atzin desarrollo comunitario 2010-2011 report
TRANSCRIPT
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ATZIN DESARROLLO COMUNITARIO
2010-2011 REPORT
To report on our progress over the past couple of years is to write a book. The increase in violence in the
Mexican context generally has complicated our work in terms of overall tension and security precautions.
While often it seems like the classical two steps forward and one back, there is a solid sense of movement
despite the daily ups and downs and hiccups. Here are summary highlights from programmatic,
promotional and organizational perspectives. Take it as a given that each activity and any advances took
substantial collective time and effort.
I. FORMAL LEGAL STRUCTURE AND CHARITABLE STATUS IN THREE
COUNTRIES: ACHIEVEMENT: Mexico, Canada and USA.
Legal and charitable status achieved for Atzin in Mexico (2009), Canada (2009) and USA (2008).
CLUNI registrations obtained for Atzin and YNS in Mexico (this is a NGO database run by federal
government).
Annual audits (2010, 2011) conducted by external auditor filed with Hacienda (Revenue Mexico), as
required to retain charitable status at 18,000 pesos per audit.
Formation of Yotlakat Non Siwatl (YNS) as a civil association made up of nine women (socias), all
experienced in Atzin (CJ) village programs. Now with two additional women members (asociadas).
Registration of Arte Siwame as a business in Mexico, with one part-time staff.
Over three years (2007-2010), we submitted (countless) documents in order to attain legal and charitable
status in Mexico, Canada and USA. As background, the Mexican government instituted new laws
governing charitable organizations in 2008, forcing us to re-write our bylaws and we changed name to
Atzin Desarrollo Comunitario at the same time. Atzin means “sacred or venerable water” in Nahuatl, the
language of the people of Tlamacazapa. Caminamos Juntos (Walking Together or CJ), our organizational
name since 1997, is no longer.
In Canada, Atzin contracted the help of Jane Burke Robertson, a lawyer specializing in charities, to
finally achieve legal status as a charitable organization in mid-2009.
In July 2008, Atzin assisted nine village women to legally formed Yotlakat Non Siwatl as a civil
association with Atzin’s program administrator, Xochitl Ramirez Velasco, as President. Yotlakat Non
Siwatl (meaning “a woman reborn,” YNS) is now Atzin’s local partner in Tlamacazapa, and is the first
organization of women in the history of Tlamacazapa. They usually meet twice per month, and more
frequently as needed. With Xochitl Ramirez Velasco as president and chair, the group is learning to use
agendas, participate in the meetings, make action plans, and take minutes.
In 2010 we set up Arte Siwame (meaning “women’s art”), as an independent Mexican business with one
part-time staff member in order to have a means to sell and export items made mostly in Guerrero.
The attached organigram shows the interrelationships of Atzin, YNS and Arte Siwame.
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II. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PROMOTION OF ATZIN AND TLAMACAZAPA: FIRST
PRODUCTIONS..
New design for website www.atzin.org (2010). First draft design of website for Arte Siwame, with
first set of photographs of sale items. Maintenance agreement with Alejandro Gonzalez Roman.
Atzin website still needs text editing.
Production of our first DVD “TLAMACAZAPA” (2010), 14 minutes, English and Spanish (with
funding support from Mission Mexico, Alberta). DVD posted on Atzin website. Several professors
in Canada and Mexico use the DVD as a case study in undergraduate and graduate classes on
community development and social justice, an unexpected benefit. Mailed to major donors with
cover letter and given to interested parties.
Production and printing of “KOKONEMEH A Reading and Activity Book for Young People” in
English (2011), 1000 copies. Intended as resource for children’s education as well as fundraising
(C$6/copy). Illustrates daily life for children in Tlamacazapa, incorporating ideas about children’s
rights, personal development, the environment and social change. Twenty six stories with line
drawings traced from actual photos and 13 activities. Spanish version is nearing completion. Posted
on www.atzin.org. (I might add that this small project was a joy for the Atzin team in Cuernavaca to
work on; it was a creative, out-of-routine initiative. We should always have something like this on the
go.)
Photo Exhibition “TLAMACAZAPA Weavers of Life: Its People, their Work and their
Struggle.” The Exhibition opened in a small gallery in Cuernavaca (October 2010) with initial
financial support from Mission Mexico. It opened in the Guillermo Spratling Museum in Taxco for
nine weeks (over June, July, August 2011) and the Director reported that 3,600 people visited our
exhibition, making it one of the most successful ever in the history of this museum. Fuerte San
Diego Museum in Acapulco inaugurated the exhibition in September 2011, but did not have
anywhere close to these numbers because of the current level of violence in Acapulco. The exhibition
is now comprised of 36 framed photos taken in Tlamacazapa by Rodrigo Cruz in 2010 with 50 natural
baskets by numerous weavers, and features the weaving of Rufina Fermin Procopio. A reproduction
of a typical furnished palm house as well as interactive weaving workshops are also popular
components of the exhibition. Next inauguration: November 18th 2011 in San Pablo, Milpa Alta, DF;
the exhibition will be in San Pablo until early January 2012. Several other venues in Cuernavaca,
Chilpancingo and Mexico City will host the exhibition in 2012; the itinerary needs confirmation of
dates in each of these locations.
An important observation: finally, the Zoyatl weavers used no dyed palm in their latest baskets but
achieved all shades of brown as well as green by using “old” dried palm. The new level of
sophistication of these baskets is remarkable.
III. ADMINISTRATION, VOLUNTEERS AND VISITORS
Redesign and updating of diagram showing inter-relationships of programs, priorities and principles.
Posted on www.atzin.org and included in DVD.
Data base of volunteers and donors established using Excel (2011).
Since 1999, a total of 41 individuals have served as fulltime volunteers for four months and up to 2.5
years (excluding Susan with 14 years). Many others have volunteered as short stay “technical
experts” and visited onsite for a few days to a few weeks (and are not included in the 41 total).
Notably in recent years, several individuals have returned to Mexico and contributed again as “return
volunteers” for one to three months at a time; some returned several times (for example, Diana
Benavides, Christine Wenman, David Wiens, Ruth Wiens and Mimi Dupuis, Shekufeh Zonji).
Return volunteers are well received as they quickly come up to speed with developments, tend to
really enjoy their time despite the headaches, and generally are beloved by the promoters for their
level of commitment.
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In 2010 and again in 2011, Atzin registered with National Immigration Institute as a recognized NGO
that receives international volunteers. Three long stay volunteers obtained FM3 visas for one year (D.
