabras como “pobreza miserable” y "otorgamiento de poderes" se están metiendo al lado de “belleza” cuando pienso en México.

Un día seis de nosotras fuimos en taxis a Crucero, una aldea afuera de San Cristóbal. Caminamos por un camino de tierra por media hora en el calor cómodo del sol. Este camino simboliza todo lo que México significa para mí en mi estado actual de conciencia.

Primero paramos en casa de Rosita. Estaba enferma con gripe pero tenía otros asuntos médicos más graves que requerían que se ingresara en un hospital donde la trataran con medicina occidental. No puedo imaginarme cómo se sentiría "ser operada" en un hospital cuando la manera indígena de curar enfermedad es una ceremonia con velas, cantos, coca cola, y el sacrificio de una gallina. Su cocina era típica con su horno humeante y suelo de tierra. Su casa hecha de madera tenía dos pequeños cuartos. (Favor de no idealizar esta casa de madera e imaginar una cabaña rústica. Habían muchas brechas en las paredes debido a los pedazos eclécticos de madera. Si jamás has construido una casa de la madera de los árboles que se encuentran en la playa, tendrás una idea más cercana a este edificio.) Luego había el inodoro. Con eso digo suficiente. Pero nos invitó a entrar, nos ofreció café, y nos entabló en conversación. Afuera en el camino, una anciana guiaba una manada pequeña de ovejas negras.

Mientras subimos la colina en pie, andaba nueva construcción en pie. Estas casas eran mucho más grandes que la de Rosita, como 500-600 pies cuadrados. Y eran construidas de bloques de concreto con suelos. Carmen dijo que éstas son de familias que han mandado a esposos, hermanos e hijos a los EEUU para trabajar. Casi toda la gente tiene milpas, o por lo menos así parece. Un campo al lado del camino no sólo tenía maíz sino también calabazas y frijoles cultivando juntos en una relación simbiótica mutuamente satisfactoria.

Llegamos a nuestro destino después de caminar por media hora. Esta casa tenía paredes de lodo/paja, un suelo de tierra y una televisión. La abuela estaba cantando ante muchas velas prendidas mientras una gallina de sacrificio esperaba con paciencia su papel en el curar del esposo enfermo de la mujer. Conectado a esta casa había una estructura donde mujeres en la cooperativa de costureras de la aldea se reúnen para trabajar y guardar su equipo. Estas mujeres están de las más avanzadas para llegar a otorgar poderes, educarse y ser más autosuficientes. Yo podía sentir la “esperanza” entrelazada en los diseños de coser, las telas y las máquinas. Una de las mujeres quería que fuéramos a visitar su casa. Caminamos por una milpa y cuando llegamos a un claro, nos impresionó la vista que valdría un millón de dólares de las selvas al lado de las montañas.

Mis memorias de México tienen un aspecto pintoresco que compite con las fotos más brillantes de turismo. Pero la pobreza es igualmente parte de este país. México es contraste. Me siento tan afortunada de ser parte de La Fundación para Oportunidades de las Mujeres de Maíz. Me ha dado la oportunidad de ver las muchas facetas de este país complejo.

Linda Finch

Judith Pasco, nuestra directora de la junta y una guía con mucha experiencia, guió a un pequeño grupo a Chiapas, México,este verano en una aventura muy emocionante e interesante. Fue una oportunidad rara de viajar “fuera del camino bien viajado” con alguien que es una líder con mucho conocimiento y una amiga. Gracias, Judith por ampliarme el mundo.

Al pensar en qué experiencias más me interesaron, tendría que decir que son ésas que me ayudaron a aprender más sobre la historia, la cultura, y las costumbres de los Maya que hablan Tzotzil y Tzeltal, incluyendo a las mujeres indígenas de la cooperativa con las cuales trabaja la Fundación que habitan las tierras altas de Chiapas.La visita a las ruinas antiguas de los Maya de Toniná con más de 2.000 años de edad, “el lugar donde esculturas de piedra que honran el tiempo permanecen,” y aprender de nuestro guía sobre la cultura de ese lugar, fue una caminata fascinante hacia los tiempos antiguos.

