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.



Sunday, October 5, 2008

Letter from Rachel Wickland to blog readers: “Please Help”

Dear Blog Readers,
As you know, I am teaching English in a small rural town called Ziquitaro, Mexico. Ziquitaro, in immigration terms, is known as a "sending community". This means that a majority of the population of men in Ziquitaro migrate to the United States in search of work in order to support their families abroad. I have come across many instances of this phenomenon on a daily basis, as most of my students have family that work, or they themselves intend to work, in the United States. However, I have recently become acutely aware of the problems that this system of interdependence between the US and Mexico creates with the situation of my friend Alejo.
Alejo's family has been deported from the United States because they did not obtain sufficient documentation to remain residents. Most of the time, these cases go unnoticed. However, a family member trying to injure Alejo's father, turned them in to the authorities. Alejo lived with his family in the Yuba City area until recently moving back to Ziquitaro with his family. He was an honor roll student, active in track, and a participant in the AVID program. Alejo hoped to follow his older brother and attend Monterey State University. The major issue at hand here, is that Alejo has spent 15 yearsof his life in The United States.
Now, Alejo attends high school in Penjamillo, the closest town nearZiquitaro, and is failing because he does not understand how to do his work in Spanish. Because Alejo is only 16 years old, and had no choice in coming across our southern border, the law does not clarify his status in the United States as legal or illegal, but somewhere in limbo. My goal is to help Alejo to be able to finish his education in the United States, and attend Monterey State University. However, I am only a perspective student of law, not an attorney. I have much more information on Alejo that I would be more than happy to share if you are willing to help.
Please, I am only here for a short time, but with the time I have I would like to be able to help Alejo return to school and achieve his goals as an undergrad. Alejo is the type of person we want to be a part of the United States, his dream echoes the real voice of the Amrican dream. He understands that immigration is a process, and he desires to go through the proper steps to regain entry into the United States. If there is any way you can help, or know someone who can help, please do so. It is my greatest fear that if Alejo continues to do poorly at school in Penjamillo, he may end up the worse for it.
Thank you so much for your time. I know we can use the knowledge, power, and privilege we maintain as citizens of the United States to change Alejo's life for the better.

Sincerely,
Rachel Wickland
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