By Beatriz Alvarez Fernandez | Operational Director Amigos de San Cristobal
Thanks to your generous donations, part of the salaries of a member of the Amigos de San Cristóbal operational team responsible for following up on funded projects was covered. This staff member plays a key role in ensuring project quality and accountability by conducting monitoring and evaluation visits, preparing field visit reports, providing technical feedback to organizations, and facilitating selected capacity-building workshops.
Below is a summary of the main progress achieved by supported projects during the last six months.
Melel Xojobal, A.C. strengthened non-formal education spaces for Indigenous working children in public markets and squares in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, reaching 138 children directly and 525 indirectly. Learning circles and school reinforcement were consolidated, and the Mobile School significantly improved literacy, numeracy, and fine motor skills. Weekly sessions on children’s rights and violence prevention increased awareness of rights, reduced violent behaviors, and strengthened emotional regulation. Despite a challenging context marked by harassment and eviction threats affecting working families, the project responded through parent surveys and coordinated rights fairs and informational activities in collaboration with allied organizations.
Formación y Capacitación, A.C. (FOCA) exceeded its targets, reaching 60 midwives and apprentices directly and 115 people indirectly across seven municipalities. Through an intercultural, gender-based, and women’s rights approach, the project strengthened traditional midwifery and fostered intergenerational knowledge exchange. Three strategic training workshops combined leadership, women’s rights, comprehensive health, and obstetric emergency care. Follow-up visits supported the application of new skills, reinforced apprentices’ leadership, and increased social recognition of traditional midwifery through reflection and advocacy spaces.
Hogar Comunitario, Yach’il Antzetic, A.C. provided comprehensive support to 482 people directly and 400 indirectly in six municipalities, addressing gender-based violence, labor exploitation, unplanned pregnancy, and social vulnerability. Emotional accompaniment and prenatal care were provided to women and families, while preventive education workshops reached 393 children, adolescents, and youth. Organizational capacities were strengthened through improved internal coordination, volunteer induction, and alliances with schools and regional actors.
Sanando Heridas, A.C. reached 622 people directly and 1,078 indirectly through dental services and preventive health education in seven Indigenous communities and at the Sanando Heridas Clinic in San Cristóbal de Las Casas. A total of 375 dental consultations were delivered, primarily to children and women. Preventive education included workshops on oral health and healthy eating in preschools and primary schools, reaching 335 children. Complementary activities with families and teachers reinforced healthy practices, and one school committed to installing a water dispenser to ensure access to safe drinking water.
Foro para el Desarrollo Sustentable, A.C. exceeded its coverage goals, reaching 184 direct and 4,873 indirect beneficiaries through artistic, agroecological, sports, and community-based activities in San Cristóbal de Las Casas. Environmental art, cultural expression, and physical activities promoted environmental awareness, healthy lifestyles, inclusion, and community coexistence, linking personal well-being with care for the territory.
Tierra Roja Cuxtitali, A.C. reached 93 direct and 420 indirect beneficiaries in urban-peripheral neighborhoods through education, socio-emotional support, socio-environmental learning, and community participation. All participating children and adolescents completed the school year successfully, while socio-emotional activities reduced conflicts and strengthened mediation skills and collective decision-making among families.
Jóvenes Articulando Territorios, A.C. (JOVENARTE) reached 95 direct and 630 indirect beneficiaries in Huixtán, strengthening youth capacities in agroecology, climate change adaptation, and risk prevention. Key achievements included the installation of irrigation systems, an agroforestry nursery, and a 5,000-liter rainwater harvesting tank. A participatory diagnostic led to the creation of a Local Action Plan for climate risk prevention, and youth brigades known as Climate Monitors were formed.
CONIDER, A.C., through the Misma Luna project, exceeded its targets, benefiting 319 direct and 425 indirect participants in a secondary school in San Juan Cancuc. The project implemented culturally relevant menstrual education, reaching all first-year students. A major achievement was the translation and distribution of a menstrual education manual in Tseltal, along with menstrual hygiene kits that strengthened dignity, self-care, and emotional well-being.
Agua y Vida: Mujeres, Derechos y Ambiente, A.C. reached 55 direct and 845 indirect beneficiaries, strengthening women water defenders’ leadership through an ecofeminist and climate justice approach. Activities included training workshops, field visits, community diagnostics, and audiovisual documentation, increasing visibility and advocacy capacity.
Promedios de Comunicación Comunitaria, A.C. reached 126 direct and 630 indirect beneficiaries through the production of 15 radio programs broadcast by more than 60 community and public radio stations in Mexico and Central America. These programs amplified community narratives focused on dignity, peace, health, and territorial defense.
IDEAS – CHIELTIK achieved 91% of planned progress, reaching 218 direct and 461 indirect beneficiaries. Socio-emotional training and youth radio initiatives strengthened emotional well-being, leadership, and school retention among Maya adolescents.
During this period, Amigos de San Cristóbal participated in the Community Foundations Meeting 2025 and the Comunalia Annual Assembly, strengthening national networks and reaffirming the importance of locally driven change. Capacity-building efforts included participation in a REDECIM workshop on international funding, reinforcing institutional strategies for sustainability. The foundation also supported community culture through concerts by the San Cristóbal Symphony Orchestra and Choir. Finally, institutional development and fundraising efforts advanced through a consultancy with FASE DOS, focused on strengthening internal structures, diversifying funding sources, improving strategic communication, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. Communication activities during this period highlighted the 20th anniversary of Amigos de San Cristóbal and its organizational trajectory.
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