Tag Archives: volunteer

Huatulco

A Team Transforming Rural Education with Technology, Commitment, and Heart

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By Britt Jarnryd—

The Bacaanda Foundation, through its Escuela Rural Inteligente program, has developed an innovative educational model driven above all by its team. This extraordinary group of professionals, guided by vocation, consistency, and a deep sense of social responsibility, is transforming the educational experience.

The team is made up of six educational coaches, a technology engineer, and a project director, all working in close coordination to directly support teachers and students. In addition to conducting in-person visits to schools for 3 to 5 days each month, the team provides daily online support—guiding teachers in lesson planning, the design of teaching and learning strategies, and the effective use of educational technology.

During these visits, the coaches monitor, advise, and train teachers in the use of internet resources, smart screens, iPads, and educational apps, integrating them into Spanish and Mathematics curricula at the preschool, primary, and secondary levels. This hybrid model—combining in-person and virtual support—allows for continuous, timely, and personalized attention.

The role of the engineer is equally essential, overseeing the proper functioning of equipment, ensuring the effective use of technological tools, and providing timely technical solutions to prevent interruptions in the learning process.

Complementing this work, the project director coordinates efforts, ensures follow-up, and maintains the quality of implementation across the 53 rural schools currently served, guaranteeing consistency, efficiency, and alignment with the foundation’s educational goals.

In addition, the team maintains an active presence within the communities—observing and modeling classroom practices during school hours, and offering training sessions for teachers and parents in the afternoons. This close engagement strengthens trust, local commitment, and the long-term sustainability of the program.

Thanks to this consistent, hands-on and online support, the results have been clear: reduced gaps in literacy, steady improvements in mathematics, and significant progress in digital skills. The Escuela Rural Inteligente team has become a powerful example of how human guidance, combined with technology, can transform educational realities in rural settings.

Huatulco

Rotary Club Bahías de Huatulco Hosts Bi-district Conference in May

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By Bonnie Ganske—

The Rotary Club of Bahías de Huatulco, established in 1998, is preparing to host a bi-district conference at the Barceló Convention Centre from May 14–16. Rotary is an international service organization with a presence in more than 200 countries and over 1.2 million members worldwide. Its primary areas of focus include healthcare, disease prevention, clean water, literacy, peace, education, and the environment—all guided by the motto “Service Above Self.”

Locally, the club supports its Park Library in Sector U2, which offers a computer lab for area schoolchildren, language classes in Spanish, German, and English, and serves as both a lending library and a resource center for visiting students. The Huatulco Rotary Club has also delivered numerous wheelchairs, hosts an annual dental campaign for rural schoolchildren, and has installed water purification systems in schools across surrounding communities.

The upcoming conference will welcome more than 400 Rotarians from across southern Mexico. District 4195 includes participants from Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, and Campeche. District 4185 will bring attendees from Puebla, Guerrero, Tlaxcala, Morelos, and additional regions of Veracruz. The event will also host approximately 250 foreign exchange students.

For local businesses, this gathering presents an opportunity to offer special promotions or discounts during the low season, as visitors explore the area’s shops, restaurants, and services.

Conference Highlights:

May 15: Presentation by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rotary Peace Scholar, Dra. Rigoberta Menchú Tum

May 15: A colorful parade of Rotarians in traditional regional dress, beginning in El Centro and culminating at Parque Guelaguetza near the marina. The public is warmly invited to attend and enjoy food and artisan stalls at the park.

May 17: A 2 km walk/run to the golf course in support of Rotary’s global polio eradication campaign

For more info: + 52 958 115 3767

Huatulco

From Chalkboards to Starlink: A New Era for Rural Schools in Oaxaca

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By Jamie McIntyre—

Founded in 2008 to assist rural communities near Huatulco, Bacaanda Foundation began to focus its efforts on rural education in 2013. In partnership with CONAFE, the agency responsible for rural education in Oaxaca, the Foundation now supports over 550 children and 63 teachers, in 59 schools across 23 rural communities.

Initially, the Foundation worked to establish suitable classroom environments for students and teachers. With donor funding and community support, it built or renovated 46 schools and 33 teacher residences.

This initiative led to Bacaanda’s “Intelligent Rural Schools Program,” which uses technology to enhance student learning, and along with investments in teacher training these technologies are now being used in all classrooms.

