This year GPG Mexico held two summer courses with the communities near the Naco Nogales combined cycle plant and Bií Hioxo wind farm facilities, where a tradition of these activities is beginning to develop.
The aim of these summer courses extends beyond simply occupying children’s free time. They serve as catalysts for personal growth, self-confidence, and the development of crucial skills necessary to navigate the challenges of life.
The essence of this initiative is that it focuses on youth and children’s involvement and is guided by the belief that profound and sustainable change is only possible when there is genuine collaboration and a shared effort towards common goals.
Building strong and resilient communities requires building a network of individuals who have the capacity to collaborate effectively, working as a team while recognising each other’s unique strengths and skills.
Collaboration that goes beyond mere coordinated action creates a union of minds, hearts and efforts. In the context of community intervention, this synergy becomes the driving force for real and lasting change.
For both projects, there was a collaboration with Proyecto Kairos, an organisation made up of experiential learning professionals in the fields of human development, team building and community development, to help us run the two courses.
Juchitán, surroundings of the Bií Hioxo wind farm
From 18 to 28 July, 21 young people were trained as volunteers as part of the summer course, which was also attended by three scholarship holders of Tuxpan Día Solidario and María Luisa Rodríguez Medellín, social manager of the Tuxpan III and IV combined cycle plant.
The summer course with the children took place from 31 July to 11 August, with 193 children participating in Casa Nacanu’ Bií and the Santa Martha sports centre. In addition to promoting teamwork, co-responsibility and dialogue, the focus was on preserving culture, the arts and promoting peace, avoiding any kind of verbal or physical violence among participants and emphasising dialogue and agreement.
“The summer course was a great help for my daughter because she was able to socialise despite her limited mobility, she was able to live with other children her age and I am very grateful to all of you for making it possible for my daughter to participate,” said Nicolasa Soto Silva, a resident of the 7th Section of Juchitán.
Agua Prieta, surroundings of the Naco Nogales combined cycle plant
For the second year in a row, a summer course was held, attended by around 160 children per week aged 6 to 13 years old.
A preliminary training programme was conducted between 3 June and 19 July. A group of 25 young people, who were students from the city’s three high schools and scholarship holders from the Día Solidario programme, underwent this training.
Throughout the two-week course, emphasis was placed on the importance of sustainable development, which was fostered through various hands-on workshops. Another theme was family and values at the end of the course with a meeting where 48 parents could spend time with the children.
It is important to be close to the communities, to help them to grow in skills, to learn to work hand in hand and side by side; and to be the latest newcomer in the territory.
“I am proud to be part of the second edition of the summer course. In the first course, my son was an counsellor and now he is the coordinator. It is a very nice feeling,” said a mother who is proud of her son’s development during the summer course.
