We had a meeting in La Granja in the Municipality of Ojuelos de Jalisco in late September. From left to right and back to front, Dr. Francisco Enrique Castañeda Rico (UAG‘s Programa de Medicina en la Communidad), Ms. Laura Libman (Tia Foundation), Dr. Jésus Rubi Salazar (Under Secretary and Health Coordinator in the State of Mexico), Roberto Salinas Stephens (Public Affairs Consultant), and Mrs. Maurilia Huerta Salas (Community leader in Ojuelos de Jalisco). The purpose of our assembly was to review one of our sites and discuss the possibility of working together in the State of Mexico in the coming year (2013).
Visit with Tia and UAG in August
In Guadalajara, the Tia Foundation and representatives from UAG’s Programa de Medicina en la Comunidad (PMC) hosted two visiting dignitaries from our new potential corporate partner. The representatives came to discuss the project possibly launching this fall of 2013. It was their first visit to begin our discussions and the introductions went well! Dr. Roberto Martinez Ibarrara, Dr. Enrique Castañeda Cuellar, and Dr. Francisco Castañeda Rico made an excellent presentation on the future project. Tia and PMC were very glad to begin preparations less than two months later for the new friends to visit one of our existing project sites and to meet our Health Workers.
Though we did not snap any photos at the meeting, we thought you might find this famous Guadalajara landmark, El Templo Expiatorio, as stunning as we do. Almost everyone who has visited this fair city has been moved by its beauty.
Demonstrating Their Skills
Our Community Health Workers (Promotores) get plenty of hands on practice during their world-class training program, provided by UAG’s Programa de Medicina en la Comunidad (Community Medicine Program). Above, you see the Promotores practicing their skills with syringes and setting up IVs. All of them must master these skills before they are given a diploma and medical kit. All of the graduates of our recent project in Cihuatlan passed with flying colors!
Graduates Proud of Accomplishment
Our graduates are very proud of their great accomplisment. For many, the diploma they receive from Tia is their first ever and hangs prominently in a place of honor in their homes. As you can see in the above photo, our graduates frequently dress up for this special occasion, with friends, family and members of the community in attendace at the ceremony.
Grateful to Wyndham Grand Bay Hotel
The Tia Foundation would like to convey its gratitude to the Wyndham Grand Bay Hotel Isla de Navidad Resort and its employees. Pictured here is Elmer Cetina, Human Resource Manager, who received Tia’s framed Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation for the many ways in which Grand Bay assisted us with this project. Elmer received a huge round of applause from the thankful residents of the municipality of Cihuatlan, the new Promotores de Salud, and the other audience members.
Grand Bay provided us with a lovely ballroom in which to host our Volunteer Party to assemble our medical kits. Many Wyndham employees joined us as volunteers at the party, helping to count out gloves, syringes, bandages and other lifesaving items. They also supplied us with delcious aguas frescas for our thirsty workers. They even allowed us to store the completed kits for days in the climate controlled, dust free room until the graduation ceremony. Their generosity saved us hundreds of dollars.
Huge thanks to Jorge Garibay (General Manager) and Cesar Perez (Catering Manager) for making all the arrangements. Wyndham Hotels truly supports these type of Corporate Social Responsibility efforts in their employees worldwide! Check out their website if you think of traveling to Barra de Navidad. There is no more beautiful or more luxurious resort!
Tia Foundation 