 I am overwhelmed and excited to share with you the experience we recently had in México distributing the kits that CEDEJO received from Lethbridge South Team, an Alberta DfG team in Canada. Our organization´s mission is to improve the quality of life of families of the ribera of Chapala in Jalisco, México, through providing health services for women as well as education for sexual and reproductive health. We were honored to receive 250 kits brought to us by our friend Rebecca Pohl, who traveled all the way from Canada along with her husband Allan with their truck to bring to us the DfG kits as well as other help for the marginalized communities in this area. A dear Canadian friend we have in common, Darlene MacLeod, told them about CEDEJO and about the work we do with women and girls in the Lake Chapala area. They had the kits and they wwere planning to drive all the way here to give them out, so it was a perfect connection. When we heard about the kits and the possibility that we could hand them to women who needed this kind of information and tools, we got really enthusiastic. We explored their website and thought about how we could best serve this amazing, worldwide project. After considering all the possibilities, we determined that we would invite another organization to collaborate with us on this project. This organization, called Comunión de Corazón A.C http://www.comuniondecorazon.org/, appreciated from the beginning the possibility to take the kits to the Huichol women who live in a remote region of the Sierra Madre mountain range in the states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas and Durango. The Huichol or Wixáritari are Native Mexicans that struggle to preserve their traditions and ancient peoples’ ways of living. We planned the trip with anticipation; the Huichol leaders were informed and started to organize the women in the communities. Meanwhile, I (from the CEDEJO´s team) took the DfG Ambassador of Women's Health Certification to be prepared to take the kits and present proper and vast information to them.  Finally, on Friday, the 9th of October, 5 people (3 of us representing both organizations and 2 collaborators) took off to the Sierra Madre. It was a long trip and we arrived safely. On the next day, at 11 am, approximately 100 women showed up to La Laguna, the small locality where the gathering was held up. This was a success, considering that Huichol people don´t own cars and travel very long distances in the mountain to get to the different communities. The gathering looked beautiful: grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and babies. We sat down in a circle in the open. Because of their ways, men didn´t go away, but they stepped away to a prudent range and never interrupted. Women felt free to be and express themselves at all time. It was an hour and a half session before we started handling the kits. It was very important to consider the bridging techniques suggested by Days for Girls as we didn't even share the same language. We had to use a translator; a very intelligent young woman who did the job amazingly well. We had to start with the basics and ask them how women regard their bodies and the women's cycles. At first they were shy and wouldn't talk too much. To help the conversation along, I started sharing my own testimony, as well as the stories of the women who have shared their experiences in the circles of women I've worked with. Then we started to hear about their own experience... they started to open themselves; laughing, commenting and all the time, being really appreciative and tuned in with what was happening. When we got to the part when we opened one kit to go over its parts, their general response was full of surprise: oohs and aahs with a lot of smiles. With no trouble, they embraced the idea that the kit is washable and reusable, as most of what they use is. Also they recognized the importance to maintain hygienic conditions to prevent diseases, as they have no access at all to public health clinics and they are commonly affected by all kinds of infections and sickness. Unfortunately we couldn't address the part that shows how to build a tippy tap, but the group is committed to continue to work with them and go back in a couple of months to do this and reach for more Huichol women.  They were very organized and calm when we got to handing out the kits to them. It all went in a very pleasant and harmonious way. Smiles of gratitude on their faces; the grandmothers stood aside and were also very happy. It was absolutely beautiful. That day we gave out 180 kits, as some women continued to arrive throughout the presentation. Also, we decided we didn't want to come back with the kits that remained (about 70) so a group of women was formed with Alicia, the women who helped with the translation, and will be responsible for taking care of the kits and handing them to women who come to them. This will be done only if they receive the information. But we suggested to motivate the women to attend the next reunion when we come back to share the information again.  Many beautiful things happened. A very young girl came to me with a big smile and held my hand for a moment. Alicia told me that this girl had asked her to thank us for giving her this information, since she had gotten her period and was confused about it. She wanted to share her new knowledge with her friends, too.