Wiens, R. Wiens, Z. Huhad). S. Smith obtained FM2 residency visa (renewable) for one year. Each
visa requires at least three visits to Immigration by the individual, substantial paperwork,
accompaniment by Atzin staff, and a 1,300 peso payment.
In 2010 Atzin Mexico implemented Simply Accounting as our bilingual (English- Spanish)
accounting program, having received training from Pochun Lau in late 2009.
Volunteers (fulltime) with Atzin Mexico (Onsite) 2010-2011
David Wiens: (return) fulltime volunteer, long stay: 30 December 2010 - end 2012. EW&S Program:
maintenance, construction and water monitoring.
Ruth Wiens: (return) fulltime volunteer, long stay: 30 December 2010 - end 2012. Special Needs
Program: all components.
Mimi Dupuis: (return) fulltime volunteer, short stay: 26 Sept 2011 – end Dec 2011; 30 Dec 2010 – 28
Feb 2011. Tihueliske Education Program: all components.
Panagiota Akrivopoulos: (return) fulltime volunteer, short stay: 29 September 2010 - 24 March 2011.
Health and Healing Program with attention to women’s legal and health issues.
Zaina Huhad: fulltime/ part-time volunteer, long stay: December 2008 - August 2011. EW&S
Program: carpentry, maintenance and construction.
Kaycee Haig: UC masters social work student placement fulltime 4 months followed by 4 months
fulltime volunteer, short stay: 19 April 2010 – 16 Dec 2010. Special Needs Program.
Diana Benavides: (return) fulltime volunteer, short stay: 4 August 2010 – 13 October 2010.
Tihueliske Education Program: all components.
Frank Gutierrez: fulltime volunteer, short stay: 4 August 2010 – 13 October 2010. Tihueliske
Education Program: pilot project: ESL classes plus general support.
Katy Nelson: fulltime volunteer, seconded), short stay: 4 August 2009 – 5 March 2010. Special Needs
Program: all components.
Sara Dorman: fulltime volunteer, seconded), short stay: 4 August 2009 – 5 March 2010. Tihueliske
Education Program: all components.
Atzin Team/ Personnel
Xochitl Ramirez Velasco: Program Administrator, full-time. Plus part-time university studies.
Claudia Patricia Gasca Mendoza: Program Officer and graphic artist, full-time.
Antanacia Onofre Gutierrez: Cook and housekeeping, 30-33 hours per week.
Yessica Mata Popoca: Office Assistant, full-time.
Martina Crispin Eleuterio: Housekeeping and Special Needs Assistant: part-time, 30 hours per week.
Martha Estela Manra Lagunas: Accounting, part-time approx. 10 hours per week (student).
Jesus Monfil Monfil Vazquez: Procurement and maintenance, part-time 10 hours per week (student).
Estela Roman Gonzalez: Arte Siwame S.A. de C.V. – 18 hours per week, plus office assistance.
Consultores Inter APM Mexico S.C.: monthly accounting and submission to Hacienda (Revenue
Mexico) – contracted on a monthly fee-for-service basis. Torres y Torres Auditores y Consultores S.
C.: external auditor – contracted on an annual fee-for-service basis.
Members Board of Directors Atzin Mexico
Ignacio Torres Ramírez -- President, 2008-2013.
Susan Smith – Vice-President, 2008-2013.
George Anna Clark – Secretary, 2008-2013.
Estela Román González – Treasurer, 2008-2013.
Antonio Ortega Ayala – Member, 2008-2013.
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Partners / Visitors/ Short-term Technical Experts 2010-2011
Atzin Canada: Ken and Carol Shipley: 8-18 October 2010; 1 week February 2010.
Belleville Group (Clean Water for Tlama + St. Peters Primary School): Jan Brown + seven people: 27
February – 4 March 2010.
Gente Como Nosotros, A.C. (Mexico City): Daniel: 24 June 2010; rocket stoves.
StoveTec, Oregon: Ben West: 14 – 16 August 2010; rocket stoves.
Mission Mexico: Fathers Fred and Wilbert: 11 – 17 October 2010.
Terralog Technologies: Nancy Kurmann: 8 – 17 October 2010.
CEMAL Global Education, Augsberg College students: 18 Feb 2011 (11 people); 19 February (10
people); 20 February 2010 (19 people). Walkabout, discovery exercise, home visits.
Zapapres e V., Hamburg, Germany: Anke Kleinemeier: 29 March – 15 Abril 2011; training of current
midwives, Health Program.
Cathy Ruta: 26 Feb – 4 March 2011; 8-18 October 2010; 22 January - 2 February 2010; 8 Dec.2008 -
5 January 2009. YNS engineering and construction.
Semillas Foundation: Cecilia Vega Romero, Coordinator, Right to Land Scholarship Program: 28
May 2011. Village visit and organizational assessment related to XRV’s scholarship award.
Museo Guillermon Spratling, Taxco: Director Wendy Morales Quaaz: 4 June 2011. Planning visit
“Tlamacazapa” Photography Exhibition.
Zapapres e V., Hamburg, Germany: Jutta Klass: 27-29 July 2011 and 30-31 July 2010. Education
Program and updating visits.
Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA): Reyna Segundo: two one-day monitoring
visits to Tlama: 8, 15 October 2011. Scholarships.
Atzin Canada: Pochun Lau and Bob Brink: 9-12 November, 2011,
IV. COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM: SUBSTANTIAL ADVANCES
A. INCREASED NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRAINING.
September 2011: administration of thirty scholarships (21 at junior high school level fulltime; 8 at
technical career and high school level fulltime; 1 at university level part-time). Supervision of
community service component. For those studying outside the village: organization of living
arrangements, transport, course of studies, monthly tuition payments.
Award of 10,000 Euro scholarship to Xochitl Ramirez Velasco from Semillas for continuation of
YNS work in relation to women’s right to land (January-November 2011).
Igualtanesti 14 - April 2011: annual ten day training school for 27 promoters (and 4 children) and six
staff equivalents. Held as usual over April break with overall theme of rights and responsibilities,
especially to land. High level of participation; excellent school incorporating attention to personal
development, technical skill development, physical development, and spiritual and cultural recovery.
Cost per person 180 pesos/person/day all inclusive. Cost breakdown and itinerary are available.