Mientras aprendíamos hacer papel en el Taller Leñateros nos contaron cómo la civilización de los Maya fue una de las primeras en el mundo que inventó una forma de escritura. Todavía se puede ver glíficos de los Maya en las ruinas antiguas. Sólo cuatro libros antiguos han sobrevivido los estragos del tiempo y la guerra y la destrucción deliberada por los invasores españoles, pero nos recuerdan de la cultura avanzada que tenía los Maya.

Por 12.000 años el Nuevo Mundo ha conocido el telar de cintura. Pudimos visitar Tenejapa, un pueblo famoso por sus tejedores, y realmente mirar los tejedores mientras trabajaban. También visitamos en un día de celebración de festival y vimos un desfile de hombres importantes del pueblo en su traje tradicional. No se permitía sacar fotos y los visitantes eran raros. Sentía tan agradecida de estar allí para observar la celebración.

Me encantó nuestra visita a una casa en Zinacantán donde vimos artesanías tejidas y miramos mientras nos cocinaron tortillas adentro, sobre un fuego abierto.

En el pueblo de Chamula visitamos una iglesia y observamos cómo la gente ha combinado elementos del catolicismo con sus religiones antiguas que utilizan curanderos chamanes.

Las oportunidades que tuve para experimentar la cultura de la gente local de San Cristóbal y las áreas alrededor como huésped más que turista, me han enriquecido tanto. Ahora entiendo mejor el mundo donde las mujeres de la cooperativa viven. Ojalá que me ayude a ser un miembro de la junta más útil cuando trabajemos juntas con las mujeres de la cooperativa mientras se encaran a la inevitable transición que tendrán que hacer en el mundo más grande que se acerca.

Pat Lang, secretaria

anunciado por Judith a las 11:46 AM 0 COMENTARIOS

Amigas de Mujeres

2007-10-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

Tenemos una designación nueva.....Amigas de Mujeres.... para unas personas que nos han mostrado un interés especial en nuestra organización. Las primeras ganadoras son:

Pat Garrity

Pat nos acompañó a Chiapas el verano pasado. Ella arregló que la iglesia Unitariano Universalista nos donó los fondos de su oferta para los meses de enero y diciembre de 2007. Además, ella está en el proceso de contactar a otros grupos para que conozcan nuestra organización.

Martha Lumia

También fue a Chiapas y asistió el taller de las mujeres en San Cristóbal. Ella participó en el taller que nosotras les dio en cuanto a como hacer listas en inglés para los paquetes de sus productos que mandan a Estados Unidos. Ella siempre tiene mucho entusiasmo de la parte de nuestra organización. El año pasado ella creó dos bolsas muy lindas para vender en nuestra subasta.

2007 CHIAPAS MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

2007-08-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

VISION

Education is multi-faceted. One day while watching the women sew, we realized that their eyes were under a great deal of strain. Not only do they do very close work, but the pervasive smoke inside their homes adversely affects vision. Our first thought was to make sure that our scholarship recipients had eye exams, but we were able to extend the offer to women at the workshop who also felt they were not seeing very well.

A vision clinic had fortuitously been set up in San Cristóbal while we were there, and we took three of our newly awarded scholarship girls, as well as Yolanda from last year. Four women from the cooperative accompanied us. All received exams and all needed corrective lenses. They enjoyed trying on and selecting frames. By the next day, all eight had new glasses.

WORKSHOP

Linda Finch and Carol Bell, Directors, and Martha Lumia, a designated Friend of Mujeres, joined me in San Cristóbal at the end of July. Carmen, our invaluable associate there, asked us to put on a class for the women of the cooperative who were coming for their bi-monthly workshop. Some of their products are shipped to the United States and the accompanying packing lists need to be in English. Carmen wanted us to teach the women how to do a packing list in English. We spent two hours translating lists of products, descriptions and sizes from Spanish to English. Then we came up with a color-coded formula, made practice manipulatives with note cards, and were ready to go. By the end of an hour, the women understood the necessary word order of a packing list. It was a fun experience for all.

COMPUTERS

One of our goals this year was to provide at least one computer. Happily we were able to donate two! The first was a Dell Inspiron purchased in the U.S. but equipped with Spanish programming and a Spanish keyboard. This computer will be shared among the villages. The second computer we purchased in San Cristóbal. It's a desktop model that will provide the cooperative with computer practice, increased communications, and a wider knowledge of the world. In the future we hope to add more laptops to share among the eight villages that participate in the cooperative.

