Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Oaxaca (Agenzia Fides) – As a result of the earthquake which struck Mexico on 30 June, there is concern for the condition of a children's canteen in Monte Albán where, a recent after-tremor caused a landslide to fall on the canteen building damaging the kitchen water pipes. Fortunately the landslide happened at night when the canteen was empty. We are in Mexico, in the outskirts of Oaxaca, only 2 km from the famous archaeological site of Monte Albán, a district where the Italian Associazione Volontari per il Servizio Internazionale (AVSI) has worked since 2003 on a 'Tent Campaign' with its local partner DIJO (Desarrollo Integral de la Juventud Oaxaquena) and a Spanish partner CESAL. To continue to assist mothers and children in Monte Alban AVSI is building a new Centre for Education and Community Development which, when finished, will include a new canteen, nutrition programmes, kindergarten, after-school programmes and various activities for mothers.
Today Monte Albán faces many problems: 6,000 people live in conditions of extreme poverty. Homes are very poor, with mud floors, cardboard walls and tin roofs. There are no services and hygienic conditions are a sign of serious social hardship. Children are undernourished, many are infested with fleas, parasites and other skin diseases. Most families consist of unmarried mothers who struggle to feed the children who are alone as early as 3 years and many start to work. Monte Alban has a high rate of adult illiteracy and poor school attendance. Since no birth certificates are issued, children cannot be registered at school. Lacking proposals for a better future, the area is characterised by violence, including armed violence by increasingly younger gangs of boys. (AP) (16/7/2010 Agenzia Fides)
