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.



Monday, September 29, 2008

First Entry from Volunteer Rachel Wickland

After being in Ziquitaro for a week, I have come to a realization: Ziquitaro is so close to paradise, yet so far away at the same time. By this, I mean that Ziquitaro is an amazing place with beautiful people and wonderful scenery and a mode of life that is altogether tranquil and amicable. However, the issues that the town of Ziquitaro and its people face are worn on its sleeve. The need for progress is evident in the unpaved roads that turn into rivers when it rains, the stray dogs in the streets, and empty houses that should be homes to families that have been forced to look for work in the United States because there is no opportunity to make a living in their own town. These issues may seem like a simple fix to most, but the reality is that there is no immediate answer as these issues are far too complex for a quick fix.

As far as classes go, I could not be happier!! I love all of my students, especially at the Telesecundaria. All of my kids are very bright and I can see great potential in all of them. Katherine and I have broken down the classes so that I am working mostly with the older age groups and she with the younger, which works out fantastically because it meets our interests best.

At the Telesecundaria we have had a great reception and the teachers seem very willing to work with us. The problems Rachel talked about in earlier blogs still persist with teachers not being in class, etc. However, we have a new director at the Tele so I am hopeful.

My intention is to format my classes so that I am teaching themes that will be useful. One of the things that has been an absolute hit is the ¨Phrase de la Semana¨ with my Jr. High kids. So far we have had ¨What´s up?¨ as the first phrase. It is hilarious to be in such a small town in rural Mexico and hear the kids greet me with ¨What´s up teacher?¨ This way, the students can learn common phrases that we use in the US that are not a part of a formal education in English.

I had all of my students fill out an autobiography on the first day of school and they all have very high goals. Most of my young men want to be mechanics, soccer players, or information technologists. Most of my girls would like to be teachers and doctors. I really hope these classes will help them achieve their goals.
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