February 2022

Dear Friends of Atzin and Tlamacazapa,

To capture the work completed by the Atzin team over the last months is actually a task in itself – the days and weeks run together, creating a moving mosaic of activity and emotions. At the same time, re-gaining momentum in our programming has consumed much time and energy – considerably more than anticipated, and comparable to overcoming a sort of inertia, resulting from an all-consuming covid campaign.

Activities that functioned easily in 2019 now require a considerable input of attention to start up again. In part because of turnover of promoters with new people who all need training, but more so, the need to refresh everyone’s memory about the details that actually make a program run. Each major activity needs to be thought through (the specifics matter), sequenced (the order matters) and then, paced (so does the speed of implementation).

Diving into a new year with optimism and a fighting spirit, here are

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS:

• Covid illness continues but deaths have been dropping in number since October – that is good news. Promoters persist in visiting families, offering support and food, and recording family reports of symptoms. This promotes considerable goodwill with families and gives an accurate compilation of all village deaths from all causes.
• The Early Stimulation program for pre-school children re-started as a priority in September 2021 and, with a total of 40 children attending in two groups in the afternoons, is doing well. The Nutrition program offers the children a snack of almond/soya milk with an amaranth bar.
• Due to repeated parent demand, the Atzin team is in the throes of re-opening Tihueliske Education for Children this week with an age modification: children aged 6-10 years, whether registered in primary school or not, can attend four mornings per week. Seventy registrations are anticipated for this program. Schools remain closed except for one morning per week to drop off and pick up homework. With very limited literacy support at home and no access to internet, most children have not advanced in their reading and writing skills; older children have started working and are not likely to return to a classroom.
• Active registration in the Special Needs program is now updated, with services provided for 64 children and adults. Promoters visit individuals at home, distribute medications and vitamin supplements, and once again, accompany patients to medical appointments as possible to obtain in Cuernavaca and Mexico City.

• Many more pregnant women now attend the traditional care offered each Saturday by our midwife, Victoria, with a promoter assisting.
• Training of promoters continued; a new external accountant for Atzin Mexico is on board; a December fundraising appeal using multiple venues was our most successful to date; legal papers for Atzin and Yotlakat non Siwatl have been renewed. All provide necessary structure to the organization.

GOOD NEWS! Artist Katarina Janeckova Walshe picked Atzin!

Her Clique, an online platform that fundraises for charities through the sale of art, launches its first physical exhibition in Mexico City from February 7th-11th, 2022. The exhibition is entitled Quisiera Alimentarlos a Todos / I Would Like to Feed You All and features over 40 works by Katarina. 50% of the proceeds from sales of Katarina’s art will benefit Atzin’s work in Tlamacazapa. We are eager to meet Katarina in person as well as Izabela Depczyk and Ashley Leutner, both of Her Clique.

Thank you as always for your encouragement and financial support. As a group, we are doing our best against tough odds, re-gaining momentum in all programs.

Sincerely,

Susan Smith
Director, Atzin

P.S. Produced during the covid19 pandemic on a shoestring budget, Returning to Strength captures our approach to community development and social change - well worth watching for our supporters. Click HERE to watch.