This year, the Foundation completed installation of Starlink satellite systems providing high-speed internet to all 59 schools. With 400 iPads now fully integrated into student learning, we are seeing primary student test scores in Spanish and Math improve, by more than 30% in two years.

A review found significant gaps in student literacy, so the Foundation added a literacy module in 2025, focused on reading, comprehension and writing. Proficiency improved dramatically from 23% of primary students proficient last year, to 63% this year.

Many teachers at Bacaanda schools are recent high school graduates who lack experience and formal pedagogical training. At its two training facilities, the Foundation works collaboratively with CONAFE to deliver teacher training, which has proven to enhance educators’ skill sets, self-assurance, and instructional effectiveness.

Also, Bacaanda’s six trainers provide teacher support both in-class and online, but retaining teachers remains difficult. To address this, Bacaanda, in cooperation with CONAFE, began offering teacher salary support last year. As a result, teacher turnover in 2025/2026 dropped to less than half its previous rate.

Bacaanda Foundation is a registered charity in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. For further details or to learn about tax-efficient ways to give to this wonderful organization, please visit http://www.bacaandafoundation.org

Huatulco

Un Nuevo Amanecer: A Community Lifting Children Toward Their Full Potential

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By Dan Thompson—

Starting their 31st year, Un Nuevo Amanecer (UNA) has been one of Huatulco’s most essential community organizations, dedicated to providing therapy, education, and support to children and adolescents with disabilities. What began as a modest local initiative has grown into a respected center offering physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychological support, early stimulation, and inclusive education programs.

In 2024, UNA delivered more than 1,700 individual therapy sessions, and its 2026 plan includes increasing its reach by at least 15%, serving more families who depend on specialized services not available elsewhere in the region.

A Growing Network of Support

For many years, the annual Blues on the Beach concerts provided nearly 60% of UNA’s annual funding, establishing a strong foundation for the organization’s growth. As awareness has increased, UNA’s support base has broadened significantly.

Donors include local residents as well as members of Huatulco’s international community, demonstrating the shared commitment behind UNA’s mission. Additional support now comes from local businesses, community events such as Vamos Huatulco, and long-time private donors from Mexico, Canada, and the United States. This diversification has strengthened UNA’s financial stability and expanded its ability to meet increasing demand.

Support From Across Borders

Canadian donors may contribute to UNA through Amistad Canada, a registered Canadian charity that partners with vetted nonprofit organizations in Mexico. This partnership ensures transparency and allows Canadians to make tax-deductible donations, further supporting UNA’s long-term sustainability.

Impact With Measurable Results

Each year, more children learn to walk, speak, develop independence, and gain confidence through UNA’s programs. Families receive guidance, emotional support, and the tools needed to help their children reach their full potential. Behind every therapy session is a story of progress—sometimes small, sometimes life-changing, always meaningful.

Looking Ahead

UNA’s goals for the coming years focus on expanding therapy services, strengthening professional staff development, improving equipment and facilities, and ensuring that every family seeking help can receive it. Continued community support—local, national, and international—is essential to achieving these goals.

Un Nuevo Amanecer stands as a testament to what a dedicated community can accomplish. Through ongoing generosity, the children and families of Huatulco can continue to look forward to a future filled with dignity, opportunity, and hope.

Friday, January 16, 2026
Casa Bocana, Huatulco

Artists Lineup:
Emiliano Juárez with Dai Gallo and the WestCoasters

Special Guest: Cat Wells — powerhouse Canadian rhythm, soul, and blues vocalist

Donation: 5,000 pesos per person (goes directly to UNA)

Via Paypal:
http://www.paypal.com/paypalme/unnuevoamanecerhux

or for Canadian donors, receive a CRS receipt via AMISTAD Canada http://www.AmistadCanada.org/donate Select Un Nuevo Amanecer as beneficiary

Your support funds therapy and education for children with disabilities in our community.

Can’t Attend? You Can Still Help:
Sponsor a child: 15,000 pesos provides one full year of therapy and educational support.

