At Tia Foundation, we help rural communities build the skills, knowledge, and systems they need to care for themselves. Instead of offering short-term relief, we create long-term solutions that improve health, independence, and stability across entire regions.

Sustainable Healthcare in Remote Communities

We work in some of the poorest and most isolated areas of Mexico, where access to doctors, medications, and basic resources is extremely limited. By training local residents, coordinating with universities, and supporting municipalities, we help villages become self-reliant in caring for their families and neighbors.

Our model leads to better emotional, social, and economic well-being while strengthening communities from within.

How We Work

Community Organization

Many of the villages we serve face challenges such as scarce resources, limited transportation, and communication barriers. Our team has extensive experience in international development and community management. We help communities organize around shared goals and create systems that strengthen health and reduce preventable illness.

Depending on the region, this may include:

• Establishing reliable water collection and purification systems

• Planning community gardens to reduce malnutrition

• Connecting residents with universities, agencies, and development partners

• Supporting schools with lessons on hygiene, nutrition, and sanitation

• Creating local systems to manage training materials and supplies

These efforts help villages build foundations for long-term community wellness.

Immediate Medical Intervention

Some communities go months or years without medical care. In these cases, we set up mobile clinics in plazas, churches, schools, or community health centers so residents can receive treatment close to home.

Our mobile clinics often include:

• Medical consultations with doctors, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists, and physical therapists

• Prescription and over-the-counter medications

• Prenatal and children’s vitamins

• Vaccinations and injections

• Laboratory testing

• Minor surgical procedures

Volunteer physicians also join us to provide specialized care that would otherwise be unavailable.

University Partnerships

A core part of our work is the involvement of doctors and medical students from regional universities such as the Autonomous University of Guadalajara (UAG). These partners help provide clinical services, teach classes, and build awareness in larger cities about the urgent needs of rural communities.

Their participation strengthens local capacity and broadens the reach of our programs.

Health Education and Training

Relief alone is not enough. Lasting change requires local leadership. That is why we train Promotores, the community-selected health workers who keep villages healthy long after our team departs.

Promotores attend daily classes, complete practical training, and demonstrate their skills through exams. Their training includes:

• CPR and first aid

• Burn, wound, and laceration treatment

• Stabilizing injuries and setting broken bones

• Treating dehydration and heat-related illness

• Managing chronic disease such as hypertension and diabetes

• Identifying and treating common infections

• Giving injections

• Assisting with childbirth

• Responding to poisonous bites and environmental hazards

Promotores become trusted responders in emergencies and dependable educators for preventative care.

Medical Equipment and Supplies

When a Promotor successfully completes training, their community receives one or more medical kits, known as botiquines. These kits contain essential equipment and supplies for both emergency response and daily care.

The kits belong to the community, and local governments are responsible for restocking them through ongoing partnerships. This ensures the program remains sustainable long after training ends.

Data Collection and Community Insight

We gather data on every program to understand community needs and measure the long-term impact of our work. Municipalities, health organizations, and government agencies often request our data because we serve remote regions that are difficult to access.

This information helps leaders make informed decisions and direct resources where they are needed most.

Addressing Real Challenges

We collaborate closely with municipal leaders to identify the most urgent health concerns in each village, then prepare our medical brigade to address those priorities. Some of the common challenges include:

• Diabetes and hypertension

• Undernutrition and malnutrition

• Water access and purification

• Childbirth and maternal health

• Farming injuries

• Domestic abuse

• Childhood illness

• Depression and emotional health

This targeted approach helps communities solve immediate issues while building momentum for long-term stability and growth.

Who Makes This Possible

Tia’s work is made possible by a dedicated network of doctors, nurses, students, technicians, community leaders, partner organizations, board members, donors, and volunteers. Together, we deliver one of the world’s most cost-effective and enduring health programs.