TRIP TO GUATEMALA

Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation and Adopt a Village of Guatemala jointly sponsored a workshop at the Maya Center of Adopt a Village in Northern Guatemala the first week of August. The purpose was to facilitate an exchange of ideas among the indigenous women of the two groups, with a hope of empowerment. Carmen, our associate, and Ceci and Viki from the cooperative made the arduous journey....hours in the back of a pickup on rough, mountainous roads. The workshop consisted of a number of role playing exercises and discussions about current problems and ways to surmount obstacles. Both sides felt that they had benefited from the exchange.

Judith Pasco, August 28, 2007

Thoughts on Chiapas, August 2007

2007-08-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

Memories are strange phenomena. As soon as I stepped out of the lobby of our hotel, Casavieja, in San Cristobal, my memories of the town from two summers ago came rushing to the forefront. The vibrant colors of the houses and the indigenous markets, the friendliness of the people, the laid back ambiance of the Zocolo and restaurants, and the incredible work ethic of the people were still just as I had remembered them. But this time I noticed other aspects of living in Mexico. It wasn't until yesterday that another memory helped me categorize my experience this summer. This one comes from my sixth grade geography text. There was a chapter on Mexico with a subtitle, "The Land of Contrast."

Now words like "abject poverty" and "empowerment" are pushing their way in beside "beauty" when I think of Mexico.

One day six of us took taxis to Crucero, a village outside of San Cristobal. We walked along a dirt road for about half an hour in the comfortable heat of the sun. This road symbolizes all that Mexico means for me at my present moment of awareness.

We first stopped at Rosita's. She was ill with a cold but had more serious medical issues which were requiring her to be hospitalized and treated with Western-style medicine. I can't imagine how she must feel to "go under the knife" in a hospital when the indigenous approach to curing illness is often a ceremony with candles, chanting, Coca Cola, and the sacrifice of a chicken. Her kitchen was typical with its smoky cooking stove and dirt floor. Her house made of wood had two tiny rooms. (Please don't idealize this wooden house and envision a rustic cabin. There were many gaps in the walls due to the eclectic pieces of wood. If you have ever built a house out of driftwood at the beach, you will have a closer idea to the building.) Then there was the latrine. Enough said. Yet she invited us in, offered us coffee, and engaged in conversation. Outside on the road, an elderly lady led a small herd of black sheep.

As we walked up the hill, there was new construction going on. These homes were much larger than Rosita's, about 500-600 square feet. And they were made of concrete blocks with floors. Carmen said that these belong to families who have sent husbands, brothers, sons to the US to work. Almost all people have cornfields or so it seems. One field by the road had not only corn but squash and beans growing together in a mutually satisfying symbiotic relationship.

We reached our destination after half an hour of walking. This house had mud/straw walls, a dirt floor and a television. The grandmother was chanting before many burning candles while the sacrificial chicken patiently awaited its role in the curing of the woman's sick husband. Attached to this house was a concrete structure where women in the sewing cooperative from that village meet to work and store their equipment. These women are on the cutting edge of becoming empowered, educated, and more self-sufficient. I could feel "hope" entwined in their sewing patterns, material, and machines. One of the women wanted us to come up to visit her house. We walked through a cornfield, and when we came to a clearing, were struck by the million dollar view of the jungles on the mountainside.

My Mexico memories have a picturesque aspect that rivals the glossiest of tourism photos. But poverty is equally a part of the country. Mexico is contrast. I feel so fortunate to be part of Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation. It has given me an opportunity to see the many facets of this complex country.

Linda Finch

Judith Pasco, our board chair and experienced guide, led a small group to Chiapas, Mexico this summer on a very exciting and interesting adventure. It was a rare chance to travel “off the beaten path” with a very knowledgeable leader and friend. Thank you, Judith for expanding my world.

In thinking about what experiences most interested me I would have to say they were ones that helped me learn more about the history, culture, and customs of the Tzotzil and Tzeltal speaking Maya, including the indigenous women of the cooperative our foundation works with, who inhabit the Highlands of Chiapas.

