Education for 250 working children in Chiapas

Happy Holidays and thank you very much

Dear, this 2023 we have been able to continue and strengthen educational development to defend the rights of 250 working girls, boys and adolescents from San Cristóbal de las Casas.
This December they were able to meet in a recreation space to share, reflect and generate agreements to live well “lekil kuxlejal” (in Tsotsil), at the annual meeting of NNAT's. We share the following video so you can see what was done and share it with your loved ones. https://fb.watch/pgzKCVsLV8/?

We greatly appreciate your constant collaboration, without it we would not be able to continue our work, we hope to continue counting on it next year.

This video summarizes some of the year's activities, with the girls and boys narrating their learning. https://youtu.be/KCYPckCSL3Y?si=UFHPrnWWpls_LRcC

We wish you happy holidays in the company of your loved ones and the greatest success for 2024.

Fondly,

Melel Xojobal Team

There is a reality in San Cristóbal de las Casas and in many other places in Mexico and the world where children work to contribute to the family income, without a doubt, the first thing that must be guaranteed is the rights of children, the identity , education, health, family, etc., however, we cannot close our eyes to the inequality that exists in the world, which forces the whole family to work. 

As a society, we have the responsibility to collaborate in various ways in order for there to be a more equitable distribution of wealth, but while that happens, we can create dignified and safe work spaces for children to work together with their families and trusted people.

Melel Xojobal accompanies training processes for the promotion of children's rights, but an unwritten right to which they refer is: Decent work, but what is it to work with dignity for the indigenous children of San Cristóbal?

"Decent work is not carrying heavy things, playing, studying, I work to earn money, buy my school supplies, to buy a place, to buy my food, clothes, if I don't work I can't help my family, if they take away our work that the government gives us our fortnight.” – Héctor, child worker at the Merposur market.

During these months we have approached the subject in an artistic way with them, creating songs so that they can express what they feel, why they work and their identity.

In the following internet links you can find videos, with English subtitles, so that you can learn more about the spaces and the direct work:

Song for children and adolescents from the Merposur food market: https://youtu.be/s0eoRJixmPk

Song for girls, boys and adolescents from the craft market in Plaza Catedral: https://youtu.be/Ym_k8mVmoLM

Song for girls, boys and adolescents from the Santo Domingo craft market: https://youtu.be/GsLSFpbEfvY

We invite you to follow us on our social networks @melelxojobal and learn much more about our work.

On behalf of the entire Melel Xojobal team, we appreciate your constant solidarity for this project and we hope to continue counting on it, rest assured that it is correctly distributed among the population served. 

Greetings to you and yours.

Thank you.