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.



Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The spring semester in Ziquítaro. has come to an end as both Rachel Wickland and Katherine Ferry have wrapped up their classes and returned to California. The semester was a success as both volunteers accomplished tremendous progress with their classes despite setbacks such as union strikes and unexpected school closures. Both Katherine and Rachel will be collaborating with us in the next stages of the project.

Currently we are accepting volunteer applications for the Fall 09 semester. We are also in conversation with an established non-profit with whom we may partner (technically called a fiscal sponsorship) and in turn gain tax deductible status for our donations.

The next few months will be filled with meetings to improve the structure of our budding organization as well as fundraising to support or next volunteers. Please stay posted to hear about the non-profit status as well as who the next volunteers will be.

Thanks for the support!

Rachel Miers and Michel Estefan
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Monday, May 4, 2009

Rachel Wickland's Final Entry

This will be my final blog sent from Ziquítaro. I am sad to leave, but as Pina has so sagely advised me, “Everything has a beginning, and everything must come to its end.”

In the week remaining, everything is winding down. Katherine left to go back home to the US on Sunday, so things have been very quiet for me. We had a great send off for her on Saturday with a potluck picnic lunch down at the Ojo de Agua. I plan to give final exams this week, but of course, as always there has been a hitch. As I’m sure our readers are aware, there is an epidemic of influenza in Mexico. There have been over 100 recorded deaths at this point. The most heavily hit areas are the State of Mexico, the Distrito Federal area, and San Luis Potosi. We have heard of no cases of either illness or death here in Michoacán. At this point the federal government has mandated the suspension of public and private school instruction on all levels until May 6th as a preventative method. This means, that I have to give the exam outside of school and plan a place, time, etc. for about 35 students. It also complicates the issue of how I am going to give my students their final grades. Well, a little planning and patience ought to do the trick.

To close, I would just like to say a MIL GRACIAS to everyone who has been helping us with the project here in Ziquítaro and the United States. We couldn’t do it without you.
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