With support from Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA), Atzin now administers thirty
scholarships, broken down as: 28 females/ 2 males, with an age range of 13-33 years. Twenty-one of the
thirty individuals study at the junior high school in Tlamacazapa (which unfortunately is notably low
quality education), and additionally, nine women study outside Tlamacazapa, as follows:
1 in her second year of a diploma nursing program in Iguala;
1 in her second year of laboratory sciences with concurrent high school diploma in Taxco;
4 in early childhood education and concurrent high school diploma at Frau Luca in Cuernavaca (1 in
second year, two in first year);
2 in their first year of informatics and administration and concurrent high school diploma, also at Frau
Luca.
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Xochitl Ramirez Velasco, Atzin’s program administrator, also studies business administration part-
time at Azteca University in Cuernavaca with support from Atzin.
All those on Atzin scholarships are required to do weekly community service in exchange for this
scholarship, meaning that Atzin personnel now spend considerable time teaching, supervising service and
organizing related payments and logistics. As a comparison, Atzin gave two scholarships in 2001/2002 to
women who studied outside Tlamacazapa, and by 2005, administered 15 scholarships, all to youth
studying in Tlamacazapa. See the summary table below.
Year # of
scholarships
Study Location Notes
Outside TLA In TLA
2001-2003 1 1- in St. Miguel de
Allende, GUA
MLR – professional midwifery.
2003-2005 1 1- in Buena Vista, GRO XRV – accounting diploma
and high school.
2003-2007 1 1- in St. Miguel de
Allende, GUA
ELR – professional midwifery
and high school.
2005-2006 16 2 – at Don Bosco Junior
and High School in
Cuernavaca.
14– primary and
junior high
Monthly scholarship support from
CFCA started.
1dropped out of Don Bosco and
lost scholarship April 06. 1
continued Don Bosco but dropped
out of Atzin scholarship April 06
2006-2007 15 0 15 – primary and
junior high.
2007-2008 15 0 15 – primary and
junior high.
2008-2009 15 0 15 – primary and
junior high.
2009-2010 23 4 (2 in Taxco; 1 in Buena
Vista; 1 in Iguala)
19 – primary and
junior high.
1 dropped out of accounting
BVC.
2010-2011 27 5 (1 in Iguala; 1 in Taxco;
3 in Cuernavaca) + 1 XRV
part-time university studies
in Cuernavaca
21 – junior high Two males dropped out of junior
high school and scholarship in
second semester of last year. Two
remaining males dropped out of
scholarship program shortly after.
2011-2012
(as of end
Oct. 2011)
30 8 (1 in Iguala; 1 in Taxco;
6 in Cuernavaca) + 1 XRV
parttime studies in
Cuernavaca
21 – junior high The six in Cuernavaca take
computer course in addition to
program studies.
In January 2011 following the submission of a detailed workplan and budget, Xochitl Ramirez Velasco
was awarded a nine-month scholarship in the area of “Women’s Right to Land” from Semillas Sociedad
Mexicana Pro Derechos de la Mujer A.C., a civil association based in Mexico City
(www.semillas.org.mx) and supported by the MacArthur Foundation. The award money (10,000 Euros)
was completely used to support Atzin-YNS work and transport related to the land parcel held by Victoria
Garcia Marcos on behalf of YNS; follow-up to the formal complaints made by YNS members to the
Public Ministry and the State Land Tribunal; promoter training; and equipment and material purchase.
This work plan is available in Spanish.
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B. TIHUELISKE EDUCATION PROGRAM – CHILDREN: STABILIZATION OF PROGRAM
September 2011: 132 children studying with 12 educators. Each attending child receives a hot
nutritious atole (similar to a soft porridge) daily.
40 of these 132 children are in the tutoring program, bringing them up to grade level while enrolled in
primary school to prevent drop-out.
New attendance strategy: Atzin submitted the names of 30 impoverished children with a strong track
record of attendance in Tihueliske to CFCA (Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, Kansas
City) when CFCA expanded its sponsorship numbers (three children/ month, “3 por mes”) in 2011.
Our intention is to reinforce the importance of regular attendance with better learning and to support
participation through small rewards (like pencils, books, games) each month and with higher quality
teaching (more resources, improved organization). The rewards can be extended to additional
children who improve their attendance.
Atzin’s outdoor education program started in November 2006 with six local young women teaching
twelve children. The program uses a small group, active approach to learning literacy, mathematics and
personal development. Out-of-school children aged 5-12 years attend three days per week for 4 hours
each day.
In 2009 Tihueliske incorporated a tutoring component each afternoon, working with children registered in
formal school but failing their grade level. One of the two primary schools in Tlamacazapa makes
frequent referrals of children for tutoring; the other larger primary school rarely does and continues with
multiple problems. The tutoring program is an excellent community service, keeping children in school.
Assessment exams were implemented in 2010-11, allowing better placement of children according to
ability as well as improved advancements.
At present, 12 educators teach a total of 132 children, divided into two shifts per day, with 80-85 children
attending on any given day. In response to the high rate of absenteeism (the general pattern is that
different children are absent on any given day), an educator will visit the child’s parents, usually the
mother, on the third day of absence. Usual reasons cited: 1) illness; 2) child “didn’t want to go” for
whatever reason and the parent allowed the child to stay home; 3) another student upset the child, and the
parent allowed the child to stay home; 4) family travel or a special family event.
All educators continue to have a weekly meeting and upgrading class each Saturday.
C. TIHUELISKE – WOMEN: SUDDEN GROWTH AND SUBSEQUENT DROP August 2011: 124 women actively participating in literacy classes. September 2011: 92 women.
October 2011: 61 women. See discussion below on dropping numbers.
Seven educators (all local women) giving a total of 12 literacy classes per week in August, dropping
to eight classes in September and six classes in October. Twenty educators registered as assesoras
with INEA.
Two classrooms outfitted with tables, chairs, whiteboards and teaching materials.
Record keeping for attendance, classes and educators set up and up to date.
New alphabet teaching tool suitable for rural women designed and pilot tested.
Since conducting a house-to-house census in 2005, we knew that 64% of women over 15 years old were
illiterate, in gross numbers, 1422 of 1956 total women could not read. In May 2008 two educators started
teaching two 1.5 hour classes per day with an average of four-six women per class, three days per week.
This program stalled, with irregular attendance by women who were often discouraged by their slowness
to learn and by continuous negative pressure from family and peers. (For example, “At 13 years old, you
are too old to learn to read. Forget it.” and “Les sobran tiempo. You have too much time on your hands,
and must have nothing better to do. You should be weaving and working at home.”)
