Helping Hands Yucatan
Donation protected
The state of Yucatan, Mexico is rich in history and full of remarkable natural wonders, archeological treasures, and vibrant colonial towns. It is also home to one of the few remaining ancient civilizations - the Maya. The poverty rate in Mexico is high (approximately 45% of the population), and the Indigenous communities in Mexico (including the Maya) suffer particularly from poverty (60% of the Yucatecan indigenous Maya).
The reasons for poverty in Mexico are complex. A combination of uneven distribution of wealth and resources as a result of economic and political agendas which favor the rich and powerful is a major factor. Lack of educational opportunities, underemployment, lack of equal opportunity employment, age discrimination, insufficient infrastructure, and bureaucratic corruption all contribute to the poverty in Yucatan and Mexico in general.
The most recent turns of events in the economic world stage are making it increasingly difficult for many Mexicans to make ends meet.
Over the past four years, I have had the privilege of spending part of each year in Valladolid, Yucatan. My Yucatecan friends and neighbors are warm, and kind, and funny. And have enriched my life tremendously.
I have established Helping Hands Yucatan to support projects in some of the poorer communities surrounding Valladolid. There is a tremendous amount of need, Some of the projects that we are looking forward to supporting include:
Assisting a young man who would like to become a police officer but cannot afford eyeglasses or the eye exam needed to qualify.
Providing hammock making materials for families who support themselves making colorful, traditional hammocks.
Helping a single mother provide for herself and her children with the purchase of a washing machine to start her own laundry business.
Purchase of warm blankets for families who cannot afford them, and are cold each winter when the temperatures dip.
Providing shoes to a family with five young children.
The purchase of "dispensas" - packets of food essentials and personal care items that can make a huge difference in the lives of families having difficulty making ends meet.
The current daily minimum wage in Mexico is 80 pesos, the equivilent of $4 dollars a day.
We have so many more great opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of folks who have been historically marginalized and overlooked.
Thank you so much for your generosity, Your assistance will go a long way in enhancing many lives in Yucatan!
The reasons for poverty in Mexico are complex. A combination of uneven distribution of wealth and resources as a result of economic and political agendas which favor the rich and powerful is a major factor. Lack of educational opportunities, underemployment, lack of equal opportunity employment, age discrimination, insufficient infrastructure, and bureaucratic corruption all contribute to the poverty in Yucatan and Mexico in general.
The most recent turns of events in the economic world stage are making it increasingly difficult for many Mexicans to make ends meet.
Over the past four years, I have had the privilege of spending part of each year in Valladolid, Yucatan. My Yucatecan friends and neighbors are warm, and kind, and funny. And have enriched my life tremendously.
I have established Helping Hands Yucatan to support projects in some of the poorer communities surrounding Valladolid. There is a tremendous amount of need, Some of the projects that we are looking forward to supporting include:
Assisting a young man who would like to become a police officer but cannot afford eyeglasses or the eye exam needed to qualify.
Providing hammock making materials for families who support themselves making colorful, traditional hammocks.
Helping a single mother provide for herself and her children with the purchase of a washing machine to start her own laundry business.
Purchase of warm blankets for families who cannot afford them, and are cold each winter when the temperatures dip.
Providing shoes to a family with five young children.
The purchase of "dispensas" - packets of food essentials and personal care items that can make a huge difference in the lives of families having difficulty making ends meet.
The current daily minimum wage in Mexico is 80 pesos, the equivilent of $4 dollars a day.
We have so many more great opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of folks who have been historically marginalized and overlooked.
Thank you so much for your generosity, Your assistance will go a long way in enhancing many lives in Yucatan!
Organizer
Heidi Kimsey
Organizer
Asheville, NC
