In a letter, PlanNET colleague Susan Smith reflects back on the covid times chronicled in the previous blogs and describes the task of refocusing Atzin Canada/Mexico, that she leads, for the community development challenges ahead.
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While Covid-19 smoulders on in this Mexican village, the women promoters reset their sights on the original community development mandate of their organization, Atzin. Read on…
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Covid19 swept into Tlamacazapa and laid bare intractable problems in this village of 8,000 in southern Mexico. It has tragically exposed complex environment and nutritional toxicities rooted in exposure to arsenic and lead, and to the consumption of inexpensive highly processed foods. Tlama’s history of political marginalization repeats the story of so many indigenous communities. After an initial peak that lasted two months, covid now simmers, taking a life here and a life there. With mixed emotions of fatigue and empowerment, the young women promoters of our partner, Atzin start to look beyond the crisis of the past four months and toward a longer term recovery. Read on and listen to Atzin Director, Susan Smith describe the current status and the road ahead.
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On Sundays, a few Atzin supporters in Canada sit with Susan in Mexico to catch up on the previous week. Here are the highlights.
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Atzin’s covid awareness and food distribution campaign is in full swing, but the team of promotors are up against big forces bearing down on this Indigenous village of 8,000. Living close to the economic and cultural margins of mainstream Mexico, on a harsh and toxic landscape, susceptible to influences of alcohol and narco operatives, and with social rifts that have eroded good will among households, the villagers of Tlamacazapa are struggling to come to grips with this devastating virus. Atzin Director, Susan Smith reflects on the uncertain path they are on.
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Most of Atzin’s regular programming has been put aside with the onset of Covid-19. A courageous team of women promoters have been working long and hard to protect this Indigenous village of 6,000 from the virus. Here’s how.
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Days before Covid-19 was declared a pandemic, Philip Cox had an extraordinary week in Mexico. He saw firsthand the work of the non-governmental organization, Atzin in Tlamacazapa, and was reminded of what it is to be seriously committed to community development.
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