Zapotec Post-Earthquake Reconstruction | Oaxaca MX

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

"My name is Elsa, I am 49 years old and I am from Asunción Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca. I choose to take the natural medicine workshop to initiate my career as a healing guide. I had my first approach to ancestral wisdom because of my mom, she used to make “limpias”(spiritual cleaning) for the newborn children through the preparation of teas and oils. When I was a girl I liked to watch her working as curandera and I learned a lot from her. When I became mom of my two children, one of them was born with bronchi sickness. I was very worried about administering pharmacs to him because of the secondary effects. 

That was when I heard about the Una Mano Para Oaxaca workshop, I thought it was an opportunity to learn about medicinal benefits from plants and herbs. I have participated in many workshops  and I am very grateful about all the learning that has amplified my vision about ancestral medicine and increased my interest to investigate more about them. 

After the healer training, I decided to launch my own products such as soaps, creams and medicinal syrups. I like to be sure about the effects and reactions of the products I make, so I am the first user before putting them up for sale. I also sell some products to my family according to their needs such as tinctured passion-flower as a remedy for insomnia, I explain to them how to take it and I make sure they consume it correctly to witness the benefits. Due to the pandemic I have not been able to continue sales and have focused on family-friendly products.

With the learnings I have gotten, I feel more confident in using herbs and recommending others which plants and how to use them. For me It is very satisfying when people come and tell me about their illnesses and I can recommend herbal teas or baths for their improvement. I think that traditional medicine was in my genes but my love for plants woke up when the herbalism workshops began.When you really like to do something, you start asking, observing, and then you can apply all your knowledge to help your family and your community."

Thank you, for thank you for allowing us to create this network of women to heal our communities. We wish you strenght and health.