Mark Manley

NGO and NonProfit: Mexfam: Mexfam Oaxaca

Oaxaca is one of the most remote feeling regions in Mexico. With a fierce history of independence and insurrection it feels only tangentially a part of the larger country. Ten hours from the Gautamalan border, where indigenous indian languages are more commonly spoken and understood than Spanish, I am still trying to get my bearings as Bertice "Betty" Ramos revs the rickety Mexfam van, drops it into gear and takes off down a dusty road in Juchitan, one of the many underserved areas in Oaxaca where the Mexican Family Planning Foundation, Mexfam, is working. Mexfam is trying to combat unwanted teenage pregnancy, and educate area youth about gender equality, sexual and reproductive health rights, and contraception, by training teens as peer health promoters. These health promoters then go out into the community to engage and educate their peers. Within the next year, Mexfam is seeking to reach out to 3,000 youth in this region with their message of safe sex and family planning. It's a tall order, in a difficult place, with few resources and it rests squarely on Betty, Mexfam Manager, Umberto, the Youth Coordinator, and thirty five adolescent peer health promoters that comprise Mexfam's "Gente Joven" Youth Program in Oaxaca, to do it. To a person, they exuded confidence that they were ready to meet this challenge. We drove off, Betty, a couple of the promoters and me, the van gaining speed...

Betty driving the Mexfam van through the streets of Juchitan. "Tell them we need a new van," she says. They do.
   
Seventeen year old Vinisia Pineda Martinez stands along side her younger brother. She visited a Mexfam Clinic out of curiosity, from there she wound up attending a Mexfam educational program about sexual and reproductive rights . "Once I learned I had options, I understood I should share this knowledge with other young people in my community." She volunteered to become one of 35 youth promoters, her younger brother soon followed her into the program.
   
A youth promoter at home with her mother in the background. Historically, there is a strong matriarchal heritage in the region. It was evident in the pride and support demonstrated by the mothers of teen health promoters I spoke with. Mothers talking about their daughters' work as "Youth Promoters" in the Gente Joven program consistantly expressed support and pride in the work their daughters were doing.
     
  
A young girl looks out her doorway onto the street in Santa Maria, Xhadani, Mexico. Mexican population studies compiled in1995 and 2006 estimate that around 20% of single, young adolescents aged 15-19 have initiated sexual activity with almost no use of contraception (Mendoza, 2006).
   
Conducting outreach work in a rural area outside of Juchitan.
   
The Mexfam clinic at Ixtaltepec. Mexfam also runs medical clinics in underserved areas throughout Mexico. Here, in addition to providing general health care to the broader community, local young people can get counseling to make informed, empowered decisions about their reproductive and sexual health.
     
  
A reflection viewed from the Mexfam van while traveling to do outreach work with youth health promoters.
   
Inside pirate radio station Radio Totopo. The station provides public service announcements and promotion for Mexfam activities.
   
Mexfam educational materials are provided as "leave behinds" during outreach presentations at local schools, radio stations, and on the streets where local youth congragate.
     
  
Umberto (far right), Mexfam youth promoter coordinator, meets with a promoter's family at their home.Working closely with the parents and families of the young promoters has been key in building support and acceptance of the program in the larger community.
   
The youth promoters I met, like the young man pictured here, were usually around sixteen or seventeen. They were excited about the program and what they were doing. And reflective of the confidence they had gained from participating in the program.
  
A youth promoter's grandmother and siblings listen to the discussion of his participation in the youth outreach program.
     
  
An 18 year old youth promoter sitting next to her mother, holds her 2 year old daughter on her lap."I do this so my daughter will grow up to know she has choices."
   
Youth promoter Clara Ayala Martinez at home.
   
Youth promoter Clara Ayala Martinez talks about her participation as a youth promoter in the program. Behind her, her mother listens. "I support her." The mother says, its obvious in the look on her face while she listens to her daughter speak.
     
  
A community health nurse at Centro De Servicios Medicos, a Mexfam clinic in Ixaltepec. She is on a two year volunteer assignment from Japan.
   
A patient waits with his wife prior to surgery at the clinic in Ixtaltepec. In addition to providing sexual and reproductive health services, Mexfam clinics and rural and urban community programs provide a wide range of medical services to in-need and underserved populations.
   
Women, many who have traveled over an hour by bus to get there, wait to be seen at the clinic.
     
  
Following a clinic visit, these women prepare for the bus ride back to Laollatia, a rual community about an hour's ride from Ixtaltepec.
   
Bersain Perez Cortez inside the Mexfam clinic at Tyustauo Pineda. Bersain is a youth promoter and clinic staff member. His mother founded the clinic.
   
Bersain and his mother outside the Mexfam clinic in Tyustauo Pineda. A young girl looks on. Bersain and his mother continue to operate the clinic in this rural area.
     
  
   
Youth promoters gather together in the evening in Juchitan. These promoters are a close knit group, encouraging and supporting each other.
   
Youth promoters on the street at night in Juchitan, Oaxaca, Mexico.
     
  
On the street at night in Juchitan, Oaxaca, Mexico.
   
On the street at night in Juchitan, Oaxaca , Mexico.