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In mid-2011, however, the new State Governor declared literacy a priority in reaction to national
announcements that Guerrero ranked highest in Mexico for illiteracy. Currently INEA (National Institute
for Adult Education) is scrambling to demonstrate progress in conjunction with a national social welfare
program called Oportunidades. In Tlamacazapa, 1,200 adult women are registered recipients of
bimonthly funds from Oportunidades provided that they meet specific requirements each month such as
street sweeping, prenatal care when pregnant, and attendance at monthly talks given by the health centre
doctor. (Women receive 810 pesos every second month plus an additional 300 pesos for each child in
grade 3 or higher. Another 300 women roughly receive similar amounts of money from a different
government program called PAL, is soon to be amalgamated into Oportunidades. Both programs
contribute to growing attitudes of passive dependency on the part of many, if not, most women). In June
Oportunidades announced publicly that women were now “obligated” to attend INEA literacy classes but
avoided saying if women would be rewarded or punished financially for doing so.
Atzin-Tihueliske is already classified as an “INEA community centre,” meaning that Atzin works in
collaboration with INEA, organizing classes of children and women who, when ready, write INEA exams
and work toward a literacy or primary school certificate. In response to the Governor´s priority,
Tihueliske hastened to organize twelve literacy classes at different times and days so that each registered
woman would receive six hours per week of literacy instruction and transferred six additional educators
from Tihueliske-Children for a total of eight; and registered 212 women in mid-July.
For the month of August, 93 women attended literacy classes regularly, that is, participated in at least
50% of classes; 31 attended irregularly, 31-49% of classes) for a total of 124 learners. Eighty eight of the
212 registered women did not show or only attended once or twice and were classified as inactive.
Educators, thrilled to have 124 active learners, developed renewed interest in their work, only to note
surprising criticism from the village representatives (vocales) of the Oportunidades program in later
August. This criticism continues, ranging from loose nasty comments aimed at the educators working for
the “gringos” program and at the women in Tihueliske who “have nothing better to do with their time” to
specific announcements at Oportunidades meetings and during visits to the homes of women that anyone
studying in the Tihueliske program is “wasting her time.” A new INEA coordinator assigned to
Tlamacazapa quickly hired 25 new assesoras (local women hired to give literacy classes with minimal
training and little supervision) and made these announcements at Oportunidades meetings, citing the
collaboration between INEA and Oportunidades and not recognizing that Tihuesliske was already
designated as an INEA community centre. The regional INEA official underestimates the effects of this
onslaught and has taken no effective action (despite his need for increased numbers of women studying).
In September 2011, 92 women actively studied. In October 2011, 61 women studied, and in November,
the number continues to drop. Stepping back in order to reflect on the situation, several observations
come to mind. First, a portion of the dropout is due to women who are discouraged at their slow progress
or who have too many home pressures. However, a larger reason given the timing of the dropouts
coinciding with the criticisms is due to the chisme, nasty hurtful gossip. Anything new or vaguely
threatening provokes people to this default and start talking bad. This classic symptom of oppression is
always disheartening. Third, the majority of the 14 vocales, all village women elected by their peers for 3
year terms, are illiterate and are not in classes, stating that there will be no repercussions for non-
attendance from Oportunidades. They are immediately envious of the women who are studying, although
not willing to do so themselves. This quickly sets the stage for interpersonal problems. Envious people
are caught up in chisme; negative emotions prevail and escalate, manipulation is rampant, and reason
takes a back seat. This internal oppression, played out over and over again in different settings, is a major
reason why our work is tediously slow in Tlamacazapa.
And lastly, the pay structure of INEA is not workable. INEA assesoras are only paid a total of 80 pesos
when a woman passes the literacy exam. Most women from Tlamacazapa require months to gain a
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minimum level of literacy, a fact that new assesoras are usually not aware of. Drop-outs are very
common, both among learners and assesoras. INEA expects literate but inexperienced young women to
teach almost for free as a community service (although certainly not overt about this expectation). In
comparison, Tihueliske pays the educator 45 pesos for a four hour class, a fair wage. Again, suddenly we
face a troublesome situation of envy and of “robbery” of women who were advancing while enrolled in
Tihueliske.
Our strategy at this point: 1) keep good statistics of attendance and learning progress with dissemination
to all levels of government, including the governor’s office; 2) continue classes of quality; 3) attract new
illiterate participants who are not enrolled in a government welfare program, either women or men; 4)
offer exclusive classes to illiterate vocales; 5) find funds to start a daycare so that interested women with
young preschool children and infants can attend literacy classes. This has the added benefit of early child
stimulation, an area that needs acute attention. In late September, the educators themselves developed an
action plan: visit non-attending registered women; seek an appointment with INEA Regional Coordinator
in Iguala to protest INEA lack of support of their program, and request that he personally clarify the
situation with the vocals, and do this repeatedly; if INEA remains inactive, write letters to the editors of
newspapers.
V. YOTLAKAT NON SIWATL (YNS) + WOMEN’S RIGHT TO LAND:
BREAKING GROUND
Development of a strategic plan to assert women’s right to land in Tlamacazapa including a plan for
security of Atzin team members and village promoters.
Actions taken, step by step, to register YNS’ land problem in Tlamacazapa and legally pursue a fair
resolution, with documentation. This is the first legal land action taken by (a group of) women in
northern Guerrero. In fact, Atzin-YNS is the only organization pursuing integrated community
development in this region.
The case of YNS-comuneros demonstrates an essential contradiction of national law: women’s rights
including the right to land and to participation in village land matter is in conflict with established
village custom. The legality of village “usos y costumbres” (traditional use and customs) is
constitutionally recognized, however, (falsely) presumes the existence of fair relations, norms and
customs from gender and social perspectives.
Nine local women legally formed Yotlakat Non Siwatl (YNS) as a civil association (2008) and purchased
a local lot of land for construction of the “YNS Wellness Centre” in Tlamacazapa (November 2007), with
architectural concept design done pro bono by Riddell Kurczaba Architecture, Engineering and Interior
Design Ltd (www.riddell.ca). Victoria Garcia Marcos, Vice-President of YNS, holds the land title in her
name on behalf of YNS. To date construction has not yet started because of strong disagreement from
certain village men.
Background: In 1999 state government selected 196 men to act as the highest village authority in matters
related to land and roads; these men are called comuneros and have an executive committee of six. Only
173 of these 196 comuneros are still living and living in the village, constituting approximately 4.5% of
the male adult population and 0% of the female adult population. Although decisions are to be made by
voting in regular, posted assemblies of comuneros, in actuality, a small group of 5-6 men control the
executive committee (although they themselves are no longer on the committee), and make all decisions.
