Interact District 5495 travels to Cuernavaca and Iguala MX.  Three students from Prescott and two students from Westwood High School in Mesa have acquired a special gift from Rotary – empathy.  “You can’s understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”  This person who first uttered this American saying is lost to history.  The fact that it’s so well known is a good indication of the importance of empathy in living a meaningful life.

 

This seven-day trip touched our youth in such a way, each one of them is on their journey to become their best version of themself

 

Day 1:  Patios de Las Estacion Squatters Settlement:  Quote from Violet, Captain for the Day, Prescott HS.  “A community in poverty that was built in a place of an old train station.  It was extremely eye opening when we learned this community had to adapt to the hard living conditions.”  The community’s motto is:  What do we really need to survive and what is simply materialistic?  All Mothers in this community come together to work in groups of three each day to cook breakfast for the kids and adults up to 110 people each day.  This center works with NGO’s and government to offer workshops on mental health, drug addiction and the importance of education so their kids stay in school and progress to their secondary education, with the dream of University.  They run a kindergarten to help inspire a dream.  Dreams are a scarce reality here in this town.  Words to describe this experience, “inspiring, curious, exposed, fortunate and grounded.” 

 

Lunch was at Café Resiliente, an inclusive youth collective.  Founded by graduates from the University of Mexico, Marco Santos and Deborah Macedo with degrees in psychology.  They knew that something needed to change.  7.2% of Mexico’s population is disabled.  He posed a question to us.  “How would you feel if no matter what you do, you know there was no job for you?”  If you are disabled, your future looks grim, as society is not inclusive.   Café Resiliente is unique in that they currently employ all “deaf” people.  The Café has been so successful, they are able to expand to a new location, where the goal is to now also employ “blind” people.

 

Brilliantly, he is recreating the kitchen at the School for the Blind, where blind people learn to cook for themselves - In his Café.  Thus, the familiarity with the kitchen equipment, will enable “blind” people to now be employed and have a job.

 

Additionally, part of their profits go to the Migrant Center of which I will share on Day 4. 

 

We ended our day with a tour of a memorial at the government building in Cuernavaca, which brings attention to people that went missing, kidnapped, murdered, and people victomized by hate crimes, abuse and domestic violence.  While this started as a project, the government continues to steward this memorial as it brings awareness to these crimes. 

 

Day 1 was impactful to everyone.  Certainly, this trip is made up of people from a diverse set of backgrounds, races and genders.  But what we found in common – sense of community.