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Alborada de San Luis Potosi, S.S.S.
(en espaņol)
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Alborada de San Luis
Potosi, S.S.S. is the umbrella organization for two major organizations:
La Esperanza del Pueblo (the Hope of the Community) and
Trabajando por el Progreso Alborada de Tinaja (Workers
for a Progressing Dawn of La Tinaja), which are both based in
the small town of La Tinaja with a population of 800 in central
Mexico. |
La Esperanza del
Pueblo: This agri-business
cooperative has several components including the jam and jelly
venture, cheese production, and bakery. Along with these business
ventures, however, La Esperanza also support projects which promote
cultural heritage. Through the organization, individuals have
formed a community band and choir, established a local library,
and started a natural health clinic drawing upon indigenous techniques.
Trabajando por el Progreso
Alborada de Tinaja: This
organization works directly with producers and farmers on rural
development issues. The organization is currently examing a promising
cactus venture, to grow nopal (cactus) year round and market
throughout Mexico.
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The main employer in La
Tinaja is an egg factory, which pays very little for the standard
8 hour day of work. The lack of industry creates a drain in the
community, which most young people have left to seek adequate
employment in the United States or Mexico City. In 1986, when
Pepe Herrera Marcos and his wife Maria de Carmen Lomeli moved
in with Maria's family in La Tinaja, the small, rural community
would soon change. Motivated by their Christian faith and their
calling to work with the indigenous and impoverished populations,
Pepe and Carmen began to organize. After meeting with community
members and discussing their needs, several individuals began
a small cooperative store, which community members own, run,
and shop at to buy basic necessities. The store is still running
strong today, selling nearly $300 per week. |
Once the organizing and hope began, it could not
be stopped. Now the organization creates and markets jams, jellies, and
pickled products throughout Mexico. In the near future, the organization
hopes to add to their list of projects a cheese producation and local
bakery. Soon, a cheese production and local bakery. The organizations
have been effective in keeping people in the community, empowering individuals
(especially women), and serving as a model and training ground for other
communities.
| Cooperative member Emilio
Reyne Gonsalez reflects, "I like to work on anything that
benefits the group. Sometimes we go forward and sometimes we
don't. What worries me is that I have little time left and we
have much work to do" |
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Founder Herrera Marcos,
who is leaving the community after 15 years due to other obligations,
is pictured above in the cooperative store. He jokes about his
absense and growth of the organization, "After 15 years,
we let the women in the countryside dance. Our organization can
do a new dance, as well." |
A project of The Rural Coalition
1012 14th Street Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone (202) 628-7160 Fax 202/628-7165
Toll Free 1-866-RURAL-80
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