This group does not hesitate to threaten and to intimidate other comuneros or their families. Villagers
generally are afraid of them. (The members of this group rarely leave the village to work, are not
weavers, and have little visible means of support.)
In essence, the comuneros: 1) refuse to recognize the women’s right to possess land, either individually or
collectively; 2) insist that women cannot participate in village land matters and are not capable of
becoming comuneras. The case of Tlamacazapa demonstrates a basic contradiction in national law:
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women’s legal rights to participate in village land matters and to own land is in conflict with the “right”
of established village norms (“usos y costumbres”) as recognized in the Constitution. The difficulty is
that these norms exclude women completely and reflect macho, repressive attitudes and a patriarchal
structure. This contradiction of law should be resolved in national and state senates.
YNS, supported strongly by Atzin, undertook numerous actions starting in 2008 to protest the comuneros’
refusal to measure and seal their land title, as customarily done in Tlamacazapa. YNS actions have
included (not in priority or chronological order):
three separate demandas (or formal complaints) filed with the Public Ministry in Taxco in reaction to
verbal threats from comuneros against specific women, with no action undertaken by anyone;
registration of the problem with the State Land Authority and subsequent attendance at three
(unsuccessful) reconciliation audiences with comunero representatives;
obtainment of legal village land act and list of 196 comuneros with written analysis of the comunero
list (available on request);
a formal petition with the State Land Tribunal requesting legal recognition of nineteen village women
as originating from and residents of Tlamacazapa -- with subsequent village inspection visits and
court appearances, the last being in May 2010, with no decision by the judge to date -- in preparation
for later application to be recognized in a public assembly as comuneras of Tlamacazapa;
a formal complaint regarding actions of the comunero Executive Committee to the State Commission
of Human Rights in Chilpancingo. This Commission passed the matter to national level, and the
matter promptly disappeared with no follow-up.
a meeting with Executive Secretary to the Governor in late 2010 who then required that all relevant
state departments initiate an inquiry in this case. This was a frustrating process as the State
Departments contacted YNS by letter or by phone, only one regional person from Iguala actually
visited Tlamacazapa, and each department proceeded to pass the responsibility to another department,
all with formal letters of explanation to the Governor. We gave up on this route.
on 1st of April 2011, a consultative meeting was held by representatives from YNS and Atzin with
two lawyers from Tlachinollan (a well known human rights organization based in Tlapa, Guerrero)
and Silvia Castillo, reviewing the overall situation of YNS and the land matter. YNS-Atzin reviewed
the recommendations later made by Tlachinollan and updated the strategic plan, with a focus on
decreasing tension incurred in-village.
meetings in September-October 2011 with the executive assistant (Claudia Isabel Barrón Martínez,
also of Red Nacional de Abogadas Feministas) of State Senator Soto Ramos (Diputado Faustino
Soto Ramos, Presidente de la Comision de Gobierno) to discuss a political intervention, meaning that
a community project as proposed by comuneros would be immediately funded by the Senator`s
budget (with a value of 250,000 pesos) in exchange for resolution of the YNS land title. A meeting
attended by the Senator`s representative with 15 comuneros on October 15 2011 was completely
dominated by the three (usual) men, rejecting this proposal outright, although others present meekly
wanted to accept it. The comuneros only permitted VGM to attend; she was the sole female present
and not allowed to speak. Many other promoters and YNS members stood listening outside the door.
As a next step, the Senator will invite the comunero committee to visit his offices in Chilpancingo in
November.
presentation of YNS and the situation at various state conferences as well as at numerous meetings
with many different officials, for example, the State Ministry of Women; the Municipal Presidency.
the maintenance of active regular use of the land parcel through planting the entire lot with corn and
beans, and classes being held on the lot.
active participation in and support for the “Tlamacazapa: Weavers of Life” Photo Exhibition by
Rodrigo Cruz that is touring Mexico in 2010-2012.
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These time-consuming actions, all requiring extensive preparation, documentation and notable time and
travel expenditures, were done in close consultation with IGDH (Guerrero Institute of Human Rights,
represented by lawyer Silvia Castillo) and REDGOCDH (Guerrero Network of Civil Organizations of
Human Rights, represented by lawyer Luis Jeronimo).
VI. HEALTH AND HEALING PROGRAM: STEADY PROGRESS
A. MOTLAN Dental Program
To date: steady improvement in all aspects of programming and service (quality of work, services
offered, recordkeeping, cost containment, program promotion, and public education). Need for
increased preventative oral hygiene education and nutrition education.
2011
# of
clinical
days
# of people
attended
# of
clinical
treatments
in total
Average
number of
people/day
Average number of
dental treatments
/day
January 16 110 229 6.9 14.3
February 16 122 220 7.6 13.8
March 17 130 253 7.7 14.9
April 11 65 102 5.9 9.3
May 11 71 132 6.5 12.0
June 16 93 140 5.8 8.8
July 15 79 148 5.3 9.7
August 13.5 89 164 6.6 12
September 15 107 157 7 10.5
The numbers speak for themselves. Although modest at first glance, put into perspective the gains are
impressive. In 2007, Atzin set up the first dental program and clinic in the village in response to the
horrific state of people’s teeth. Our first dentist worked eight days/month for one year, and left for family
reasons. After much searching, Erick Valladare Millan joined our team in on 2 June 2010, working with
two local dental promoters, Bertha and Yolanda. They run the clinic four days per week, and initially
offered basic dental services free to children twelve years and under and at a subsidized rate to adults.
Adults pay ten pesos for a first assessment and consultation. The team also does preventative oral health
teaching in all of the schools, classroom by classroom, and gives referral slips to all children requiring
attention. After six months, in collaboration with a dental technician based in Cuernavaca, the dental team
was able to also provide crowns and prostheses at very reasonable prices and with a payment plan. Atzin
produced a summary cost sheet for all dental work charged to patients. Crowns and prostheses are
considered beyond basic services, are reasonably priced, and provide additional income given back to the
dentist based on a percentage of the total expense charged to patient after subtracting the material and
technician costs. This sheet and breakdown are available on request (in Spanish).
The dental program has good record-keeping and clinical reports; it is partially cost-recovery (total costs
and income from payments will be calculated by year end).
