OAXACA WITH DONZETTA - LA COSTA CHICO - AFRO-PUEBLOS (LOS NIÑOS)

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While my stay on the coast of Oaxaca in Charco Redondo was the most physically challenging of my stay in Oaxaca, Mx. due to the heat, the humidity, the insects and the different living conditions, it was the most rewarding because of the precious children and their desire to learn English and their excitement over the celebration fiesta at the completion of their course. The whole community was very embracing to me and made me feel very special during my entire stay there. My warm feeling of gratitude to God for allowing me this experience will stay with me forever.

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Photos

Estoy platicando con Heladio, el presidente del Municipio de Tututepec y Ecosta
Here I am in the Tututepec office of Heladio. He is asking me about my background and my commitment to the communities of the coast. He has a heartfelt commitment to the communities of Tututepec and other parts of the coast.

En la estación del radio con Felipe
This is a station that serves the indigenous and afro communities of la costa chica. Here we are on the air with a program about the lack of knowledge of Afro-Mexicans. He invited me as a guest since I was from the USA and interested in Afro-Mexicans.

Unas clases de English para los niños de Charco Redondo
These of photos of the English classes for the children of the Afro-pueblo of Charco Redondo

Unas clases de English para los niños de Charco Redondo
These of photos of the English classes for the children of the Afro-pueblo of Charco Redondo

Unas clases de English para los niños de Charco Redondo
These of photos of the English classes for the children of the Afro-pueblo of Charco Redondo

Unas clases de English para los niños de Charco Redondo
These of photos of the English classes for the children of the Afro-pueblo of Charco Redondo

Los estudiantes ayuden de preparar para la fiesta de las constancias
The students are working together to help prepare the food for the celebration of their completion of English classes.

Estan limpiando para la fiesta de las constancias
The students are cleaning the Luci's garden in preparation for the party to celebrate their completion of English classes.

Las estudiantes me ponen la joyeria que ellos hacen de un arbusto.
The students are putting jewelry on me that they made from flowers on a bush in Luci's garden.

Las estudiantes y yo después
The students and I pose after they have put on me their jewelry handcrafted from the bush in Luci's garden.

El arbusto que de que los estudiantes hacen la joyeria
This is the bush from which the students fashioned the flower jewelry for me. They are so very creative and artistic.

Artifactos Pre-Hispanicos
When it rains in Charco Redondo the children go out to dig up these artifacts. They are prehispanic artifacts that are usually found in the museums in Mexico. Here hunting artifacts is a source of play for the children.

Estan preparando los tamales de chepil para la fiesta
She is mixing the masa and chepil for the chepil tamales which are very popular throughout Oaxaca.

Estan preparando los tamales de chepil para la fiesta
Here they are placing the mixture of masa with chepil in the corn shucks for the tamales.

Estan preparando los tamales de chepil para la fiesta
The neighbor is helping prepare for the fiesta by cleaning the corn shucks which will be dried and then stuffed with masa mixed with chepil.

Estan preparando los tamales de chepil para la fiesta
Luci has prepared the fire on the ground of the floor of her kitchen and placed all of the tamales in this large jar which she will cover and steam until the time of the party.

Una abuela de una estudiente está visitando con la madre de Luci durante la fiesta
This is a grandmother of one of the students who is visiting with Luci's mother during the party for the students.

Los empleados de Ecosta
These are the employees of Ecosta who have come to celebrate with the students and their families. They brought the certificates of completion of the English classes. The student drawings are posted around the room.

La secretaria del presidente del municipio, dos estudiantes y el gerente del pueblo
This is a photo of the secretary to Heladio, the president of the municipio de Tututepec. A municipio is like a county composed of multiple pueblos. There are two of the students and the manager of the pueblo. We posted some of the students' drawings from the classes, one of which is in the background.

La presentación de los estudiantes a Ecosta
Here I am presenting the students to the staff and heads of Ecosta, the organization that I volunteered for. I was so proud of the students.

Reciben las constancias
Here from left to right are Adamari, the agent of the pueblo, the mother of one of the students, Heladio (el presidente del municipio de Tututepec and head of Ecosta), la secretaria de Ecosta, Hilario (the acting supervisor of Ecosta).

Una artista
This is Griselda who did many of the drawing that we gave to Ecosta for future volunteers for future classes. She is 14 years old and very artistic, like most of the students here.

La maestra
This is Melanie, who was my helper in the classes, receiving her certificate. She took small groups of the newer kids and taught them. They were well behaved for her and they learned the lessons that she taught. She was very creative in her teaching approach.

Los estudiantes les aplaudan a los otros estudiantes que reciben las constancias.
The students are clapping for their fellow students who are receiving their certificates of completion of the English classes. There are family members at the side.

Un abrazo - Significa mucho cariño para los Afros y los indigenas por Ecosta
Este es Hiladio embracing one of the students. For me this signifies the caring that Ecosta has for the Afro and Indigenous Mexicans. He is both the head of Ecosta and the president of the Municipio and most of the citizens think very highly of him. I am sure this is due to his caring nature.

Comments

[Shirley Cobbins]

Natures Beauty
It appears peaceful there. No matter where you may go there is beauty to be found and enjoyed. The children's art as well as the beauty in the people that surrounded you while you were there. Ready to return?

[Donita]

Primero Díos
This is a common expression in the mexican culture which essential means " to put God first in the situation". This is what I am doing. For me it means waiting to see if God is ready for me to return. Whenever He is ready, then I am ready. Love you, Donzetta