Long-term development strategies for rural indigenous villages of Mexico

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

TOOL S FOR DEVELOPMENTUN A.C. DE APOYO HUMANITARIO

5923 Brambletree, San Antonio, Texas 78247Tel: (210) 967-8863 slewis5@gmail.com www.toolsfordevelopment.org

1995 to 2010

Family Project

To

Non-Profit Corporation

YEAR PARTICIPANTS STATUS STAFF PEOPLE SERVED

1995 4 family project 0 6

2000 20 family project 0 2,500

2005 30 corporation 0 2,800

2010 40 corporation 4 3,000

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

PHYSICAL

SAFETY

SOCIAL

ESTEEM

SELF ACTUALIZATION

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Progress made:1. Water- Deep well dug (not functioning), new project underway

2. Electricity- Electrical grid reaches all villages

3. Food shortages- Provide emergency food aid

4. Agriculture- Experimenting with new agricultural techniques

5. Cooperation- Cooperative projects involve women’s cooperation

6. Government involvement- Visited by governor and representative of Mexican president in 2009

7. Contact with the outside world- Volunteers from more than 10 countries have spent time in the villages

8. Medical attention- Bring teams of volunteer doctors periodically and permanent clinic is due to open in 2010

9. System of education- Provide supplies and teaching aids to local schools and administer the adult literacy program

10. Economic activity- Trained 60 women for private enterprise project involving purse decoration

11. Motivational conferences related to the wellbeing of women

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

PHYSICAL

PHYSICAL

PHYSICAL

PHYSICAL

PHYSICAL

SOCIAL

SOCIAL

SOCIAL

ESTEEM

ESTEEM

SELF ACTUALIZATION

SOCIAL ESTEEM

SERVICE AREA

Five indigenous villages in the Oto Pame region of San Luis Potosí, Mexico

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

Wells often go dry and are contaminated

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

People must fetch water from distant wells

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

The community center dormitory and multi-purpose building

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

Dentists work in unfinished clinic- 2008

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

Clinic near completion - December 2009

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

Primitive pre-school facilities not conducive to learning

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

New pre-school facilities lead to better early education

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

Visiting youth groups serve the communities

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

Children receive school supplies they could not afford

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

The challenge of three languages:Spanish, English, and Xi’iuy

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

Scholarship students work for us

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

High school grads help us implement adult literacy classes

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

Women’s purse project- first step toward a viable economy

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty

Low agricultural productivity- a major challenge

Thank you for making a difference!

Working hand in hand to conquer poverty