Hello Friends,
Please take the time to visit our friends in our Chiapas Education project. Our first Children of Chiapas delegation parted for San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas Mexico on July 22nd. This year our delegation members Pancho, Yolie, Patty, Claudia & Nancy brought their beautiful and selfless efforts to the young women of Kinal.
The delegation took a brief interlude to visit beautiful archeological sites such as Bonampak, Tonina, Agua Azul, Mi-sol Ha, Lagos de Montebello & Yaxchilan.
On July 26th the delegation traveled back to San Cristobal de Las Casas to begin the work of the delegation. Kinal Antensik (Mayan for Land of Women) a women's empowerment center was the host of the delegation. Kinal has been working with indigenous and mestizo women throughout the state providing empowerment education and resource services to women and families.
Our delegation spent 5 days getting acquainted with the work of the center and learning all about the incredible work all of the women at Kinal. Kinal houses several projects among there are the women's cooperative Jolom Mayaetik (Mayan for Mayan Weavers) this cooperative helps indigenous women sell their beautiful art & crafts at a fair price. Jolom Mayetik currently work with over 350 women and helps hundreds of families by providing them with training and the tools to sustain themselves. Kinal is also the host of a young women's education project.
The Children of Chiapas Foundation has been a proud supporter of the education project for over two years. The project currently sponsors 9 young women 4 of them recently joined the project. These amazing young women come from throughout the state in search of an opportunity to continue their education past the 6th grade. These young women lack the opportunities to make their dream of higher education a reality.
The Children of Chiapas Foundation had the opportunity to visit with the young women and learn more about their communities. During the delegation we brought school supplies, medical equipment, resources and monetary donations. All made possible with your support! COC also hosted workshops on health & diabetes screenings, physicals, sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking prevention.
We would like to share our experience with all of you in the hopes that you will be inspired by these incredible young women. The images will hopefully give you an idea of the challenges these young women face and how Kinal is making their hopes for higher education come true. After our amazing experience we are committed to continue to support the efforts of the women of Kinal and we hope you will join us.
We are currently planning a second delegation to travel back to Chiapas in July of 2009. Our goal is to bring with us another medical delegation, dental & vision resources and financial support. It is our sincere hope you will consider joining our delegation next year!
In the mean time we invite to support us by learning more about the project to these images we brought back to share with all you. The images depict the way of life for many of these girls in their community (San Jose a community located in Marques de Comillas. This community experiences faces many challenges and the resources are scarce)
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e also hope that you will consider making a tax deductible donation through paypal or by mailing your check to Children of Chiapas Foundation at 8439 drayer lane, rosemead ca 91770.Thank you for your support!
