Health and education for children in Chiapas

Here we present to you the testimony of Renata, whose son Bryan is part of our Early Childhood Program.

My name is Renata, I am 22 and I am the mother of a little one whose name is Bryan. He is 1 year and 5 months old.

I used to work as a domestic employee but I had to take my son with me and I couldn’t handle all the work I had to do, so the problems with the house owner begun and she fired me.

When I was unemployed I met a friend of my sister in law who talked to me about Melel Xojobal, so I decide to visit them, and without doubt they supported me especially because I am a single mother. Thanks to Melel Xojobal I have a better job and also my son enjoys being with other kids his age. I am very grateful because now I am not so tired after work, and I can be more relaxed at work because I know my son has everything he needs in this organization. Also, I don´t pay much for the service. The cost is minimal compare to the great help for all the mothers who take their children to Melel Xojobal.

In advance I want to thank all the support that the Global Giving donors give us!!!

Dear friends

It is an honor to be able to inform you that for three consecutive years, Melel has been officially recognized for the work it does in support of the children of Chiapas. Last Monday we received in London the inaugural With and For Girls award, given by the Stars Foundation, for the work we do in support of girls and adolescents.

We want to take this opportunity to extend this award to all the Global Giving Donors who support our work and invest in the lives of children in Chiapas.

Here is the press release for the award:

PRESS RELEASE: Mexican girl-led charity wins international award for outstanding work

Local charity Melel Xojobal is one of just 20 organisations from around the world to receive an inaugural With and For Girls Award.

The With and For Girls Awards is a global initiative to identify and support strong local organisations working with and for girls.

The charity – based in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Mexico – is recognised for its work with indigenous girls and young women on skills building, rights promotion and health education.

Melel Xojobal will receive the Award at a London ceremony on Monday 16 November 2015, where representatives from the winning organisations will attend along with people from a range of foundations, multilateral agencies, INGOs and prominent influencers within the sector.

The Chiapas region of Mexico is rich in natural resources, yet has some of the highest rates of poverty in the country.

There are low levels of indigenous children enrolled at school and high dropout rates due to poverty, unplanned pregnancies, early marriage, gender inequality and discrimination based on ethnic origin.

There is a lack of access to information to help girls to make informed decisions and few or dysfunctional support networks for victims to turn to if their rights are being violated.

Melel Xojobal works to boost the social and political involvement of indigenous girls, boys and young people from San Cristóbal de Las Casas.

Through its work to keep children in school, Melel Xojobal has helped teenage girls reach higher levels of education, enabling them to widen their employment options. Activities focus on developing girls’ social skills and allowing them to map out their life plan in a conscious and informed way.

All of Melel Xojobal’s programmes have been designed to promote girls’ participation and autonomy, to widen their support networks and to provide them with knowledge about their rights and enable them to develop the tools and skills to exercise and defend them.

Muna Wehbe, CEO of Stars Foundation – “Despite the critical role that women and girls play in sustainable development, the World Bank estimates that less than two cents of every dollar spent on international aid is directed towards adolescent girls. The With and For Girls Award provides flexible funding to grassroots girl-focused NGOs, empowering them to invest their funds where they need them most. We want to shine a spotlight on these outstanding local organisations and encourage more funders to support girls in their role as vital agents of change within our sector."

As part of the award package, Melel Xojobal will receive US$50,000 of flexible funding and capacity building support. ENDS

Links:

• The announce of the inaugural With and For Girls Award Winners