Big Opportunities in a Small Town

July 8, 2012 

Today we visited the town of Tlapanala, which is about an hour and a half outside the city of Puebla. The migration rate of people in this community to the U.S, especially men, is extremely high. The community consists predominantly of women and children. When we introduced myself and said I was from Queens many of the people in the group explained that have family members living in Queens. 

 We spoke with a young woman, Monica (right), is an anthropologist who has been working in the community for the past eight years. She began work in Tlapanala when she began her thesis. Since then she’s decided to stay because of the support of the community and the success of several programs that she has helped establish. Her first project was starting a recycling program for the neighborhood. She’s also been involved in working with local nurses and physicians to create organizations that assist women with diabetes and other diseases. The program helps educate women on how to live healthy lifestyles.

One of the most successful projects Monica, with the help of several men and women in the community, have started is called Roots. Roots is an organization that helps to bring the community together by trying to keep the oral traditions of this area alive. Since migration rates are so high in this area, oral traditions are being lost and cultural identities are being lost. The goal of this program is to recover these stories and strengthen their cultural identity. This was an old school that was turned into a library. Children can come here and it serves as a community center to read together and learn together. 

 

 The women made us memelas. Delicious tortillas with red or green salsa. 

 Children in this community are also encouraged to get educated in Mexico and not migrate. The program that we spoke mostly about helping families, especially getting children involved, in learning important aspects of business and motivated them to be entrepreneurs in their neighborhood. The government, big business such as Wal-Mart, along with private funding gives certain families the resources needed to produce goods, which can be sold in the community. The kids raise chickens. Some of them have coops in their backyards, while others are in charge of making sure the chickens are vaccinated, others keep track of production, some sell the eggs and others keep track of the profits. Some children make chicken sausages and chicken cold cuts to sell. The kids can even pay for advertisements (locals drive around and shout on a horn that these organic products are for sale). The profits go to the families of these children, therefore they can continue their work and learn valuable life skills of business and accountability.

 The chicken farms 

These girls all play a part in the production of the chicken cold cuts and chicken sausage.

Most of the kitchens are outdoor 

Goats and other animals are also raised in this village. 

  Most people think there are only opportunities on the other side of the border, but programs such as these teach the children there are many opportunities here in Mexico.  

This is the local elementary school. Grades 1-3 are in one room & 4-6 in another room. Secondary school is in another building a bus ride away.

Marcus, a Fulbrighter who teaches in Brooklyn, decided to sponsor a family’s project. Most of his students come from the city of Puebla. He also plans to start an exchange of goods with this community. 

This town is doing great things, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Tlapanala, like many others in Mexico, suffer financially.