Melel Xojobal
Because of war, religious tension, the lack of Maya language schools, and the ready supply of tourists to whom children sell handicrafts, there are huge numbers of street children in San Cristobal de las Casas (though few live on the street, all work or beg there). Melel Xojobal ("True light" in Tzotzil, a Maya language) emphasizes pride and education as a way to connect street children with their roots, their communities, and educational opportunities.
Street educators work in the three main sites where street kids congregate: the plaza, the mercado, and Cerillo (the first two are tourist spots). Educators emphasize art and expression as a way to connect with the youth and to build trust, and to diagnose the services they might need.
Because San Cristobal has no schools conducted in any Maya language, refugees from the countryside (who seldom speak Spanish) have nowhere to go to school. Melel has developed a one year curriculum for children (6-14) so that they can gain the skills necessary to enter a Spanish language school. The classes develop pride, cultural awareness, and the ability to play, as well as more academic subjects. Melel has arranged conventions with 3 local schools to take the graduates of this program (27 now have scholarships); perhaps most significantly, they have also recruited teachers to learn Tzotzil and Chol so they can better serve and welcome the children. Melel also runs a day care for very young children, many of whom had been cared for by children Melel had placed in schools.
All programs include breakfast, lunch, and work with parents. All parents must attend a meeting monthly; they also pay MX$5 (US 50¢) a week and help with the cleaning in order to commit them to the program. Melel runs a greenhouse for the families, and provides them food in exchange for their work in the program.
Bilingualism is central to Melel Xojobal's mission. Staff are evenly divided between Mayas and mestizos, and all Spanish speakers must learn an indigenous language. Melel has turned this need into a unique opportunity: they ask the children to teach staff their languages. By reversing the power dynamic and placing the indigenous child in the position of "he who is supposed to know," they have found a tremendous surge in pride and ability amoung the youth. This technique has also helped to overcome one of Melel's persistent problems: children's rejection of compassion (afecto). Because of cultural reasons and alienation, many children reject affection; teaching their language provides another path for connection.
Shine a light is collaborating with Melel Xojobal to distribute this model for working with Indigenous Children. Former Watson Fellow and McKinsey & Co. consultant Mike Feigelson is helping Melel to turn their curriculum into a book, which Shine a light will then give to other programs concerned about indigenous street youth. For more information, please see the Indigenous Solutions Project.
In 2005, Melel Xojobal won a Shine a Light fellowship to research child labor in the maya community. Results of this fascinating research are avalable for download below:
RAP: “El Trabajo infantil en San Cristóbal de las Casas”
Contacto: Patricia Figueroa
melel@laneta.apc.org
Melel Xojobal
Nicolás Ruiz 67-Barrio Guadalupe,
29230, San Cristóbal de las Casas,
Chiapas, México.
Telefono:(01967) 678 55 98
Fax: (01967) 678 19 58
www.melelxojobal.org.mx
blog: asijuntosvamos.blogspot.com