Learn more: http://www.facebook.com/huatulcobluesonthebeach

Huatulco

El Sueño Zapoteco A.C. / Bacaanda Foundation: Smart Rural Schools That Transform Lives

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By Britt Jarnryd

With nearly 17 years of uninterrupted work, El Sueño Zapoteco A.C. / Bacaanda Foundation works tirelessly to open paths of opportunity in the most vulnerable rural communities along the coast and in the southern Sierra of Oaxaca. Recognized as an authorized nonprofit organization in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, it is committed to a clear purpose: to provide children and young people with a dignified, equitable, and quality education.

Today, that dream has taken shape through the Smart Rural School project—an innovative initiative designed to strengthen learning in Spanish and mathematics by incorporating technology, ongoing teacher training, and educational mentorship as essential pillars. This comprehensive model combines digital tools, pedagogical development, and financial support for rural teachers, dignifying their work and reducing teacher turnover—one of the main challenges in rural areas.

The program’s goals include expanding meaningful learning, encouraging the use of technology in teaching, developing digital and socio-emotional skills, and ensuring that teachers remain in their communities. In addition, systematic evaluations track academic progress, guaranteeing continuous improvement in educational outcomes.

Each classroom is equipped with a smart screen, iPads (one for every two students), educational applications, satellite internet, and digital programs for Spanish and mathematics. Thanks to joint efforts and the commitment of our partners, all of our rural schools are now connected to satellite internet—opening the doors of knowledge to the world.

For the 2025–2026 school year, the program is being implemented in 52 rural schools, benefiting 57 teachers and more than 550 students. The results are evident: improved reading comprehension, stronger logical-mathematical thinking, more motivated teachers, and school communities strengthened by hope.Yet much remains to be done. We invite you to be part of this dream:Sponsor a school and transform the life of a community.

Contribute to the monthly cost of satellite internet that keeps the connection to learning alive.Support teacher training or sponsor a rural teacher, ensuring their development and permanence. Every donation plants the seeds of the future. Join El Sueño Zapoteco A.C. / Bacaanda Foundation and together let’s continue building an Oaxaca where education transforms lives and keeps dreams alive.

 

Huatulco

Un Nuevo Amanecer

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By Pamela Welgan

Several years ago, my husband and I decided to make Huatulco our annual winter retreat. During one of our stays, I sought ways to connect meaningfully with the local community and discovered various charitable organizations. Serendipitously, I crossed paths with one of the founding members of Un Nuevo Amanecer (UNA), a professional care center in Huatulco dedicated to supporting children and adolescents with developmental challenges.

How It Started
An old proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Nearly 30 years ago, Flor Angélica Castillo de la Cruz, María Estela Venegas Aguirre, Dominga Sanchez Aguirre, Luz María Blanquet, and Leonardo Alcántara García took this to heart when they founded UNA. They recognized a pressing need for resources and services to support children with disabilities in Huatulco.
In those early days, these remarkable individuals, some with young children of their own, conducted village-by-village needs assessments across the Santa María Huatulco municipality. Imagine them driving a VW Beetle to remote communities to better understand and educate families about the importance of providing care for children with disabilities.
UNA’s initial funding came from the Ba’asolay Foundation. Piña Palmera, another local organization working with children with disabilities, provided medical assistance, wheelchairs, and hearing aids in collaboration with the Huatulco Rotary Club.
Over the years, UNA has partnered with government institutions and international organizations, including Indesol, Unión Europea, COPLADE, Oaxaca Public Charity, TELETON, the Harp Foundation, and Amistad Canada. Local support has come through efforts such as Blues on the Beach, spearheaded by Daniel and Sonia Thompson, and community-driven initiatives led by Vamos Huatulco and Lobos Blancos. These partnerships, along with countless dedicated volunteers, have been instrumental in UNA’s journey.

UNA Today
UNA is a registered asociación civil (a nonprofit organization permitted to receive private donations). Its full name, Un Nuevo Amanecer en Pro del Discapacitado, A.C. (“A New Dawn for the Disabled”), reflects its mission to offer hope and a brighter future to children and adolescents with developmental challenges.
In 2023, UNA reached a significant milestone: the opening of a purpose-built Child Care Center in Huatulco. This modern facility provides a safe environment for children and their families and improves working conditions for staff. Its prominent street-level location has also increased awareness of UNA’s services. (See Dan Thompson’s article, “A New Dawn for Un Nuevo Amanecer,” in the February 2022 issue of The Eye.)

