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Where we work

Here is a map of Jalisco and its location in Mexico. It will help you orient yourself on where our current projects are.

The communities of El Reparo and Tamaliagua are located near Sayula, Jalisco .  On the Google Earth satellite map below, you will see Sayula.  These two communities are in near the mountains next to Sayula

Google Earth Sayula

Our next set of communities will be near Ojuelos, Jalisco, the red area on the map. The Google Earth image below shows the town of Ojuelos.  The next launch will be in the villages outside of the town, near the mountains.
Google Earth Ojuelos

Tia Goes to Ojuelos, Jalisco

Our next project will be launched in the communities near Ojuelos, Jalisco.  Laura will be visiting those communities on May 7th and 8th to conduct a needs assessment in the area.  During her visit, she will hold village meetings to elect the new promotoras and visit with municipal officials to arrange for continuing resources.  You can keep up on the progress by viewing her daily reports in our Notes from the Field section. 

Das Tor Interview with Laura

The Thunderbird on-campus newspaper published an interview with Laura Libman, as part of an article on the field study conducted by Tia, CHOICE Humanitarian, and Thunderbird International Development students on the effects of development on cross-border immigration.

The raw data resulting from the study was astounding!  Four times the rate of immigration was seen in villages that have no outside non-proft development programs, as opposed to communities receiving sustainable development assistance.

The graduate students surveyed only communities in the same microregion, with nearly parallel population sizes, geography and agriculture.  In addition to quantitative data questions on frequency of migration, the students asked qualitative questions too.  One of the most telling questions polled what would it take for a family to stop migrating to the U.S. or for those who had already curtailed migration, what made them stop.

The answers revealed that people would continue to migrate as long as necessities such as adequate food, access to health care, and primary education could not be obtained.  Those who had stopped migrating said that they had no more need to do so, because with NGO assistance, they were able to produce more food, build a school, and had access to healthcare.