At this point, the program needs increased focus on preventative care and teaching, and to bring in
nutrition education, particularly about junk food and better choices, an area that is badly in need of
11
attention. People just do not know about the risks of diets that are high in sugar and fat and low in
vegetables, nor are they aware of the critical importance of regular dental hygiene. Toothbrushes and
toothpaste are expensive and rarely a priority among the poor families. Children receive a free toothbrush
and short lesson on its use after their consultation. Overall, the program provides a much needed service
to the community and is contributing in a very significant way to a positive shift in the culture of oral
hygiene and dental care. Note: the dentist, Erick Valledare Millan resigned on 31 October with one week
notice as he obtained a permanent position in the government clinic in Taxco. We are interviewing
candidates for the dentist position while the two promoters continue with dental demos in the schools and
kindergartens.
B. SPECIAL NEEDS AND NUTRITION PROGRAM.
Special needs support: 132 children and adults are registered and receiving various types of attention
and accompaniment, on the basis of disability, malnutrition, extenuating family circumstances and/or
single parenthood. The team of six-eight promoters and one coordinator provide, for example,
distribution of food supplements and medications; early childhood educational stimulation; friendly
home visits, accompaniment to hospital and medical appointments, and weekly nutritious cooking
demonstrations. This program receives funding support on an individual sponsorship basis from
CFCA. Reporting to CFCA is time consuming, involving annual photos, bi-annual letters to
sponsors, constant updating of lists of sponsored individuals, and detailed monthly financial
reporting. After monitoring visits to Tlamacazapa and ongoing discussions, CFCA has proven to be a
flexible partner, responsive to Atzin´s programmatic approach (rather than insisting on a focus on
individual sponsorship only).
Shelter: The Atzin Centre/House in Cuernavaca uses one large room as an informal shelter for
(selected) village women and children. In 2010-2011, the house accommodated the following women
for longer stays: Martina (32 years old) + Santa Rosa (4) (medical, since June 2010- present); Socorro
(43) + Tonantzin (newborn) (parenting support, since March 2010 – present); Sarah (14) (medical,
Feb-April 2011). Additionally, numerous women, most often with an ill or disabled child, stayed for
1 to 7 days while attending the Children’s Hospital in Cuernavaca or enroute to the Rehab Hospital in
Mexico City or other appointments.
Abuse charges and child custody case: 2010-2011: Atzin accompanied, step by step, the first woman
from Tlamacazapa to ever place a formal complaint of emotional and physical abuse against her
spouse and claim for child custody. The woman was counselled by the lawyer of the Unidad de
Atencion a Victimas de Violencia en Taxco (Unit for Attention to Victims of Violence in Taxco). The
process to bring the case to municipal court was complicated, error-filled and thereby necessitating
repeat signatures and documents. The case ended in a (unsatisfactory) reconciliation in June 2011.
We learned a tremendous amount from this case regarding the actual legal process, its confusions and
duplications as well as the time and financial expenses involved in accompaniment. For
organizational memory, the case was well documented by Atzin.
Legal identity and basic government health insurance (Seguro Popular): While Atzin doesn’t classify
this as a program per se, considerable effort is spent assisting individuals to obtain necessary legal
papers in order to have a legal identity as well as obtainment of health insurance.
C. MIDWIVES AND PRIMARY CARE.
February 2010: Atzin combi transported seven eye patients from Tlama to Ometepec in Guerrero, a
10-12 hour drive, and six received cataract operations by World Cataract Foundation. No patients
were transported in 2011 because of low numbers. (Note: there are plenty who need cataract
operations, but few who are brave enough to make the long journey).
There is an average of 25-28 women attending the midwives’ prenatal registry at any one time.
Midwives continue to offer a full range of maternal health services – prenatal, postnatal, delivery,
emergency transport accompaniment, newborn follow-up.
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Two promoters assist the midwives with prenatal clinic and home visits each Saturday (Berta in
second year nursing in Iguala; Lorenza in second year laboratory studies in Taxco).
Dr. Anke Kleinemeier taught seven days of upgrading/training for midwives and two promoters in
April 2011, focussing on emergency delivery care and transport, including O2 administration;
recordkeeping; newborn vitamin K administration; delivery bag contents and care.
While numbers of prenatal visits remain steady at 25-28 women on the registry at any one time, the
numbers of home births attended by midwives are dropping due to increased numbers of women who
deliver in hospital. These women usually are now registered with Seguro Popular (government
health insurance) and do not have to pay a fee for a hospital birth (although there are plenty of other
expenses usually not considered beforehand). Also, the health centre personnel consistently insist on
hospital births. Notable worrisome trends: more bottle-fed babies, all born in hospital, and high
numbers of caesarean sections.
Susan Smith continues to do the primary care clinic each Saturday with help from one promoter.
VII. ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND SANITATION.
Economy of Water Study: Christine Wenman, former CIDA intern with Atzin (2005-06) and fulltime
volunteer (2007-08), will present her master’s thesis on the economy of water in Tlamacazapa at
UBC in December 2011. Twenty selected households kept monthly “water calendars” for a total of
two years (2007–2008). Every time water was delivered, purchased or carried to the household, a
family member wrote it down on a special calendar, noting the amount and source of the water as
well as its cost in money or in time. Chris or Atzin personnel visited each family twice per month to
confirm the data. The bottom line results: the poor pay much more for much less water. And in this
case, much of the water is not potable or if bottled water is purchased, represents a staggering
proportion of their income. Stay tuned to www.atzin.org for announcements about Chris’
publications and presentations on her findings.
Renovations in 2011 (mostly done by D. Wiens) include: installation of self-closing gate at street
entrance to Atzin Centre, keeping out cows and donkeys (and protecting Flor’s corn and flowers – an
important factor in maintenance of friendly relations with our next door neighbour); installation of
(removable) concrete block flooring on outside patio (where Tihueliske children study), providing a
level and dirt-resistant work area; restructuring of eaves troughs and filters capturing rainwater into
Centre cisterns; restructuring and improvement of outdoor washing sink and grease trap; construction
of hand washing station, toothbrush holders, and storage boxes for Tihueliske, installation of heavy
plastic sheeting on church fence to provide privacy for Tihueliske program and elsewhere for
protection from rain or from sun; application of water-proofing (yet again) and patching of all Atzin
roofs in Tlamacazapa and Cuernavaca. Installation of electricity and ceramic tile floor with
smoothing, straightening and painting of walls, construction of storage drawers and benches, purchase
of tables and whiteboards, thereby converting rough storage room into a classroom (2010).