Today, UNA serves approximately 150 children annually, ranging from infants as young as three months to teenagers up to 17 years old. After an initial assessment by UNA therapists, each child receives personalized interventions. Specialized medical follow-ups are often arranged in Huatulco, Oaxaca City, or Mexico City. Diagnoses include physical disabilities, hearing loss, blindness, learning disorders, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, autism, and neurological disorders.
Therapeutic interventions at UNA include speech therapy, occupational therapy, Mexican Sign Language instruction, and pedagogical support. For adolescents unable to pursue further education, workshops in independent living and cooking skills prepare them for future employment. Success stories abound—many young people have gone on to work in local resorts, restaurants, or their own communities

Supporting UNA
UNA relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers, and community support. Here’s how you can help:
Blues on the Beach
· Date: February 5, 2025
· Location: Hotel Casa Bocana, Bocana Beach
· Details: Enjoy food, drinks, and live entertainment in a stunning open-air venue. Admission by donation—$5,000 MXN per person.
· Donations can be made via PayPal: http://www.paypal.me/unnuevoamanecerhux. For Canadian tax receipts, donate through UNA’s partner, Amistad Canada: http://www.amistadcanada.org/donate.
Vamos Huatulco
· Date: January 12, 2025
· Details: Join a 5km run or 3km walk to support UNA. Register and learn more at: vamoshuatulco.org.
Apadrinar a un Niño (Sponsor a Child)
Through this program, donors commit to financially supporting a child’s therapeutic treatments with an annual donation of $15,000 MXN. This initiative targets children from the region’s neediest families who require multiple interventions. For more information, please contact UNA directly.
Get Involved
Whether you’re interested in donating, volunteering, or simply learning more, UNA welcomes your support. Visit: http://www.unnuevoamanecerhux.com.

Pamela Welgan serves as Project Liaison for UNA with Amistad Canada.

 

Huatulco

The Impressive Record of a Huatulco Charity

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By Jamie McIntyre

The local non-profit Bacaanda Foundation was started modestly in 2008 by the Jarnryd family in Huatulco. “Bacaanda” is a Zapotec word meaning “dream” and this charity has turned dreams into reality for thousands of children, families and communities.

With registered charity status in USA, Canada and Mexico (where it is also known as El Sueño Zapoteco), the foundation now has the support of a generous and growing donor community. As a registered charity it can now issue a tax receipt in the currencies of all three countries, which allows donors to offset their cash or in-kind donation.

Bacaanda’s goal is to invest in education as the primary tool to pave the way for a better future for children in rural communities. Since 2013 it has invested more than 2.1 million USD to support delivery of quality education in rural communities across the Santa Maria Huatulco and Pochutla regions of Oaxaca. More than 85% of the funds raised have been invested directly into programs, with the remainder covering the costs of its small office in Tangolunda.

The early focus was its “Adopt a School Program”. With the generosity of its “adopters,” consisting of hundreds of donors and volunteers, and the support of CONAFE (Consejo Nacional de Fomento Educativo, the National Council for Promoting Education), the foundation has completed the new construction or refurbishment of schools and teachers’ quarters in over forty communities. In addition, two teacher training facilities were built in Santa Maria Huatulco and Pochutla, where young teachers receive their initial training and ongoing support.
While there remains a significant need for better schools and infrastructure in these regions, the Foundation recently made a strategic decision to target student achievement as its key measure of success. As a result, it has begun to transition away from a focus on construction and infrastructure projects to one on technology-enabled classroom learning.

With its experience working in isolated rural communities, where attracting and retaining good teachers is very difficult, the Foundation came to understand that technology-based learning is a critical component in achieving better student learning outcomes. Also, since few schools in rural Oaxaca go beyond 8th grade, it was important to find a way to accelerate learning for children enrolled in primary grades. This led to the creation of the Foundation’s “Intelligent Rural Schools Program (IRS).

This program currently includes 643 students in 52 schools – 36 schools connected to the internet and 16 offline schools that use iPads with preloaded interactive educational software. Internet connections are delivered via Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system.

Accelerating student learning in low-income countries

The question of how to meet the educational needs of children in low-income countries has been studied extensively. Perhaps the most interesting perspectives are those of return on investment (ROI) and cost-benefit analysis, which consider societal benefit as a key metric in deciding how to deliver effective education in these countries. A team of economists and policy analysts looked at “Improving Learning in Low and Lower-Middle Income Countries” (Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis, 14: 2023).

