Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The New Semester Begins
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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.
Deaf child in need of surgery
A space to network and share ideas about migration and immigration – phenomena which have shaped the United States, a country of immigrants.
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.
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.
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Raul
Deaf child in need of surgery
Surgery for Raul
During my stay in Ziquítaro there was one child who brightened my day without fail yet simultaneously haunted me. He is a four year old kindergartener named Raúl Aguiñiga Salazar and he is deaf. While he always ran up to me with a bright smile when I walked into the kindergarten, his smile faded the moment classes began. While he tried to participate in class his handicap barred him from integration as well as acceptance by the other children. As a result Raul’s school day often ended in tears.
Raul’s deafness is especially handicapping for in Ziquítaro there is absolutely no special Ed or sign language classes. Understanding the future implications of these limitations, Raul’s mother and father have become extremely anxious and depressed about his condition.
While’s Raul’s condition can be cured through a complicated surgery, his humble family cannot pay the 48,500 dollar fee necessary for special hearing aids which would be implanted into his head. Nor can they pay the expensive hospital fees. Michel’s family has altruistically decided to take action and raise the money necessary for the surgery. They have already contacted a specialist in Mexico City, Dr. Gonzalo Corvera Behar, who has offered to conduct the surgery free of cost as well as waive the hospitalization fees. While this is a momentous first step, the 48,500 dollars must be raised to buy the hearing aids which will make this child’s surgery a reality. Scotiabank as well as a few other private donors have already pledged, yet much more money is needed to cover the costs.
Dr. Gonzalo is head of The Mexican Association for Hearing, an organization that attempts to help disadvantaged children like Raul with free surgeries. If you are interested in donating you can make a deposit to the doctor’s organization in the name of Raul. The donations are tax-deductible. If you would like to obtain the account number or more information please email me at rachelmiers@gmail.com.
While Raul’s present life is silent, his future is not bleak. Please help us make his surgery a reality.
Raul’s deafness is especially handicapping for in Ziquítaro there is absolutely no special Ed or sign language classes. Understanding the future implications of these limitations, Raul’s mother and father have become extremely anxious and depressed about his condition.
While’s Raul’s condition can be cured through a complicated surgery, his humble family cannot pay the 48,500 dollar fee necessary for special hearing aids which would be implanted into his head. Nor can they pay the expensive hospital fees. Michel’s family has altruistically decided to take action and raise the money necessary for the surgery. They have already contacted a specialist in Mexico City, Dr. Gonzalo Corvera Behar, who has offered to conduct the surgery free of cost as well as waive the hospitalization fees. While this is a momentous first step, the 48,500 dollars must be raised to buy the hearing aids which will make this child’s surgery a reality. Scotiabank as well as a few other private donors have already pledged, yet much more money is needed to cover the costs.
Dr. Gonzalo is head of The Mexican Association for Hearing, an organization that attempts to help disadvantaged children like Raul with free surgeries. If you are interested in donating you can make a deposit to the doctor’s organization in the name of Raul. The donations are tax-deductible. If you would like to obtain the account number or more information please email me at rachelmiers@gmail.com.
While Raul’s present life is silent, his future is not bleak. Please help us make his surgery a reality.
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