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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

November 9, 2009

We met at the house of one of the community organizers in Colonia Primero de Mayo. Twenty two women gathered to share their experiences with violence and brought a dish to pass. According to them, this neighborhood has experienced the assassination of three of its young people. It has experienced the random patrol of army soldiers with some home invasions and robberies. Residents in this neighborhood deal with random shootings, assaults among neighbors, the violation of their rights because they are not aware of their rights, and the fear of leaving their homes at night. Several of the women expressed their personal stories of divorces or plain abandonment by their mates, being prey of scam artists, and becoming disabled and unable to provide for their families.

At the same time we observed several positive things in the neighborhood. First, children were happily playing on the dirt streets in the late afternoon/dusk. Second, a group from the USA has recently come to this neighborhood and built two-rooms houses for needy families under the program “Casas por Cristo” or Homes because of Christ. Third, the people in the community are starting to organize and learn about their human rights and the importance of presenting a united front. They show a hope for better times soon.

Lastly, we visited in the same neighborhood a session of the program “Pasito a Pasito” or Little step after Little Step. There adult coordinators from the Center of Human Rights provide well-structured activities for young children two days per week. The activities include creative singing while acting out the words, mural painting to cover and decrease graffiti, and other team building activities to instill a sense of trust and other civic values on the leaders of tomorrow.

2 comments:

  1. Me alegro oir de todo lo que estan haciendo en Juarez. Saludos a todos, les mantego en mis pensamientos! Besos, Amanda (hija de Berta y Jose)

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  2. I appreciate your describing the constructive programs for young people and positive signs of hope. They are a light in the darkness for those living in a troubled part of the city -- and for those who care about the well being of the people of Juarez, as you do.
    Know that you are being carried in thought and prayer.

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