Our History & Our Founder
Sylvia Flores, a registered nurse and midwife, founded CEDEJO and has been making a difference in the Mexican community for over 40 years. She has been formally recognized by the United Nations for her contributions. To learn more about our founder, please watch the video interview below with Sylvia about her 40-plus years of community service.
Flores' efforts started in San Pedro in 1974, where she provided maternal care, counseled low-income families and pregnant women on nutrition, and delivered babies (she's delivered over 500 babies!). She also taught First Aid as, at that time, many babies died from scorpion bites. Flores moved to San Cristobal in 1975 and continued her work with the poor, with her main focus being on helping women. In 1976 she moved to El Molino and started more projects - everything from family planning (including providing information on contraceptives) to reforestation efforts. In 1982, she opened her own clinic and trained a team of local people to help her with projects. |
Since 1984 Sylvia has contributed to countless national and international conferences on population, development and advocacy. She has presented lectures and conferences in the United States, Egypt, Cuba, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Guatemala, as well as throughout Mexico.
In 1986, CEDEJO opened and remained in Jocotopec for 20 years. Sylvia continued to train people through CEDEJO and, for the first time in that area, started sex education for teenagers in the schools.
CEDEJO moved to Ajijic in 1991 and originally focused on cervical and breast cancer prevention but now also provides comprehensive services in the following areas: pre-natal care, family planning (including contraceptives), pap smears, medical consultations and teaching sex education through schools and other organizations.
In 2013 CEDEJO expanded their vision and work by collaborating in a new project, "WOMEN, POWER and LIFE", which CEDEJO hopes to eventually expand to four locations around Lake Chapala (San Cristobal, San Juan Cosala, Chapala, and Ajijic). Through this program a group of young leaders will be trained in activism and empowerment, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health for women. The first pilot workshop was successfully completed in 2014 in Chapala. Please consider supporting these critical workshops and the specialized training of women by giving a donation today.
In 1986, CEDEJO opened and remained in Jocotopec for 20 years. Sylvia continued to train people through CEDEJO and, for the first time in that area, started sex education for teenagers in the schools.
CEDEJO moved to Ajijic in 1991 and originally focused on cervical and breast cancer prevention but now also provides comprehensive services in the following areas: pre-natal care, family planning (including contraceptives), pap smears, medical consultations and teaching sex education through schools and other organizations.
In 2013 CEDEJO expanded their vision and work by collaborating in a new project, "WOMEN, POWER and LIFE", which CEDEJO hopes to eventually expand to four locations around Lake Chapala (San Cristobal, San Juan Cosala, Chapala, and Ajijic). Through this program a group of young leaders will be trained in activism and empowerment, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health for women. The first pilot workshop was successfully completed in 2014 in Chapala. Please consider supporting these critical workshops and the specialized training of women by giving a donation today.
Having problems viewing the video above? Try playing it on You Tube: https://youtu.be/rxTgBsVN2nE
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