Current Project:


First Step is currently looking for two volunteers to teach English in Ziquítaro Michoacán for the Winter semester (February – June 2010), the Fall semester (August – December 2010) or both. Volunteers will be teaching English classes to community members of all ages. Classes will take place both in the local public schools as well as in the town center. Volunteers are not required to have a teaching degree, although experience teaching is preferable. Basic Spanish proficiency is required. If you are interested in teaching these semesters or any semester in the future please email Rachel Miers at rachelmiers@gmail.com for more information and/or an application.





Current Fundraiser: Cookbook

Obtaining non-profit status is a slow process so in the meantime we are heading a few fundraising efforts in order to provide the volunteers with a living stipend as well as buy needed classroom materials. As part of a school project, some of English students worked together with Katherine Ferry and Rachel Wickland to compile a bilingual cookbook with some of their favorite recipes (about 15 in total). We are selling the book (which can be sent via email in PDF form) for $12 or I send you a hard copy for $16. All of the proceeds will go directly to the project in Mexico. If you would like to buy a cookbook you can email me your request at rachelmiers@gmail.com (note whether you would like the PDF or hard copy version). I will then give you the address to which you can send a check. Any extra donations are greatly appreciated! Thanks for your help and staying posted with the blog!

Town Profile

Location:
Ziquítaro is located in the central state of Michoacán, Mexico and is roughly one hour and a half driving distance from Michoacán’s capital - Morelia. Ziquítaro is considered a “rancheria” or ranch town as it is a small community which originally developed around a ranch. There is no official sign or paved off ramp for Ziquítaro just a dirt road turnoff on the side of the highway. Ziquítaro is located about 5 kilometers (three miles) away from the highway.

Commerce & Population:
With the exception of small family run convenience stores operated out of houses, Ziquítaro boasts no established commerce as employment opportunities are minimal. A majority of the town is dedicated to sustenance agricultural production. While many town members work in  the neighboring town six kilometers away, the majority choose to immigrate to the United States, their primary destinations being California and Texas. It is estimated that 2000- 3000 of the town's 4000 members are living and working in the US. Consequently, a large portion of family income is derived from remittances - the money sent from those working in the US. Due to this out-migration o Ziquítaro is inhabited primarily by women, children and the elderly.

Educational Opportunities:
Ziquítaro offers public schooling from kindergarten to junior high. The nearest high school is located a short bus ride away in a neighboring town. The junior high is a “tele-secundaria” literally translating to “TV junior high”.  This educational program, which began in 1968, was enacted as an attempt to bring enhanced educational opportunities to impoverished rural communities. The telesecundaria program uses minimal resources as lessons are imparted through televised lesson plans which are sent to the schools via satellite and shown to students with the guidance of a Procter. Junior high, and in many cases elementary school, is often the last formal education the town’s children receive as immigration becomes a viable and attractive possibility once a student turns 14.

Religion:
The majority of the town members are catholic thus allowing for the church to assume a central role in the community. The town’s priest, Manuel Vazquez Rubio, has been working in the community for two years and has enlivened the town with his religious sermons as well as his work and supportive presence in the community. Much activity and energy revolves around the town’s religious festivities which span from December to January. The importance of the festivities are reflected by the significant increase in town population; on average over 1000-1500 town members return from the US to visit family members and take part in the communal religious celebrations, causing the town’s population to nearly double.



Thursday, April 10, 2008

Community Support

Today I began the bulk of my research for my thesis which will explore how the Mexican federal government’s poverty alleviation program progresa-oportunidades has actually worsened the quality of education in rural Mexican towns (see blog entry entitled “The Hidden Faults of Progresa” to learn more). While I wanted to interview a large sample of my junior high students’ parents, I now find myself with limited time as I will be returning to Berkeley in mid-may. So, Michel and I set up a large parent teacher meeting with the parents of each age group in order to explain my project and give out an anonymous survey about their thoughts and concerns regarding the program. Once I receive the completed surveys I am going to narrow my questions and then interview a few of the parents individually for a more in-depth perspective. During the meeting I also explained the progress of their students, the research I am doing and the long term goals for the project here in Ziquitaro.

While I set up the meeting primarily as an avenue in which to send out my surveys, it actually turned into a lively conversation about the continuation of the English classes. When Michel and I told the parents that we are in the process of making the work we are doing in Ziquitaro a long term project with a steady stream of volunteers, their eyes lit up. They began to express their gratitude for the English classes which they acknowledged to be an invaluable resource for young people in a migrant sending community like Ziquitaro. The parents also offered to help in any way they could with the new incoming volunteers. Preparing meals for volunteers and helping with transportation were just two of the many ideas they brainstormed.

The town members’ enthusiasm in stride with our conviction about the importance of these classes has pushed Michel and I to create a non profit organization around the work we are doing here in Ziquitaro. Continuing the English classes will hopefully just be the start as we hope to expand the organization to deal with other challenges the community faces. While obtaining legal non-profit status is a long process, we have already begun aspects such as designing a strategic plan, and a preliminary mission statement. We will keep you posted as the process unfolds.
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