Zapotec Post-Earthquake Reconstruction | Oaxaca MX

“My name is Andrea, I am guiding a program that aspires to strengthen artisan collectives with tools, that allow them to generate sustainable livelihoods. In our region, indigenous artisans are producing high-quality products with low environmental impact, we are organizing ourselves based on social economy and fair trade but we had found many difficulties along the way. 

In the last months, we found out that artisans have a lot of difficulties growing as entrepreneurs because they can’t access loans or fairways to obtain resources. In our state, is hard to get loans from traditional banks because they ask for too many requirements, so people are forced to look for local moneylenders who charge more than 20% of interest, which makes artisans being debtors for many years. 

That’s why we decided to start a process of training for 5 cooperatives, 2 initiatives, and 5 more groups of artisans for learning new ways of saving. People of different communities such as Juchitán, Salina Cruz, Ixtaltepec, and Espinal participated. During the saving workshops, women decided to organize themselves for creating their own way of financing their projects. They want to create their own community-saving bank, based on confidence and equity, that is why they are looking for other collectives who believe in a solidary economy. They want to create a replicable methodology for initiating this process in different communities, so they can expand their saving funds. 

The network of artisan collectives that are being part of Una mano para Oaxaca programs is growing. For us, it's important to find ways of professional strengthening that respect our livelihoods.” 

Thanks to your help, it has been possible to share more learning opportunities for the guardians of traditional trades on whom much of the local economy depends. 

Since UMPO started we were focus on the importance of creating secure and recreative spaces for children's development. The first workshop we opened was traditional guitar and zapotec singing, but we are always looking for other kinds of opportunities for the promotion of a place in which they can socialize, learn and share expiriences, a place in which they can express their emotions and be heard. That's why during this year, our most faithful children public: Zahir, Miranda, Ivonne, Alexandra, Brando, Sebastián, Cecilia, Kimberly, Emiliani, Luis, and Abi, participated in a workshop to develop artistic painting abilities. They were guided by Valentin, a graphic artist who shared with them how to mix colors to express through art what UMPO means in their lives. 

The group was surprised by Alan, a boy who was walking down the street selling candies, kids invited him to participate in the workshop. “My name is Alan, tomorrow I want to come again, May I arrive later? I have to work early in the morning, but I want to paint, I liked being here today, it makes me feel good” he expressed to the group, while he was leaving after the first day of the workshop.  

The pandemic lockdown limited a lot of educative and artistic activities for children in our community. This generation of children was affected by two crises, the 2017 earthquake and COVID-19, during the last 4 years they have had no more than 2 years of regular school.  “I have 10 years old, and I have come to UMPO since I was six, for me, UMPO means practicing our culture, I feel very happy when I come here, I enjoy arts and of course to paint,” said Zahir, one of the oldest participants of our workshops for children. 

We aspire to a stress-free childhood, the economic affectations for zapotec kids are worrying, most of them have grown up surrounded by villages in reconstruction and social chaos. Half of their lives have been based on uncertainty. Ivonne an 8-year-old girl shared “I am grateful UMPO helps children to avoid stress, I am always stressed about school, being here is being in a space of freedom”

Face the actual emotional situation of the community children was hard, but also it is a motor for boost more activities for them, their happiness for us is invaluable, we want to have more sharing moments. As part of the activities to promote a healthy childhood we are looking for new experiences, volunteering, and workshops to give children the stimulation they need to grow in a healthy environment.

Thank you for being part of this dream,  UMPO's Health and cultural community center is an open space for everyone, thank you for providing a safe space for children. 

Links:

• Painting workshop