Tlamacazapa
Tlamacazapa, had been our Canadian project for two bienniums.
Unfortunately, its course has now run to its end. However, fund raising for Tlama remains a project of the South Vancouver Island Chapter.
Donations for the Tlamacazapa project can still be made. Contact Lennor for information ([email protected])
Unfortunately, its course has now run to its end. However, fund raising for Tlama remains a project of the South Vancouver Island Chapter.
Donations for the Tlamacazapa project can still be made. Contact Lennor for information ([email protected])
An update on Tlama was received from Lennor on April 16, 2024.
ATZIN UPDATE, April 2024
You asked how we were doing.
Right now, we take tiny steps, sometimes on tiptoe, but bravely and steadily.
Tihueliske Education for Children. Starting in 2006, and evolving as a most successful mainstay program, hundreds of children enrolled in Tihueliske over the years and learned the basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic while studying in a small group with a local Atzin educator. Remember, this program was self-made, mostly designed and tested by longstanding volunteers, Diana Benavides (Los Angeles), Jutta Klass (Hamburg) and Mimi Dupuis (Ottawa), and held outdoors at tables with long wooden benches (made by student volunteers from Irvine High School in southern Alberta in 1999!). Amazingly, with comparatively few resources and a good sized field next door for such activities as “movement and music,” the children generally progressed with literacy at a good pace. Many passed on to a primary school after a year or two, while others continued with Tihueliske.
Viable option. Some months ago, recognizing that there was now a viable schooling option for village school-aged children, we had toyed with the idea of discontinuing our Tihueliske Education Program. A primary school in the barrio of Santiago called Bilingüe (meaning Bilingual as the school offers classes in Nahuatl) has free enrollment, offers federal scholarships at grade three, and gives students a uniform, while providing regular classes. At the end of January 2024, we moved "our" children over to that school, and let go of Tihueliske, by no means an easy task or transition for the children and the educators (who loved those kids).
Tihueliske Children: end of a long run. The usual for many years: 4-5 tables of 8-10 children.
Insecurity. As some of you know, those involved with drug trafficking invaded Tlamacazapa in early December 2023 and, since then (what looks like two) warring cartels, heavily armed, have made their presence felt every week in January and February on the streets of the village, fighting for territory control and road passage. In mid-January, the increase of violence and insecurity caused all schools to close, both in Tlamacazapa and in Taxco, the municipal capital; in early March, two primary schools in Tlama partially re-opened, and by end March, all were functioning due to a reported temporary truce between cartels. No one knows how long this insecure situation will last but once again, people living in poverty pay the highest price.
Special Needs. The Atzin promoters has been working hard to “catch up” on visits to the people with special needs in Tlamacazapa in order to update their support and records. Since 5th of January, the two promoters with this main responsibility have contacted 91 families (31 families that came to the Day of Kings celebration on 6 January 2024 at the Atzin Centre in Tlamacazapa, followed by home visits to the others). This is a remarkable achievement given the steep terrain and tense village conditions since early December.
Here is the current breakdown of the people, both children and adults, registered with Atzin.
As of end March: updated numbers on “active” list (receiving attention with medication or vitamin supplements; funds for medical appts and transport; participation in the Early Stimulation program; home visits; food packages; victim advocacy; or therapy support): CHILD: 30. ADULT: 28. TOTAL: 58.
Number “retired” from Special Needs list in 2024 (for whatever reason, mostly due to moved out of village; death; or more stable health status; sufficient family support): CHILD: 12. ADULT: 25.
What has the promoter team found out during visits and chatting with families?
As always, those with special needs need special attention.
Special Needs. The Atzin promoters has been working hard to “catch up” on visits to the people with special needs in Tlamacazapa in order to update their support and records. Since 5th of January, the two promoters with this main responsibility have contacted 91 families (31 families that came to the Day of Kings celebration on 6 January 2024 at the Atzin Centre in Tlamacazapa, followed by home visits to the others). This is a remarkable achievement given the steep terrain and tense village conditions since early December.
Here is the current breakdown of the people, both children and adults, registered with Atzin.
As of end March: updated numbers on “active” list (receiving attention with medication or vitamin supplements; funds for medical appts and transport; participation in the Early Stimulation program; home visits; food packages; victim advocacy; or therapy support): CHILD: 30. ADULT: 28. TOTAL: 58.
Number “retired” from Special Needs list in 2024 (for whatever reason, mostly due to moved out of village; death; or more stable health status; sufficient family support): CHILD: 12. ADULT: 25.
What has the promoter team found out during visits and chatting with families?
As always, those with special needs need special attention.
- To the promoters’ surprise, so many people talked about their gratitude to this program, having received special attention in one way or another over the years.
- The reported challenges are shifting, with more children diagnosed with hyperactivity, convulsions, or inability to communicate;
- The updated list of 58 people represents a heavy workload, indicating the need for an additional promoter (who will also need orientation and training);
- The increasing price of prescribed medications and consultations is beyond the economic means of more families, especially for chronic conditions;
- The program benefits tremendously from guidance from experienced volunteers, promoter training and closer supervision.
Special Needs: Reminder of why we do this work.
Freedom Fund. The legal process of our former program coordinator, Xochitl Ramirez, really started on 12th April 2024 as the judge accepted most, but not all, of the evidence of her innocence submitted by the defense (6 of 12 witness testimonies and 4 of 5 expert reports). The next hearing is to be scheduled, likely in May, in which a new judge will hear presentations of evidence by the prosecutors and defense. Xochitl has been held in the state prison in horrific conditions since the 3rd May 2023, falsely charged with kidnapping. For more information, see our 3-minute video at Justice for Xochitl Ramirez: An alarming case of mistaken identity (youtube.com).
GG relationship ends. This month our partnership with Global Giving has completed, mostly due to unfavorable exchange rates, issues with income tax receipts and unreasonable reporting expectations. To make a donation, please go to www.atzin.org – all support gratefully accepted.
Contributions to village life. We now tackle our next tasks: planning for the training of trainers and working out the most promising activities, such as computer skills by promoters; feasibility of remote learning; and maybe, the option of "summer school" for kids. In the meantime, we continue with midwifery, early stimulation, condolence visits, ecological stoves and gardens, scholarships, and special needs – all valuable contributions to village life.
GG relationship ends. This month our partnership with Global Giving has completed, mostly due to unfavorable exchange rates, issues with income tax receipts and unreasonable reporting expectations. To make a donation, please go to www.atzin.org – all support gratefully accepted.
Contributions to village life. We now tackle our next tasks: planning for the training of trainers and working out the most promising activities, such as computer skills by promoters; feasibility of remote learning; and maybe, the option of "summer school" for kids. In the meantime, we continue with midwifery, early stimulation, condolence visits, ecological stoves and gardens, scholarships, and special needs – all valuable contributions to village life.
Kitchen Gardens: Petra waters her square foot garden
As we wait for better times ahead, everyone needs to be low key, patient and deliberate. Wish us luck as we persist in making the impossible, possible. The fact is: your generosity made it all happen to begin with.
Thank you.
Thank you.
All members are encouraged make donations to these projects.
You can find further information by e-mailing Lennor (South Vancouver Island Chapter),
at [email protected].
You can find further information by e-mailing Lennor (South Vancouver Island Chapter),
at [email protected].
Edited August 10, 2016; September 27, 2017; December 11, 2018; October 4, 2019; June 20, 2020; April 16, 2021; September 29, 2021; November 12, 2021. February 12, 2022; January 2, 2023; November 7, 2023; April 26, 2024.