Water samples: In 2010-11 the team took bimonthly water samples (instead of monthly as done from
January 2003). All data is captured in graphs with each graph summarizing two years of data, and
included in the Atzin Report on Tlamacazapa that summarizes all findings (C. Wenman - independent
study, to be completed end 2011, disseminated in 2012). Rainwater measurements in Tlamacazapa
taken by Carlos Garcia Marcos from 2004 ended in 2010 as the patterns were clear.
Water and Sanitation: Summary: Construction 2001-2009: 60 dry toilet and tank units (DTT), (not
including our pilot six DTs) plus community projects (see below). All but one of the DTs is
functioning -- this is an amazing track record. The crew did follow-up and maintenance for two years
on each unit – about 10% of the units needed follow-up or corrections over time; they have
maintained very well. On average 10-12 family members use one DT daily. One household
rainwater tank is unstable and leaking – the earth under the base of the tank has slipped downhill,
causing the tank to tilt. Advantages: all units constructed with local village labour, giving men work;
strong family participation and financial contribution; good education and follow-up; good physical
sustainability, little ongoing maintenance required; DTT unit is excellent value for money at total cost
13
of 15,000 – 17,000 pesos/ unit. Government village intervention: No DTT units have been
constructed during 2010-2011 by Atzin. In 2007-2008, the municipal government contracted an
outside firm that build over 500 simple dry toilets (made of “unicel” wire panels with styrofoam walls
with concrete base, at total cost of 25,500 pesos per toilet). The contractor did not understand dry
toilet design and did not include any urine drainage (urine runs onto ground outside toilet). Many of
these household toilets are used only for storage. It is a classical example of a poorly designed
project, hastily done with outside labour, very expensive, and with no attempt at family education,
follow-up or maintenance. Villagers generally did not like the government toilets, and the project
inauguration was never held by government - an indirect admission of problems. But for Atzin, the
end result was that this government project brought our DTT construction work to grinding halt.
Summary: Community school water projects completed since 2000: Protection of Los Sabinos spring
from water is pumped to village (2000). Discovery of lead and arsenic contamination. Construction of
large DT unit for boys and girls at one primary school (with six toilets in use at any one time).
Construction of a DT for teachers at same primary school. All in use and well cared for. Construction
of 17,800 L rainwater construction tank (ferro-cement) at primary school. In use and well cared for.
Installation of eavestroughing at another primary school for rainwater harvesting into a previously
poured cistern (the school purchased water to fill this cistern prior to installation of eavestroughing).
Construction of three DT and one 7,800L rainwater catchment tank at one kindergarten – all in use.
Summary: Water in Atzin buildings since 2003: Pouring of base with installation of eavestroughing
and installation of three rotoplas tanks (heavy dark plastic tanks) for rainwater catchment, plus repair
of previously poured cistern, in Atzin Centre. Pouring of base and installation of eavestroughing and
a large heavy plastic tank for rainwater catchment at Motlan Dental Clinic. Construction of DT at
Atzin Centre, used during the week by over 100 kids in the Tihuelsike Education Program.
Solar lights: a small business called Questsol based in Guatemala (www.questsol.com) contacted
Atzin in mid 2011 on the recommendation of a mutual friend, requesting that we consider a
partnership with Questsol to introduce a solar light package in rural areas of Guerrero and potentially
elsewhere in Mexico. Questsol sent us a sample light unit, now installed in the midwifery clinic. The
simple unit works well. To obtain background information for decision-making, we surveyed
twenty+ promoter and other families in Tlamacazapa for data related to number of family members,
number of household light bulbs, types of electrical appliances and amount paid in electricity bills.
Analysis of this information is close to completion.
VIII. MICROENTERPRISE: INCOME GENERATION PROGRAM
Rocket Stoves: In 2010, with considerable financial assistance from Mission Mexico (Alberta), Atzin
purchased and imported 1,535 woodburning “rocket stoves” from StoveTec (now called EcoZoom,
see www.ecozoomstove.com for stove information) based in Oregon, USA. Aprovecho Research
Centre initially tested and designed the stoves; EcoZoom markets the stoves as an international
business with its partner, Shenghou Stove Manufacturers in China. The stove design has an internal
chimney which directs air through the burning wood and helps the mixing of gases and flame above
the burning wood, thereby using half the wood as compared to a three-rock fire and emitting half the
smoke when managed correctly. We learned a lot about ins and outs of importing a container of
stoves (or anything else) into Mexico. The stoves are terrific and worth the effort. Cost per stove
including shipping, custom fees, and in-country transport etc: 225 pesos, plus ongoing storage fees.
Predictably, it has been easier “sell” the idea of a stove in the villages of central Guerrero (200 stoves
quickly sold, at cost) than it has been in Tlamacazapa. In Tlamacazapa, two women trained as stove
promoters conduct demo cooking classes using the stoves. Other promoters cook a large pot of
nutritious food on the stove during Saturday clinics with many women watching and testing the end
product! The stoves are for sale at 225 pesos in the promoters´ store, Timopaleguia, for the general
public; by Christmas all 130 special needs families will have received a stove as a gift (with a
14
teaching session). As well, 27 children enrolled in Tihueliske with excellent attendance during the
school year 2010-2011 received a stove for their families in August. We foresee the gradual
acceptance of the stoves through word of mouth recommendations and continued education about the
advantages of the stoves. Our next step is a house-by-house promotional stove campaign to be done
by promoters; this will be a pilot activity to test the effectiveness of this type of personal contact.
There are 810 stoves still in stock.
Timopaleguia Promoter Store: the promoter store had a major clean up and clear out in August 2011.
Since the recession, this project barely covers basic operating costs, not including rent (40
dollars/month) but including payments to the two women who tend the store five half days per week.
It acts as a retail outlet for the sewers. The store urgently requires attention from a business
administration expert, needing a complete overall in operations and organization plus fresh ideas on
presentation and products, or closure. Yotlakat Non Siwatl will address this program in December
2011, however, for any long term success, Atzin must come up with the (volunteer) expert.
Tehuantitlatemiki Sewing Workshop: the three quilt makers work on a flexible basis, sewing when
stock drops and when they have time. Their work continues to improve in quality; the difficulty is
marketing. In late 2009, an additional excellent seamstress joined the workshop and sews primary
and kindergarten school uniforms (sold in Timopaleguia store). Unfortunately, in mid 2011 the new
state government contracted large companies to sew school uniforms and distributed them free to all
primary school students. This dropped local sales of uniforms almost to zero, and the workshop
switched to producing market bags, made from donated end-of-roll durable material. Initial sales of
these bags have been surprisingly good via word of mouth in Cuernavaca.
