Five months have passed since the last blog post on Atzin’s work in the Mexican village Tlamacazapa. Since then Covid-19 has continued to smoulder. The number of people dying has diminished but the virus remains a menace as it continues through the community. Forty-two villagers have died of Covid symptoms since the end of April (out of 59 deaths in total - 66% men, 34% women).

Atzin promoters, Lupe and Gaby, make a home visit

As we finish up this very challenging year, the Atzin team of women promoters is intact and looking forward. The women have gained a great deal of wisdom through the Covid-19 experience. They have suspended food distributions but continue door to door visits supporting those families sick with the infection or recovering after having lost members. Preventative messaging continues on an individual basis. The dental program and a partial education program for children are operating again. The midwifery program continues at an increasing pace. The women weavers are busy filling Christmas orders of gift baskets, and promoters are once more focusing on the goal of construction of a women’s wellness centre and shelter.

The team is contemplating an investment to gain access to wifi. With Covid, connectivity has become even more important. School classes are available online but Tlama’s children don’t have access. Atzin sees an opportunity to secure satellite sourced bandwidth to support student learning, and to provide a competitive wi-fi service with a modest revenue stream to support further programming.

Atzin fundraising continues. Tuesday, December 1st is Global Giving day. On this day, donations directed to Atzin via Global Giving are matched 1:1. Atzin aims to raise $5,000 on December 1st. Please help make that happen by clicking here. Note: each donation receives a tax deductible receipt.

Atzin - Looking beyond the Covid-19 crisis