The authors of the report conclude that it is no longer a significant challenge to get children into primary schools in low-income countries with some countries now reporting virtually 100% enrollment. The problem is that despite increases in spending by as much as 80% to achieve this remarkable enrollment over the past two decades, there has been very little impact on student learning outcomes.

They conclude that the focus going forward must be on student learning and improving the efficiency of the education system and that by deploying just two (of 150 considered), low-cost and focused educational interventions, the system can reap dramatic returns in terms of student achievement as ratio of the costs incurred.

For example, the authors describe how one intervention, described as “teaching students at the right level, with the use of technology” can deliver up to $65.00 USD of social and economic benefit for every $1.00 USD spent.

This approach is at the core of Bacaanda Foundations’ “Intelligent Rural Schools” program. To confirm its efficacy, and with the support of Conafe, the Foundation is now able to compare grade-specific student learning outcomes in the IRS group to those of students who do not have access to the same technologies. Early results of these tests show significantly enhanced learning outcomes for the IRS students.

Cerro Clanes Magdalena – Bacaanda’s newest project

This story is playing out right now in the community of Cerro Clanes Magdalena, a very remote community (a 4-hour, very challenging drive from Huatulco) in the Pochutla region, where Zapotec is the predominant language spoken.

This is the largest Bacaanda Foundation project to date. Six classrooms and a teachers’ residence are being refurbished for 74 children and 5 CONAFE teachers assigned to the community. The classrooms will all be internet-connected by Starlink, and have iPad tablets loaded with learning software. The Foundation has already deployed its training staff to the community to train and coach the teachers on how to use the technology; monitoring and coaching the teachers will be an ongoing component of the program. The Foundation will be working with families and a school committee to ensure the project fits the community’s needs.

In late January, a small group of Foundation staff and donors visited Cerro Clanes to inaugurate the project. The group visited one of the newly refurbished classrooms, where 5th- and 6th-grade students were having their very first experience in a smart classroom. Each student had an internet-connected iPad; a Bacaanda technology trainer was leading their first on-line class, in which the lesson was being fed through the trainer’s iPad connected to a smart TV mounted in the front of the classroom. Parents and community members were crowded in the doorway and around the windows, clearly intrigued by what was happening in the classroom.

Bacaanda Foundation – looking forward

The Foundation’s Board of Directors has carefully considered its strategic direction going forward, which is to leverage the use of technology to improve teaching and student learning and to help build positive social dynamics in the communities that it serves. But the challenge remains daunting. Just in the two CONAFE districts of Santa María and Pochutla, where the Foundation has directed its efforts, there are 320 schools, with a total enrollment of 2,680 students.

Within its current resources, The Foundation has committed to focusing on a limited number of schools and communities, starting with roughly 60 schools in 30 communities – with the goal of achieving greater student learning impact in each community before growing beyond these numbers.

Bacaanda’s success going forward will be driven by the generosity and time of its supporters. The Foundation is looking for volunteers to assist its programs and fundraising efforts. In particular, Bacaanda is looking for volunteers with grant-writing experience in the US and Canada.

Contact us if you are interested in helping the Bacaanda Foundation as a donor, volunteer, or other kind of support. http://www.bacaandafoundation.org
Huatulco office (958-581-0536) bacaandafoundation@hotmail.com

Jamie McIntyre
President
Bacaanda Foundation Canada

Huatulco

Bacaanda Foundation Brings Back Its Annual Festival! Save the Date – Saturday, January 28, 2023

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By Lynn Holdridge

All about Bacaanda

The Bacaanda Foundation/El Sueño Zapoteco A.C. is a Huatulco volunteer organization founded in 2008. It supports low-income people, typically in small, more remote communities in our area of Oaxaca. The Foundation works in coordination with CONAFE (National Council for Education Promotion), reaching more than 3,000 students and 300 teachers in the Santa María Huatulco and Pochutla area. Together, the partnership serves 300 schools in eight municipalities. Bacaanda helps to renovate older and build new schools, and provides teacher quarters, bathrooms, and basic playground equipment. in these communities. The Foundation’s multi-level Intelligent Rural Schools initiative provides donated iPads linked by Bluetooth to Smart TVs at Level 1; Level 2 provides more iPads, as Bacaanda has observed a correlation between iPad availability and student learning progress.

