Posted on December 10th, 2021
by Mark O’Neill
Two years ago – December 1, 2019 – the first known case of Covid-19 was identified in China. Canada’s first patient was diagnosed on January 25, and Mexico’s a month later, on February 28.
According to Worldometers (https://www.worldometers.info), as of Dec. 1, 2021, almost 30,000 Canadians have died (777 per million) while Mexico is fast approaching an official death toll of 300,000 (2,247 per million) with some estimating the real number is at least double that.
As I write, 83% of eligible Canadians have received one vaccine shot and 76% both doses. In Mexico, the rates are 60% with one shot and 51% with two. It is clear Covid-19 is far from over in the communities where Amistad Canada and our NGO Partners work to improve health and education.
On the brighter side, it seems many Canadians who missed Mexico last year are planning to be back this winter. Of the AC members, donors, and supporters who responded to our recent survey, 74% are definitely returning and 12% are thinking about it.
To help plan the coming season’s meetings and events, we asked about safety expectations: 68% of you would attend an outdoor gathering with proof of vaccination required and 18% would be OK outdoors without proof. However, while 64% would go to a covered patio or terrace with proof, only 10% would be comfortable without it. Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts; stay tuned for details of next year’s activities.
Speaking of… the best place to keep up with what’s happening with Amistad Canada and our Project Partners is in our much improved and redesigned webpage, (www.AmistadCanada.org) which has an up-to-date news and coming events section. As well, keep an eye on our Facebook Group.
To close 2021, my thanks to the Amistad Canada Board of Directors and all the other volunteers who have worked so hard to make it possible to continue helping Mexicans in need through these past two pandemic years. And, of course, to our generous donors and loyal supporters: ¡Muchísmas gracias y felices fiestas!
The Canadian Educational Project at the library is continuing education too.
Public libraries around the world serve a critical need for local communities. Just like many other libraries, the Biblioteca de San Miguel has evolved beyond the role of providing a catalog of books to the English and Spanish-speaking readers and now also provides a wide range of services that support the building of a strong and harmonious community. Whether it is open access to our free wifi service on the patio or a diverse offering of afterschool activities, everyone has a good reason to come to the Biblioteca. Thanks to the Canadian Educational Project supported by Amistad Canada’s donors, the Biblioteca is able to give a number of free classes to children and adults who are looking to obtain new skills.
If many know about our music and art classes (such as the Children’s chorus, or the guitar classes), mainly directed to children and teenagers, few know about our proficiency classes directed to adults. There are 2 workshops offered at this moment: English as a foreign language and computer science. Those 2 skills are key to access qualified positions on the labor market. Interestingly enough, only women registered for these free classes at the library. According to socioeconomics studies led in Mexico (*), thanks to those skills, the payroll of these women could increase no less than 30%! This is good news for them and also for the families they support. The Biblioteca, thanks to the Canadian Educational Project, will be able to open new intermediate and advanced levels for adults in 2022. Thank you for your support! (*) https://www.milenio.com/negocios/si-sabes-ingles-tu-sueldo-puede-aumentar-hasta-36
In anticipation of the busy weeks ahead, all those at Escuela de Educación Especial de San Miguel de Allende wish to extend our Very Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and Only Good Things in 2022!
Please take a look at our latest newsletter with Pre-Holiday News and Reviews at http://www.eeesma.com/
Feed the Hungry San Miguel continues to provide a lifeline for thousands of struggling families in the San Miguel de Allende municipality. Since March 2020, their tireless staff and volunteers have packed and delivered more than 1,000 TONS of food through their Feed the Families initiative, launched to aid those economically impacted by the pandemic. And now, as some schools are reopening, they are gearing up to resume the hot meals program in their 36 school kitchens. In addition, their Early Childhood Nutrition program is expanding to more communities, as it provides sustenance specifically designed for the youngest and most vulnerable while offering nutrition education for their young mothers. Support from donors will help them meet an unprecedented challenge in 2022: to fund and manage these three distinct meal programs. View their latest newsletter to learn more.
https://www.feedthehungrysma.org/2021/10/highlights-happenings-fall-2021
Jóvenes Adelante Sponsorship Season Begins for the Class of 2022
“I can only fully thank you for the support and trust that Jóvenes Adelante had for me. Financial support is a great help, but it does not compare with the support you offer when a complicated situation arises both in your student life and in your private life. I really feel that I have a second family that listens to me, understands me, and always tries to find the best for me…. Workshops…given helped me to open my horizons and to be able to have such a broad point of view that it seems that a whole world was hiding behind that blindness of understanding with which I counted. To thank the psychological help that has been given to me, there are no words…I am indebted to all the people who have stopped for a moment to ask about me, to all those who made a space in their agendas to be able to attend to me, to the people who cared, and especially to those who gave me their time to learn to enjoy mine.” MV, Graduate 2021
The perseverance needed to succeed is a testament to both our students and the support Jóvenes Adelante provides. It is why 85% of our students make it, and why more and more, they return to support others as mentors and tutors. Hundreds of students will apply for 2022. Sponsors are already making commitments. Canadians have always been our largest base of support! You too can be a part of these stories transforming local students and their families and communities. As we reach year-end and the holidays, please consider a student’s future and the gift of sponsorship for higher education – a gift that impacts a lifetime.
