Health and education for children in Chiapas

The Early Childhood team runs the Arrumacos Centre nursery, as well as carrying out activities with mothers and fathers at Melel’s premises and in their homes. The nursery attends to between 20 and 25 children at a time. The children attend from nine in the morning until two in the afternoon, and are provided with educational and caring activities as well as a hot breakfast and lunch. This provides an enormous support to their mothers who have to work. It also ensures a safe and caring environment for the children to grow up and learn, and allows their nutrition and health to be monitored, an essential activity as most of the children arrive at the nursery in conditions ranging from mild to severe malnutrition.

On 3^rd of July this year we held the annual graduation ceremony of the Early Stimulation Center “Arrumacos”.  Every year we hold a celebration to mark the end of the school year but also to say goodbye to the children who graduate from the center as they leave to attend pre-school. This year we had the pleasure of giving diplomas to 8 graduates.

This year celebration began with a traditional Mayan Ceremony, in order to preserve and continue the traditions of indigenous cultures. Each parent had the opportunity to talk about the importance of the program and what are the benefits that they see in their children. It was a very emotional moment.