Many women wanted to know if we would continue to visit and talk with them about women´s health issues. They also asked if we could reach those who couldn’t attend then. We made a commitment to follow up and plan the next trip. After we finished handing out the kits, we joined together and thanked everybody with a cheer and after that we started giving out some more things that Comunión de Corazón A.C brought to them. It was a great moment, because then the men, the grandmothers and the children got gifts, too. It turned into a community celebration. The “Maracame” (the shamanic leader with spiritual and social authority) and his family prepared food for us, took us to eat, and to have a wonderful time with young musicians playing traditional Huichol music. They also offered us significant gifts which made us feel privileged and overjoyed. The celebration lasted all day. On Sunday, we came back to Guadalajara feeling fulfilled and greatly inspired by this experience. Certainly, both organizations will continue to work together to bring Days for Girls sustainable solutions for women's health to others in need. In the name of all of us and on behalf of all the Huichol women who now have a better way to live with their periods, thank you Days for Girls! With all my appreciation, Hana Figueroa of CEDEJO, A.C.
0 Comments
The CENTRO DE DESARROLLO JOCOTEPEC A.C. (CEDEJO) is proud to announce a new program in 2016, offering an Educational Program for Pregnancy Prevention and Sexual Awareness with Gender Perspective in teenagers and young adults for 5 communities of the Ribera de Chapala.  Only one in four sexually active teenagers in Jalisco always use a condom, according to a Jalisco youth survey. (Source: Guadalajara Reporter March 11, 2016; 'Teenagers Shunning Condoms') This program attends the vulnerability of young people to HIV and unintended pregnancy, and the choices adolescents make that have critical implications for their sexual and reproductive health. CEDEJO`s for Pregnancy Prevention and Sexual Awareness with Gender Perspective Program (PPSAP) for teenagers and young adults focuses on adolescents' knowledge, attitudes and behaviors as the evidence in our communities shows that teens are concerned about and want to protect themselves from both unplanned pregnancy and HIV, but misinformation about sex and its consequences is common and many adolescents do not get the education and access to services they need. Today’s youth faces many risks, but unintended pregnancy is a mayor issue that concerns the families, and HIV/AIDS and sexual transmitted diseases are spreading throughout the general population and young women are more greatly affected than young men. These findings have broad application, not only to youth in Chapala or in México generally, but also to young people around the world. A major challenge for countries worldwide is to recognize that young people need support to successfully transition to adulthood and to forthrightly address the reality that, by the age of 18, most teens have begun to have sex. Unfortunately, many government programs have largely left adolescents on their own by focusing exclusively on abstinence for all unmarried individuals. Our ObjectiveResponding to these risks before they become problems can be difficult. One of the goals of the CENTRO DE DESARROLLO JOCOTEPEC A.C. is to contribute to the well being of the communities of Chapala by offering sexual educational programs that would help the public understand the causes of these problems and prevent them as they have serious consequences in our homes, schools, and communities. CEDEJO has come to realize that the young adult population of the most needed communities of the Ribera have a high risk of developing drug and alcohol abuse, violence, sexually transmitted diseases, non planned pregnancies, and other issues due to the socio economic circumstances and the overall inequality of the area. The purpose of these program is not only to help prevent the critical problems that young people face in our communities, but to identify the youth with potential leadership qualities and train them to become the ones who multiply the information and knowledge for generations to come. Description of Program
Sessions = Once a week. Total of sessions per group: 3 and 1 evaluation; PPSAP total of sessions: 15 and 5 evaluations. Beneficiaries of the program = Approximately 100 young adults (5 groups for up to 20 Young Adults from 14 to 23 years old in each community). If you'd like to sponsor or help support this program, please contact us today! |
Receive Updates
|
Categories
All
Days For Girls
Donors & Fundraising
Health Clinic
Menstrual Cups
Mobile Clinic
Pregnancy Prevention
Press
Sylvia Flores
Volunteers
Women's Empowerment
Workshops
Archives
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
October 2017
July 2017
November 2016
July 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
October 2015
May 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
October 2014
September 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
August 2013