Contact donkrim@jovenesadelante.org visit www.jovenesadelante.org
Educating girls is the key to a better world: it reduces poverty and is one of the top factors (#6) in combating global warming!
Ever since 1995 Mujeres en Cambio has been offering educational opportunities to young women from poor rural villages and teaching them life skills. The scholarship program supports girls who would not otherwise be able to continue their education—from junior (secundaria) and senior (preparatoria) high school and on through university.
When it first began its scholarship program 25 years ago, Mujeres en Cambio awarded seven scholarships. In the 2020-2021 period it granted 104 secundaria and preparatoria scholarships and 61 university scholarships. Mujeres en Cambio, over the years, has given over $1.2 million USD to empower more than 940 girls and young women through education.
Learn more at https://mujeresencambio.org/
In the beautiful month of October 2021 as autumn leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow and red, four Toronto teams participated in the virtual Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon in support of the Patronato Pro Niños Project of Amistad Canada, Participants could run or walk and had the full month to achieve their goal. One couple walked 75 kilometers to celebrate their 75th birthday and raised $3,000! Meanwhile, in San Miguel de Allende at Viñedos San Francisco many participants ran or walked 5 or 10 kilometers. One participant raised over $1,000 in celebration of her 65th birthday. Both Toronto and San Miguel events were walked or run to support the costs of operating the Amistad Canada mobile medical/dental unit. Funds raised by the marathon will support the annual salary of the dentist who works in the unit and who will treat over 1,000 children.
Niños Incapacitados, despite the Covid 19 pandemic, has continued to provide high-quality medical assistance to seriously ill children in 2021. We are very grateful that we have been able to continue our life-saving work.
The Covid 19 pandemic provided unique challenges to our operations on every level. Service delivery was conducted through a unique system of contact using WhatsApp and through employing mothers of children who are local community leaders to allow them to collect the information needed to reimburse the families of our children for medical costs. Our dedicated volunteers worked from homes to process medical bills. Live participatory activities were not possible in the midst of a pandemic – so we pivoted to online activities. For the first time, we provided high-quality online content that ranged from a prosecutor who worked on the O.J. Simpson case discussing his work on that case, a fabulous presentation on the life of Cole Porter, and a most interesting talk on Mexican history. Necessity became the mother of the invention of a new way to interact with the community that has supported us.
As we look forward and plan for the future, we want to assure that the children we serve can rely on us for necessary long-term help. While challenges remain, we have a template for working successfully because our community of donors has supported our work at every step.
Following a year and a half of online learning, students have happily returned to in-person classes and are enjoying catching up with friends as they quickly adapt to the ‘new norm’. As restrictions are lifted in Jalisco, La Catalina Foundation is organizing extracurricular programs for its 65 plus scholarship students. Computer and English language labs, art – and health and wellness classes will be offered to middle and high school students, beginning early January 2022. English language classes have begun in elementary school.
With the help of volunteers and staff, a “Meet & Greet” is planned for January 10th at 4:00 pm. This provides an opportunity for sponsors and their scholarship students to meet in person in a comfortable and casual setting.
Our annual fundraiser is right around the corner! An evening of performances by scholarship and public school students as well as local dance troupes will take place at 6:00 pm Saturday, February 5th in the main square in La Manzanilla. An annual Online Auction, also beginning that night, will run to the 15th of February. Local art and gift certificates for restaurants, spa treatments, sporting events as well as professional services will be offered in this popular auction.
As 2021 winds down, La Catalina would like to thank its many supporters and offer sincerest wishes to everyone for a Happy & Safe Holiday Season!
It has been almost 20 months since our last Concurso, which took place on February 29, 2020. Last October 3rd marked the first anniversary of the passing of our beloved Artistic Director for over 10 years, John Bills, and we announced that, in order for us to continue as “a network of opportunities for young singers”, as John would say, we have decided to go ahead with our 2022 season, including two very special events on top of our regular concerts.
Our 2022 season will begin with a special baroque concert in the countryside “from Bach to Bowie” in mid-January, followed by our traditional Mexico-Canada Concert that will take place in late January. In early March, during Concurso week, we will honor the legacy of John Bills with a special concert of arias, duets, and ensembles from John’s favorite operas at our traditional Angels dinner. Our 2022 season will conclude with the Winners Concert in late March.
For dates and details, please visit: www.operasanmiguel.org