At Level 3, the Foundation adds connectivity. This is a major undertaking as remote villages rarely have any available internet. Bacaanda has been building a private network to distribute an internet signal through a series of towers that reach the schools. It has taken the incredible generosity of multiple donors, including groups from Montecito Beach Village and Punta Arrocito in Huatulco. The Foundation is now working to use the newly available Starlink satellites to increase bandwidth at larger schools; once the costs of upfront equipment and the monthly subscription have been paid, these schools can achieve full streaming capability. Bacaanda has also installed Starlink capability at both teacher training centers (Santa María and Pochutla), serving 100 teachers at each center.

And now, the Dream Festival!

The first Festival del Sueño/the Dream Festival was held in 2015 as a community event to raise awareness of the Bacaanda Foundation and the work they do in our rural communities. Many people, local and foreign, knew very little about the Bacaanda Foundation’s efforts toward providing better, in some cases even basic, education for the children in our rural areas. While the main purpose was to raise awareness, we also wanted to make it fun for everyone. There is authentic entertainment provided by the rural children and other local groups, Huatulco’s only Dunk Tank, games and activities for children, and over 30 local artisans showcasing a wide variety of crafts, keeping 100% of their sales.

Come and Win Big!

You can win LOTS of raffle prizes – there are several raffles: he Hourly, the Big, the Multi-draw, and the 50/50. Raffle prizes are all donated by local businesses. You have a chance to win dinners, stays at hotels, artisan creations, tours of our area, and much more.

You can win at food and beverage prizes at games like Mexican Lotería, Wheel of Coffee, and Bee Catch. There is an Early Bird Prize chosen from the tickets purchased in advance, and a Grand Prize chosen from all tickets sold.

Want to Work? Lots of People Do, It’s Lots of Fun!

This event would not be possible without the help of over 100 volunteers who donate their time planning, organizing, and working before, during, and after the event. If you would like to make Festival del Sueño/the Dream Festival an ongoing success, please contact Lynn Holdridge, Festival Chair, at l.d.holdridge@gmail.com.

Whether you live in or are just visiting Huatulco, the Festival is a wonderful opportunity for all to learn about the Bacaanda Foundation and its efforts to provide educational supports in the rural area. For more insight/information please visit https://www.bacaanda.org/ , or approach any of the Team Members at the Bacaanda tent at the Festival. To live in a community, one should know about it. We hope you will attend on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 5-10:00 pm in Guelaguetza Park located next to Marina Park Plaza.

A big thank you – and welcome – from the Dream Festival’s Planning Team!

Huatulco

The Power of Giving

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By Russell T. Greene and S. Price

Every autumn people across North America eagerly anticipate Black Friday (weekend beginning November 25) and Buen Fin (weekend beginning November 18), the kick off for sales to begin their holiday shopping sprees. At the same time, people with a desire to support charitable and non-profit organizations have balanced retail spending with philanthropic giving. Giving Tuesday, which happens on November 29 this year (the last Tuesday in November), was created as “a day to encourage people to do good.”

In Huatulco many charitable organizations and community groups have benefitted from the generosity of tourists, snowbirds, and a growing number of permanent residents who look for ways to support their homes away from home. Donations of time and money have contributed to the local Red Cross, built and supported rural schools and provided much needed medical equipment. Each completed project, and the donations given, is a testament to the calling many of us have to help people living in vulnerable situations.

It’s with the calling of being a Christian that Randy Clearwater and his wife Kimberly were determined to feed the hungry, cloth the unclothed and provide shelter, especially to the widowed, the elderly, and single mothers. After volunteering themselves in Canada, Randy and Kimberly wanted to bring similar charitable work to Oaxaca, though on a smaller scale and in keeping with local culture.

To fulfill this ongoing mission, the generosity of individuals who see the life-changing results of their efforts is needed. Donations in the form of food, clothing, building supplies, and – of course – money are constantly needed. Without the continued support of all, nothing happens.

On September 7, 2017, an 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico, with its epicenter in the Isthmus region. In a rapid response, Randy delivered food hampers to the community of Chahuites, a small, impoverished mountain community east of Salina Cruz, four hours from Huatulco. While there, it became evident that in addition to food security, families were in need of safe housing and basic furnishings.