Visiting the over 2,000 year old Mayan ruins of Tonina, “place where time-honoring stone sculptures stand,” and learning from our guide about the culture of that place was a fascinating walk back to ancient times.

While learning to make paper at Taller Lenateros we were told about how the Mayan civilization was one of the earliest in the world to invent a form of writing. Mayan glyphs can still be seen on some of the ancient ruins. Only four ancient books have survived the ravages of time and war and the deliberate destruction by the Spanish invaders but they remind us of the advanced culture the Mayans had.

For 12,000 years the New World has known backstrap weaving. We were able to visit Tenejapa, a town famous for its weavers, and actually watch weavers at work. We also visited on a day of a festival celebration and saw a parade of important men of the town in their native dress. Pictures were not allowed and visitors were rare. I felt so thankful to be there to observe the celebration.

I loved our visit to a home in Zinacantan where we saw weaving crafts and watched while tortillas were cooked for us indoors over an open fire

In the town of Chamula we visited a church and observed how the people have combined elements of Catholicism with their ancient religion that uses shaman healers.

The opportunities I had to experience the culture of the local people of San Cristobal and the surrounding areas as a guest more than a tourist, were so enriching. I now have a better understanding of the world the women of the cooperative live in. Hopefully that will help me be a more useful board member as we work together with the cooperative as they face the inevitable transition they must make into the greater world that is approaching.

Pat Lang, secretary

Chiapas bound soon

2007-06-21T20:58:00.000-07:00

As you can imagine, it's a privilege to work with the Mujeres de Maiz. In a month, I'll lead a cultural and historical tour of San Cristobal de las Casas and environs, in Chiapas, Mexico.

We have a number of talks, excursions and experiences awaiting us. At the end of the trip, Linda Finch, Carol Bell and I will spend a week more, with time spent at the women's cooperative bi-monthly meeting.

We will be awarding 4 new scholarships. All the girls receiving scholarships will have exams and if needed, glasses. The new laptop with Spanish keyboard which we are carrying with us will be presented, and we will buy a new computer for the cooperative's meeting house. In addition we will donate funds that will pay for educational workshops.

The week following, we three, and perhaps two women from the cooperative, will go to Guatemala and together with Adopt a Village, will sponsor an empowerment workshop of indigenous women. More on that later.

It is essential that when we give a scholarship that we carry it through. This involves a continuing commitment in funds for several years. Because we are a fledgling organization, we would be most grateful for anyone who could make a pledge of a yearly donation. If you can, or if you know of someone who is interested in education, Maya culture, empowerment of women, poverty relief, Mexico, or just a good cause, please point him/her our direction. We would be most grateful.

More later. If you wish to contact us, please find the contact information on our website.

Happy summer.

Judith

Judith's March notes

2007-03-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

Greetings,

March used to seem like the longest month, maybe that's a teacher thing, but here it is the 25th and it has flown by. The board got together and sent out the annual donation request. If you didn't get a mailing with our latest info, drop us an email with your address, and I'll be glad to put one in the mail. (mujeres@olypen.com)

We are excited about our summer trip to Chiapas. I am taking a small group to San Cristobal in July. We will expand our culture horizons, learn about the current political situation and visit one of the towns of the women in the cooperative. When the group goes home, Linda and Carol will join me to attend the women's bi-monthly workshop and go to Guatemala to co-sponsor a workshop with Adopt a Village. More on that later.

The planning stage of the trip affords me lots of opportunities to connect with folks in Chiapas..both people who were born there and people who have chosen it for there home. I look forward to meeting some of these contacts on the trip. Without their help and support planning would be much more difficult.

We have been donated a lot of fabric which we are attempting to sell at less than bargain basement prices. If you need partial or full bolts of tencel blends, various weights and patterns, at $1 per yard, let us know.

We plan to offer eye exams and glasses to women in the cooperative. We are still working on the laptop issue, but our plan is to take 3 this time. We hope to attend a class at the school where our first scholarship recipient is attending, and we plan to award 2-3 more scholarships, this time for girls to continue education at the secondary level.

Onward and upward!!