Zoyatl Weavers Cooperative: Arte Siwame buys the members´ baskets on Saturdays, paying the
weavers cash in hand. Thirty women are very active in this group. The basket quality is now
excellent given the primary material, and the use of only natural palm (in colours natural, brown and
greens) is an important advance. The potential for increased sales is evident, provided that the
website for Arte Siwame (now in draft form by Alex Gonzalez) gets up and running in 2012, and
(selected) opportunities for marketing are followed up, for example, the application to submit a palm
product to SERRV, the second largest catalogue of arts and crafts in the USA.
Hairstyling: Six young village women took an introductory course for hair styling in Taxco in late
2009; two continued studying as on-the-job apprentices two days per week for six/nine months in
2010 under the instruction of Consuelo Gonzalez Ordonez in Cuernavaca.
IX. MAJOR PROBLEM AREAS: Priority Needs for Program and Organizational Support
1. Vehicles: both the VW van (1995 combi) and the Dodge Dakota truck (1996) are running, however,
the VW combi requires replacement. At present, Atzin has no vehicle that can enter DF before 11am
on any given day (i.e., is less than five years old and is issued with a license plate that ends in zero).
2. Understaffing: Atzin has achievements worthy of a much larger team. However, to maintain our
current programs at a reasonable level of quality, to not wear out personnel, and to consider
expansion of programming in Tlamacazapa or into central Guerrero, we must find funding to hire and
train more people in our participatory approach to development and the associated administrative
work. And in the meantime, resist any expansion of programs or number of activities, no matter what
need arises. Work in Mexico and with Mexicans is frequently intense and always includes
unanticipated personal or family crises which must be taken into account in any team functioning. At
present, given our small numbers, the team members cover for each other.
3. More cash and more cash flow control: costs are rising notably especially for transport and food;
promoters and staff all need raises; activities are more complex and crossing programs (and therefore
are more effective and more interesting) but they are also more expensive; all landlords but one want
to raise our rents (but this is not new, happens every year and many times, we can argue against a
raise given our care and improvements of their buildings). In 2011, Atzin had a significant cash
15
shortfall – more so than in past years -- and a cash flow problem. There were several reasons for this:
program expenses were not scaled back sufficiently given cuts in funding from two major donors;
more women than anticipated decided to study with scholarships and none were refused or postponed;
the number of unforeseen expenses rose primarily because of (frustrating) equipment breakages or
burnouts, all needing replacements, vehicle repairs; and the (ongoing) costs of the touring photo
exhibition. The bottom line is that we need more funds to just maintain our present activities, and
improved expense planning with a reserve for emergencies and .
X. STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 2012-2013: Programmatic and Organizational Priorities
Draft
A. All programs training and support: Continuation of training and supervision of participating
villagers, especially women, as they assume ever-increasing responsibility for all programs, with
technical assistance from Atzin. Bring one or two promising young village women into office for
on-the-job training in administration and planning; maintain these positions as rotating
internships with pay. Continuation of exploration of program possibilities in the La Montana
region of central Guerrero, also an impoverished and difficult setting.
B. YNS technical assistance and support for land: Strengthened accompaniment of local women
in their actions to exercise their right to land ownership, their right to a life of non-violence; and
their right to a “voice and vote” in village affairs. With continued careful and thorough
documentation and dissemination.
C. Investigation findings: Production of a compilation of Atzin research findings in one document,
with dissemination in written form and electronically to all corresponding levels of (related)
government in Guerrero and nationally. This document is well underway (as a component of
Christine Wenman’s masters studies), with a completion date of end 2011 and distribution in
Spanish in spring 2012 dependent on available funds for translation and printing.
D. Governance: Increased formality of Atzin Mexico Board of Directors functioning (organization
of regular meetings and minutes by Board for strategic planning and policy formation) as well as
establishment of increased regularity of virtual and face-to-face communication between Atzin
Canada, Atzin USA and Atzin Mexico.
E. Financial stability Atzin: Strengthened financial planning and budgeting within Atzin Mexico
with production of monthly all-expenses reports (requires more staff). Plan for release and
coverage of Director for special writing project. Writing of fundraising plans to support Atzin
Mexico by Atzin Canada and by Atzin USA (Patrick Hansen in summer 2012).
F. Longer-term stability in Tlamacazapa: physical space. Establishment of Yotlakat Non Siwatl,
a wellness centre and “hub” for women’s programs in Tlamacazapa and the northern region of
Guerrero. Fundraising and construction of this multi-purpose and ecological centre. The women
presently work out of a rented and woefully inadequate three-room house. A large land plot has
already been purchased by Atzin and its local partner civil association, Yotlakat Non Siwatl
(YNS, A Woman Reborn). The conceptual architectural design (courtesy of RKA Calgary) and
initial engineering plans are done. Business plan for long term sustainability is not yet done. The
facilities would provide space for: birthing rooms managed by local professional and empirical
midwives; a short-term shelter for women and their children (this would be the second shelter to
exist in Guerrero State, public or private); Tihueliske Education and Literacy Program for
Children and Women; Motlan Dental and Oral Health Program; Special Needs and Nutrition
Program for (disabled or at risk) children and adults; Headquarters of Yotlakat Non Siwatl (YNS).
16
G. Longer-term stability for Atzin: physical space and transportation. We are working on a
plan for the obtainment of a mortgage and the purchase of a large property in Cuernavaca. This
should be completed prior to the end of 2011, and include a plan for the repayment of investors
and a renovation timeline and cost estimate. A physical move into new and larger property will
allow the release of our three rented properties in Cuernavaca (two apartments and the Atzin
house), and save our collective sanity (anyone who has stayed in the Atzin House for any length
of time can attest that it is like living in a bus terminal with constant movement of people and
goods!)
Atzin needs to replace the 1995 VW van with a vehicle that is permitted to enter DF at any hour,
on any day. This means the purchase of a vehicle that is less than five years old, is issued with a
license plate number ending in a zero, and also is a reliable workhorse. (The VW van has been a
remarkably trustworthy and ultra-useful vehicle, able to climb the rough dirt road into
Tlamacazapa on all but the worst days of the year, and navigate the roads in the village as well.)
ATZIN Desarrollo Comunitario, A. C.
APDO 983, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México CP 62000
Tel/Fax (52) (777) 310-5577. VOI (403) 770-6136
www.atzin.org