With the help of local residents, families in greatest need were equipped with material to rebuild their homes. Since 2017, the community has come together to give of their labour, skills and resources to construct 12 casas including making their own cement bricks, adding metal roofs, doors and windows. Randy and Kimberly have travelled several times to Chahuites to witness the progress and they are so thankful for the hearts and generosity of the donors who have made this possible.

Following the 2020 earthquake (magnitude 7.4), with an epicenter near Salina Cruz, and Hurricane Agatha in May 2022, which made landfall at Puerto Angel, access to safe housing and simple comforts like a bed to sleep in and a table to eat at became growing priorities. So, in 2022, Safe Shelters Huatulco was developed alongside the Huatulco Food Bank to give donors an option to support different projects in the community.

Safe Shelters Huatulco has been focused on building basic furniture like bunk beds, tables and shelving to provide the comforts of home. Local pastor Wilfri Justiniano serves as a community liaison and has been identifying families in the area that will benefit from this work. In many families, parents have a bed in which to sleep, but children often sleep on the ground. The cost to build a single bunk bed strong enough to hold the weight of multiple children and withstand the elements is substantial – the lumber alone is well over $5,000 mxn ($250 US).

While there will be volunteer opportunities to build the furniture in the future, there is a constant need for financial support through donations and fund-raising. Without the generous contributions of time and money, these projects are not sustainable.

This November 29, take a moment to consider what is important to you and find a local charity or nonprofit group that needs your support. And remember that while Giving Tuesday makes it easy to get the donations started, your support is needed all year long.

If you would like to support Safe Shelters Huatulco, please donate through PayPal (@rlclearwater) or Interac (rlclearwater@gmail.com).

Huatulco

A New Dawn for Un Nuevo Amanecer

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By Dan Thompson

Un Nuevo Amanecer (A New Dawn) is a Huatulco organization that focuses on the detection, prevention, and treatment of disabilities, including educational needs and delayed development needs, in children. This civil association (associación civile, a certified Mexican nonprofit) has been meeting the needs of these children for almost 25 years. It is the only center of its type on the Oaxacan coast; last year, UNA offered over 7,000 individual sessions to about 150 children from Huatulco and surrounding municipalities.
Unfortunately, UNA and its work still remains unknown to the great majority of both locals and foreigners. You can learn more about them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Un-Nuevo-Amanecer-en-pro-del-discapacitado-AC-185242528169754.
Supporting the Work of Un Nuevo Amanecer
The organization Amigos de Un Nuevo Amanecer was founded to educate residents and visitors about the incredible work done by Un Nuevo Amanecer, and to encourage donations and support for this organization. Their Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/groups/219989236981319.
Amigos de Un Nuevo Amanecer started the annual Blues on the Beach concert 10 years ago as a fundraiser for UNA; the event has grown to the point that it provides 60% of UNA’s operating budget. Alas, COVID canceled the 2021 concert, and put a crimp in UNA’s funding, and yet despite this, the center continued therapy sessions, actually treating more children with the assistance of hard-won grants, donations and small-scale raffles. COVID being still with us, there will not be a Blues on the Beach concert of the same scope as past years, but the need for funding remains the same – your donation of $300 pesos (about $15 USD) provides one individual therapy session.

A New Home for A New Dawn
Since its beginning, UNA has operated from the second floor of the founder’s family hardware store. There is an urgent need for a safer and expanded center to enable UNA to better serve existing families, and to assist more families. Now, after many years of effort to build a new home for Un Nuevo Amanecer, it is finally becoming a reality. A building lot has been titled, engineering and architectural plans are being developed, and groundbreaking is scheduled for early June.

The project is split into three phases, each of which will cost approximately $1,000,000 pesos. UNA has secured enough commitments to start the project, but funding for the subsequent stages must be raised. UNA needs your support both to fund its ongoing activities and to complete this critical building project.

Donations can be made via Paypal by going to http://www.paypal.me/unnuevoamanecerhux.

If you require a Canadian Tax receipt, you can donate through AMISTAD at http://www.amistadcanada.org/donate/. Instructions for donating from your bank and by check are on the left; the online donation column is on the right. Please make sure to click on Un Nuevo Amanecer as your desired charity.