Posts Tagged ‘Laguna San Ignacio’

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Photo of the Week: YGLer Earns First Place in Art Contest

Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Last week, Philanthropiece Youth Global Leader Emily Robertson earned First Place honors at Monarch High School’s Art Contest in the photography division for this photo that she took en route to Laguna San Ignacio, Baja, Mexico. Emily is passionate about both photography and sustainable community development. She is combining her interests in her YGL Individual Growth Project, for which she is designing a program in which teen girls in Chajul create photo documentaries of their lives at the outset of their high school experience, and again upon their graduation. Emily believes that photography has the power to both share our stories and to empower us as individuals. Congratulations, Emily!

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Health, Heat, and Shade

Friday, September 30th, 2011

by Chris Cottle, Community Liaison to Laguna San Ignacio, Baja

August was a month of health, heat, and shade! We tackled the Rural Health Promotion Program despite the worsening heat.  No surprise that the most consistent expressed need is for dehydration treatment, and information on how to keep from becoming dehydrated.  Thankfully, we finished building a palm-frond porch/shade on my own place that made a great difference in my own personal comfort, and attempt at keeping hydrated.

My girlfriend Diana, a nurse from Australia, arrived fresh off a three month tour of South America (more…)

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Elton John said it best, It’s the Circle of Life

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

by Chris Cottle, Community Liaison to Laguna San Ignacio, Baja

July was highlighted by a visit from my mom to the lagoon.   This is one of the few places I have ever been where words and pictures truly do no justice, so it was great to have her here and to see and witness all that is daily life in LSI.   In just over a week she had a full dose of life in the lagoon, and immediately felt the welcoming and generous nature of the people here.   I think the local loan coordinator in El Datil, Minerva, indirectly (directly?) assured my mom that I am in good hands here when Minerva told me to shave my moustache and cut my hair…, then gave us an entire shark for shark tacos (it was a small shark, but large enough to give half away and have three shark-meals for two….).   Clearly mothers know best, regardless of nationality, when it comes to appearance and food…. (more…)

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Pen-pal exchange between LSI and Summit Middle School

Monday, August 15th, 2011

submitted by Stephen Goettsche, Spanish teacher at Summit Middle School

As another school year is right around the corner, I’m looking forward to renewing the pen-pal exchange between 8th-grade Spanish students at Summit Middle School and students in Laguna San Ignacio.   Thanks to Philanthropiece, I am able to provide my students with opportunities for authentic exchange and connection with Spanish-speakers from outside our immediate community.

The experience of sending and receiving letters to and from a remote town in Baja is one that brings the Spanish language, it´s speakers and their culture to life in the classroom.  The bustling excitement that characterizes my students as they are reading and writing pen-pal letters is a clear indication of their enthusiasm for making real-world connections with their friends in Laguna San Ignacio.  I´m looking forward to hearing my students inquire, with nagging frequency, “¿Cuándo vamos a recibir las cartas?”, knowing that the pen-pal exchange will manage to engage all of my students,  as they put their newly acquired language skills to use.

LSI students showing off their penpal letters

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Settling In…. First impressions, Second impressions, and Surviving in Laguna San Ignacio

Friday, July 15th, 2011

by Chris Cottle, Community Liaison to Laguna San Ignacio, Baja

July 1st marked the end of my first full month in la Laguna de San Ignacio, and the beginning of my year long tenure as the newest Community Liaison to the communities of La Laguna de San Ignacio.  I arrived in Baja in mid-May and spent the first two weeks traveling throughout the greater Laguna area with Jordan Bailey as my guide and presenter to the area and people.  I was lucky enough to be asked to attend the 2nd Conservation Science Symposium, in Loreto, on behalf of Philanthropiece.  I connected with (more…)

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Rocky Mountain Music brings Environmental Education to Laguna San Ignacio

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

In March of 2011, Boulder environmental educators and local celebrities, Paige Doughty & Jeff Kagan, travelled to Laguna San Ignacio to provide locally-based environmental lessons to the children of the Primary and Secondary schools.  In between their lessons on such things as the water cycle, waste management and recycling, local flora and fauna, energy, and decomposition they engaged in an assessment to propose an on-going, community-led Environmental Education program.  Jeff and Paige were widely welcome throughout the community, due in great part to the power of music to create community and enjoyment for all.   As Paige says below, in an excerpt of their overall impressions of their time spent in Laguna San Ignacio, “Music, art, and creativity eclipse borders and languages”. (more…)

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Photo of the Week: Small Business Loans

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

photo by Philanthropiece Director of Programs, Katie Doyle Myers

In October 2010, a handful of Philanthropiece Advisory Board members and staff headed down to Laguna San Ignacio.  One of the main objectives of this trip was to disseminate a 3rd round of small business loans.  Pictured above is Jesus Murillo, a new loan recipient from El Datil.  His mother is in the background, very proud of him.  Jesus runs the only grocery store in El Datil.  He is using his loan funds to increase his inventory, as well as to expand his store for a fridge and freezer.  Jesus is a very good business man, and plans to pay his loan back in one year. 

Advisory Board Member, Rachel Fuchs, dispersed this particular loan. When the photo was taken, she had just gone through the final phase of the loan process – reviewing the agreement and handing over the money!  As our newest Advisory Board member, Rachel really dove into the task of disseminating the loan funds.  She was very clear and comprehensive in these disbursement meetings; she brought her expertise of working closely with local community members, to assure that they fully understood the terms of the loans, as well as to assure them that they were selected because of their dedication and integrity.

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Video of the Week: YGL in Laguna San Ignacio, Baja

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

In August 2010, six participants of Philanthropiece’s Youth Global Leadership program traveled to Laguna San Ignacio to participate in service, community building and knowledge gathering activities. Check out this awesome video by YGLer Emmet Norris, highlighting the trip.  YGL is currently reviewing applications for the next class of YGLers and will hold their incoming retreat on March 5th!

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Photo of the Week: Health Promotion in Laguna San Ignacio

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

Photo by Philanthropiece Advisory Board Member, Rachel Fuchs

On Saturday, January 8th, 2011 Ivan Camacho and Azalia Villa Murillo, the Local Coordinators for Laguna San Ignacio’s Health Promotion Program, led a course on First Aid and Hydration for fourteen participants.  In this photo of October 2010, Ivan and Azalia are receiving a sutures training from Philanthropiece Advisory Board member, Cathy Cook.  Cathy and other medical professionals have been working alongside Ivan and Azalia for over a year to both train and support them in developing a Health Promotion Program for their community.  Saturday’s workshop was the first that they independently organized and facilitated, and we applaud their dedication and commitment.  Next month, based on local interest and need, Azalia and Ivan will lead a course in infant and child CPR.

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Photo of the Week: Community Banks

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Photo by Philanthropiece Field Coordinator, Jordan Bailey

Have you ever heard about an idea and ran with it?  Letting your passion and excitement take you to your goal?  That’s just what Areli (pictured above, right, with the bank treasurer, Edith) did, following a Community Banks workshop held in October and sponsored by Philanthropiece. 

 ”Areli, the president of the El Cardon Community Bank, has proven herself as a true leader and uses the Community Bank workbook as her bible. It’s actually quite cute!”, Jordan reported, after his most recent visit to Laguna San Ignacio.   Areli immediately formed her community’s bank after being inspired by the potential for savings and loans. 

The two Community Banks that were formed were liquidated in December 2010, with members pleased to have saved money for the holidays.  They are re-instating the banks during this first week of January, and we hope they will be as successful as the first go around.

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