Huge kudos were given to the Rotary Club Costalegre at the graduation ceremony on Saturday, March 24th.  Not only did the club provide half the cost of providing food for our brigade of nearly 40 people, but they also helped connect us to lodging for the brigade too.  As if that were not enough, they help organize a party to welcome the brigade on Tuesday at Sandy and John’s lovely home and a large contigent joined us to put together the medical kits at the volunteer party at Grand Bay Hotel Isla de Navidad Resort the prior Wednesday.

Both the Municipality of Cihuatlan Jalisco representative (center right) and the Tia Foundation founder Laura Libman (center left)  presented awards to the Rotary Members in attendance (Carrie Sacco far right and Andre La France far left) at the graduation celebration.  Thank you so much Rotary Club Costalegre!

Dr. Roberto Martinez Ibarrara, the Director of UAG’s PMC Brigade, signs the diplomas of our newest Promotores de Salud just before the graduation ceremony at the Casa de la Cultura in Cihuatlan, Jalisco.  The PMC Brigade is Tia’s most valuable field partner, providing world class training for our Promotores or Community Health Workers.  Stay tuned for more pics and great partners in the field!

Tia’s first male Community Health Worker (Promotora) graduates tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. in Cihuatlan at the Casa de Cultura.  The ceremony is open to the public, so feel free to join us if you are near the Costa Alegre!  On the left, Juan Luis Martinez Leonor practices his CPR compressions, under the direction of Dr. Enrique Castaneda Cuellar of UAG’s PMC program.

We assembed our medical kits for this project in record time!  The efficiency was due to our great volunteers from many parts of the local community.  The first wave of volunteers came from the Rotary Club Costalegre.  Huge thanks to Carrie Sacco for organizing everyone and to Leone Ewoldt for recruiting so many volunteers!  Not only that, but the generous Rotarians also donated a healthy portion of the costs of feeding our brigade.

Shortly thereafter, the employees of the Grand Bay Hotel Isla Navidad Resort by Wyndham joined us.  They did not have far to go because the resort was generous enough to provide us with an unused ballroom and aguas frescas for the thirsty workers.  Having a secure, clean and dust-free place to assemble the valuable kits is vital.

Just when the first wave began to tire, after hours of hard work, the  employees and friends of the Municipality of Cihuatlan, Jalisco reinforcements arrived to finish the last set of medical kits and do clean up work.  Thank you to all of these great members of the community who helped us put together 24 medical kits in 5 hours, rather than the usual 10+!!!!!

Laura Libman arrived in Guadalajara last night and is meeting with our friends at UAG’s Community Medicine Program to finalize the contents of the medical kiits for our Promotoras (Community Health Workers) in the municipality of Cihuatlan.  Our project will be running during the week of March 19th.  Check back for more updates!