Schools of Hope|Education for Health|Ecological Agriculture Education|Artisan Sales Education|International Solidarity
Click on any picture to learn more!
Schools of Hope
May, 2008
Elementary school sports centers strengthen autonomy and peace
On May 12 and 13, 2008 ~ with balloons and
banquets; basketball and theatre; songs and
poetry ~ the Tzotzil communities of San
Antonio Saclum
and Paraje Xuxchen in the highlands of Chiapas,
Mexico celebrated an enormous advance in
their struggle for indigenous autonomy. The
inauguration of these two Primary School
Community and Sport
Centers,
funded by the Larson Legacy, were an occasion
of great joy for children and adults alike.
Despite having had an ugly
military/police intrusion cancel a previous
sports center
inauguration in March 2008, the dedications
of the new basketball courts proceeded
without a hitch in mid-May. In fact, almost
half of the teams who played in the two
basketball tournaments were non-Zapatista ~
perhaps opening new pathways to peace and
understanding.
Celebrations mark completion of four elementary school sports centers, funded by the Larson Legacy, in the Rebellious Autonomous Zapatista Municipality of Magdalena de la Paz!
|
|
|
|
|
|
April, 2008
Help Paul Mann's family and the "NEA Peace and Justice Caucus" build a
Zapatista education center in Chiapas, Mexic. Click here to see the 2008 video produced by the NEA about the Paul Mann Memorial School.
Can you please join us in Chiapas this summer
to help build the Paul Mann Memorial School
and Music Center? No special construction
or language skills are required! Join us!
Click here to donate to Paul's school.
Paul Mann was a creative and dedicated teacher activist from the United States who long supported the autonomous, indigenous schools of Chiapas, Mexico. After Paul died unexpectedly his family, friends, and union colleagues in the Peace and Justice Caucus of the National Education Association (NEA) began planning a memorial in Chiapas. This much needed educational project will train teachers and other leaders in the Mayan communities. This Zapatista school reconstruction is the perfect way to honor the vision and life-long dedication of our friend Paul.
Click here to donate to Paul's school.
Paul Mann was a creative and dedicated teacher activist from the United States who long supported the autonomous, indigenous schools of Chiapas, Mexico. After Paul died unexpectedly his family, friends, and union colleagues in the Peace and Justice Caucus of the National Education Association (NEA) began planning a memorial in Chiapas. This much needed educational project will train teachers and other leaders in the Mayan communities. This Zapatista school reconstruction is the perfect way to honor the vision and life-long dedication of our friend Paul.
|
|
Mayan children are currently attending class
in the room pictured above.
This classroom will be the first
of five to be rebuilt at The Paul Mann Memorial
School in Chiapas, Mexico. New desks will
soon replace the rough planks which the students
now use during their studies, the walls will
be plastered and re-painted, the floor and
ceiling replaced. People-of-conscience
everywhere are invited
to join us in Chiapas during the summer of 2008
to participate in this reconstruction
project.
Click the following dates for
specific trip
information:
Trip 73 ~ July 20 to 26, 2008
Trip 74 ~ Aug. 3 to 9, 2008
Today funds are urgently needed for
this reconstruction.
Click here to donate to Paul's school.
Schools of Hope|Education for Health|Ecological Agriculture Education|Artisan Sales Education|International Solidarity
Education for Health
September, 2007
This fund, named after the much loved Comandanta Ramona who died in 2006, helps pay for emergency procedures and travel for indigenous patients throughout the highlands of Chiapas. Last year an Italian organization donated an ambulance for emergency medical transportation; Ramon's Fund helps pay for gas as well as tests and food while in the city.
Click here to contribute to the Ramona fund
Schools of Hope|Education for Health|Ecological Agriculture Education|Artisan Sales Education|International Solidarity
Ecological Agriculture Education
August, 2008Zapatistas are applying lessons learned during the last two planting seasons to greatly increase the number of Neem trees growing in the autonomous, indigenous communities of Chiapas, Mexico. Late in the summer of 2008, in conjunction with national and international allies including Schools for Chiapas staff, Mayan farming families are planting thousands of delicate Neem seeds in specially designed, rural nurseries.
During the summer of 2008 new Neem seedbeds have been established at health clinics, schools, ecological agricultural centers, and Mayan communities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schools of Hope|Education for Health|Ecological Agriculture Education|Artisan Sales Education|International Solidarity
Artisan Sales Education
June, 2008
Tzotzil Collective Sends Weavings
These Tzotzil women from the autonomous,
municipality of Madelena de la Paz recently
sent Schools for Chiapas supporters many
beautiful weaving which are now available at our online store.
