Health and education for children in Chiapas

In the context of the local government's criminalization and harassment of working families and children, we are committed to remaining in the public space, defending everyone's right to the city, especially Indigenous working children. 

In response to this and based on our mission, we have launched a digital awareness campaign addressing the five main myths people have about working children. A video about this can be found at the following link: https://youtu.be/B86gyQ3-ltg?si=6PBB7gLtc9XYVIin

The objective is to raise public awareness about children's right to live safely in the city. This means that they can be anywhere without risk, and that they can work alongside their families to continue learning and developing their skills, while also providing them with the income they need, as long as it doesn't affect their well-being.

On May 1st, we held a public action, where more than 60 children gathered to play and raise their voices to defend their rights and demand their fulfillment. https://youtu.be/m8mqLoHO0fQ?si=DEtAcNEb6czt9u74

Similarly, it is necessary to uphold the right to education, which is why, at Melel, we have created four literacy booklets so that children under six years old can strengthen or develop motor and writing skills, thus narrowing the gap in learning at older ages.

On behalf of the entire Melel Xojobal team, we appreciate your continued support for this project. We invite you to follow us on our social media @melelxojobal and learn much more about our work.

Greetings and thank you.

In the last months of the year, our intervention with children in early childhood in Chiapas consisted of recognizing and strengthening health strategies through leading participation.

In the last three months of the year, changes in government took place in the country, with the local government of San Cristóbal de las Casas and the state government in Chiapas beginning to criminalize working children, ignoring the cultural, family, personal and economic value that it means for girls and boys to collaborate with their families in work. According to the reality of local violence, Melel identifies decent work as a projection factor in the recruitment of girls, boys and adolescents.

Reinforcing sessions in public spaces through games and meaningful learning activities is important to generate safe meeting spaces. Listening to their words, their needs can be met through activities and free play, strengthening their participation and encouraging collective protagonism, where little by little they recognize themselves as a group and learn to relate to other children of their age. 

During 2024, more than 57 children between 2 and 6 years old participated in educational activities, accompanying families working in three public markets.

We invite you to follow us on our social networks @melelxojobal and learn much more about our work.

On behalf of the entire Melel Xojobal team, we wish you a Happy New Year 2025, and we also appreciate your constant solidarity for this project, we hope to count on it again this year.

Our best wishes to you and yours.