Managing on Their Own
Among the many virtues of Coffee Kids’ partner, Self-Managed Development (AUGE), in Veracruz, Mexico, there is one that is essential to the people they serve: self-determination.
In late May, Program Director José Luis Zárate and I spent five days visiting communities where AUGE helps communities manage projects in microcredit, herbal remedies, food security, civic participation and education.
Since 1995, AUGE has been promoting community participation to improve quality of life in some of the poorest regions of Veracruz. During the visit, we stayed at AUGE’s Educational Center, which was partially funded by Coffee Kids. The center is well-equipped with classrooms and media centers, a kitchen and restrooms, comfortable bedrooms (where we stayed during the trip), and a check-up room for doctor visits.
On the first day, we attended an event titled, “Women: Builders of Citizenship,” to encourage women to participate in the electoral process. This project was financed with government funds, but made use of the training center. Elections for federal deputies were to take place on July 5th and these activities served as a reminder to women.
The final activity of the event was a song contest. Songs were composed that focused on the topics of liberty, equality and responsible citizenship. José Luis had the honor of serving on the three-person jury. We were touched by the participation of Anatolia Ruiz, who took second place in the contest. She had recently lost one of her daughters and dedicated her song, “Freedom,” to her memory.
AUGE also offers a health project focusing on herbal remedies. Casilda Ramírez Caballero, a trained traditional doctor, works out of the check-up office in the Education Center and uses plants that she collects to make tinctures for her patients. Casilda has a young and enthusiastic intern, Alejandra Espinoza, who is learning about traditional remedies and medicine.
We were overwhelmed by Alejandra’s creativity when we visited her home. In an extremely small space, she has created an amazing garden taking advantage of every nook and cranny.
“I’m happy I took that chance to learn about these plants because now I can help women in my community. Thanks to this project, families can save an average of $40 per visit if they don’t have to go to conventional doctors,” Alejandra told us.
On the final leg of the trip, we met with a group of more than 40 students from the Efren Rebolledo Secondary School in Guzmantla, Veracruz. AUGE works with the professors and students in the school garden. Some of the vegetables are for use at the school and others are sold in town. The students will use their earnings to fund a school trip.
The teenagers have learned that they can give life to new initiatives with the help of their teachers and AUGE. They are now buying green coffee that they roast, pack and sell in the community as a fundraiser.
Clara Palma, a coordinator at AUGE, told us that a lot of her success with the students could be credited to an exchange she did with Coffee Kids’ partner SOPPEXCCA in Nicaragua in 2007. SOPPEXCCA conducts a variety of youth outreach efforts.
The projects managed by AUGE are gradually becoming more complex and integrated. With this growth, new challenges arise, but our visit demonstrated that if community members take responsibility for the initiatives, success will follow.