Schools for Chiapas staff travel to all 5 of the Zapatista zones to seek out and purchase goods from a variety of collectives and individuals. Most of these small producers live in remote areas and have extremely limited access to markets. When we encounter Zapatisa-made products, we purchase them outright and pay full asking price. We then make them available to you through our on-line store. We use data which we collect based on your purchases to provide feedback to these producers regarding the rate of sales. In this way, we can provide feedback regarding both the quality and price of the items which allow the producer to adapt or modify items to increase sales and the income which results from the sale.
For many families, the income derived from these sorts of artesania sales represent the bulk of the families cash. Autonomous families are sustainable, self sufficient farmers who generally grow all the families food but cash is needed in order to obtain supplies such as salt, sugar, tin for the roof of a house and shoes which must be purchased from commercial vendors.
For many families, the income derived from these sorts of artesania sales represent the bulk of the families cash. Autonomous families are sustainable, self sufficient farmers who generally grow all the families food but cash is needed in order to obtain supplies such as salt, sugar, tin for the roof of a house and shoes which must be purchased from commercial vendors.
Schools of Hope|Education for Health|Ecological Agriculture Education|Artisan Sales Education|International Solidarity
International Solidarity
June, 2008
Mexican troops and police threaten food supply in La Garrucha
On June 4, 2008 some 200 Mexican troops and police engaged in aggressive actions against Zapatistas in the Patiwitz Canyon of the Lacandon Jungle. Specifically the heavily armed military / police convoy entered the corn and banana fields surrounding Zapatista communities. This threat to the communities' only food supplies provoked a desperate response by Mayan boys and girls, women, and men.
Schools for Chiapas supports educational projects in this region and can testify that the Zapatistas neither grow nor tolerate drugs. Using the false pretext of searching for marijuana plants, these actions of the Mexican government against the key Zapatista caracol of La Garrucha and nearby communities are extraordinarily disturbing. The soldiers promised to return in 15 days; Schools for Chiapas believes the consequences of continued Mexican government provocation against the Zapatistas could be profound.
Click to read Indymedia's translation of the Zapatista denouncement
On June 4, 2008 some 200 Mexican troops and police engaged in aggressive actions against Zapatistas in the Patiwitz Canyon of the Lacandon Jungle. Specifically the heavily armed military / police convoy entered the corn and banana fields surrounding Zapatista communities. This threat to the communities' only food supplies provoked a desperate response by Mayan boys and girls, women, and men.
Schools for Chiapas supports educational projects in this region and can testify that the Zapatistas neither grow nor tolerate drugs. Using the false pretext of searching for marijuana plants, these actions of the Mexican government against the key Zapatista caracol of La Garrucha and nearby communities are extraordinarily disturbing. The soldiers promised to return in 15 days; Schools for Chiapas believes the consequences of continued Mexican government provocation against the Zapatistas could be profound.
Click to read Indymedia's translation of the Zapatista denouncement
To people of conscience ~ Chiapas "Peace Observers" are Needed NOW!
As you see in the above article, there are ongoing and serious Mexican government provocations against the Zapatistas. Peace Observers play an important role, especially in tense and potentially explosive situations. Most atrocities committed against indigenous men and (especially) women that take place far from the observing eyes of the outside world. Your presence as a witness and an observer for peace helps prevent such attacks.
You can support the indigenous communities of Chiapas by joining a "Civilian Observation Brigade" and spending seven or more days of rustic living in a rural "hot spot" of Chiapas. "Peace Observers" must be at least 18 years old, speak Spanish fluently, and participate in a training sponsored by FrayBa Brigade Requierments (El Centro de los Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas) or CAPICE Brigade Requierments (Centro de Análisis Político e Investigaciones Sociales y Económicos). Your only expenses will be for transportation and the food you cook. Schools for Chiapas urges our supporters to consider contacting FrayBA or CAPISE and serving as a "Peace Observer" this summer in Chiapas, Mexico.
As you see in the above article, there are ongoing and serious Mexican government provocations against the Zapatistas. Peace Observers play an important role, especially in tense and potentially explosive situations. Most atrocities committed against indigenous men and (especially) women that take place far from the observing eyes of the outside world. Your presence as a witness and an observer for peace helps prevent such attacks.
You can support the indigenous communities of Chiapas by joining a "Civilian Observation Brigade" and spending seven or more days of rustic living in a rural "hot spot" of Chiapas. "Peace Observers" must be at least 18 years old, speak Spanish fluently, and participate in a training sponsored by FrayBa Brigade Requierments (El Centro de los Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas) or CAPICE Brigade Requierments (Centro de Análisis Político e Investigaciones Sociales y Económicos). Your only expenses will be for transportation and the food you cook. Schools for Chiapas urges our supporters to consider contacting FrayBA or CAPISE and serving as a "Peace Observer" this summer in Chiapas, Mexico.