Peace, Judith

2006 Review!!

2007-02-13T17:49:00.000-08:00

The Board of Directors met the 3rd of February, and among other things took a look at some accomplishments in our first year of "being"! I am including them here, because it's been an amazing year, many thanks due to our already loyal supporters. Also, please expect your annual donation request about the third week in March. We promised a once a year request only, and it'll soon be in your mailboxes.

DISCUSSION OF 2006 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Board of Directors elected
Bylaws created
Bank account established
P. O. Box and official address set up
Creation of: logo design; address labels; cards ( for sale, for special occasion and
memorial donations, for acknowledgements, and for thank you notes);
postcards; Foundation letterhead; and business cards
Mailing list and spread sheet
March 2006 Solicitation letter sent out
Website created / Spanish translation added
Email address/ generous consideration by Olypen
Bank account set up in San Cristobal
Scholarship and Spanish/English dictionary given to first recipient
Honorarium given to Carmen for scholarship coordination work
Rent subsidy for Cooperative for six workshops
Books for children of Cooperative members
Scissors donated to the sewing cooperative
Articles of Incorporation
Conflict Resolution Policy
Foundation achieves non-profit, tax exempt 501 (c) (3) status
Fall 2006 Newsletter mailed
Excellent newspaper articles about the Foundation in Sequim and PA papers
Very successful Day of the Dead Celebration Fundraiser ---$2109
Original maps of Mexico and Chiapas designed
Three powerpoint programs given: Highline, Sequim Soroptimists & at Fundraiser
Requests for “Donate the Plate” contributions from area UU churches
System of recording donations and responses
Establishment of a BLOG

In the works

2007-01-11T20:19:00.000-08:00

Un prospero ano nuevo.....

Exciting things are in the works! We are finding that running a non-profit is a process, a work in progress. One thing leads to another which opens up something else which give us a new idea....well, you see how it is.

We are working on acquiring newish, good condition laptops to take to San Cristobal this coming summer. Six would be a good number to start. I just sent off our first grant dealing with that...I'm sure it'll be the first of many. It would be helpful if the women in the cooperative could have access to a computer in their villages, for both practice and educational purposes.

The first preliminary questions are being asked about getting eye care and glasses to the women. Education can't take place without sight. Many women have damaged eyes due to the ever present smoke in the houses, and hours cooking tortillas. As they have no access to health care and no funds, eye exams are not an option. This is an exciting tangent to our goal of providing educational opportunities.

We have been invited to visit a village in northern Guatemala ("we" being board members and members of the cooperative) to participate in a leadership workshop on women's rights. This is quite exciting. Logistically it is a challenge, as the Guatemala village is remote, and we'd have to coordinate dates, transportation, etc, but the idea is wonderful and it would be such a privilege to share this kind of experience.

The two trips to Chiapas this summer are in the planning stage as well. For more information please contact me at mujeres@olypen.com .

And, last but not least, soon we will have the news about how many girls that are finishing their primary education will apply for scholarships from us so they can continue at the secondary level. Our scholarships not only pay for school expenses, they pay for room and board if the girl has to board in another town. Most small villages have no secondary school. Moreover, if the girl is actively contributing to the family income, we will offer a stipend back to her parents so they will not be losing money by allowing her to continue her education.

So....that's what is in the works.

We'll keep you posted.

Peace, Judith

Welcome! Bienvenidos!

2006-12-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Mujeres supporters,

This is entry numero uno on a blog that links from our website to keep you up to date on the latest developments of Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation. Before anything else, we send a heartfelt thanks to all of you who have so generously made our first year an incredible success.

As you know, we presented Yolanda with our first scholarship in August. We just received an email from her yesterday, filled with holiday greetings from her and her family.

We are investigating the best way to acquire laptop computers to take with us next summer. If you have any ideas please let us know.

We were the recipient of Quimper Unitarian-Universalist Church in Pt. Townsend's "designated offering" program in November. Their generosity resulted in a wonderful check for us of $819. Edmonds UU Church has offered to do the same in January. Mil gracias.

Ankur, our web designer, is hard at work again (in India) adding the Spanish version of our website. He also is linking this blog to the site. We send him our love and appreciation.

Happy holidays to all from Linda, Pat, Martha, Molly, Carol and me.

Judith