First day at CASA

It is January 7th, 2013 here in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It's about 70 degrees,with clear skies and the slightest of breezes. Today I started my internship with CASA, Centro Para los Adolescentes. Here is a link to their philosophy and website. Please read if you can-http://www.empowercasa.org/casas-mission-philosophy/ The school itself, situated at the top of calle Santa Julia in Colonia Santa Julia is stunning. There is a large outdoor space in front of the school that contains play structures for children in the community to use as there are not many(or any) green spaces or parks in this particular area for children to play in.There is also an organic garden that is used as an educational tool for the children as well a space to grow food for the community.Nina, the coordination director at C.A.S.A graciously introduced me to many of the staff members and gave me a tour of the space. There is an incredible amount of work being done here! There is a library where children are required to check out and read at least three books a week and adults in the community can access it as well. There is also a rural library program in which structures are being built in communities that have little access to books. There is a daycare that takes care of children aged 45 days to 6 years Monday through Fridays. The highest priority for child placement in the daycare is given to single mothers and the cost is based on a family's income. While I was there the children appeared to be having the time of their lives celebrating "Three Kings Day"(more on that later). There are programs that focus on nutrition, health, family planning,and ecology and sustainability. Counselors go into rural communities and provide workshops to community members and families, educating people in everything from recycling to domestic violence and reproductive education. I was also introduced to the program leader(Migue) of a new department which focuses on H.I.V. education and prevention as well as sexual diversity education and LBGT support in the community. As of tomorrow, I hope to be working with Migue in this new program along with another former intern from OSU. Although all of the programs and projects at CASA are incredible and honestly, had I the time I would beg to be a part of ever single one, the H.I.V. and sexual diversity program is close to my heart and very important to me to be involved in. I hope to be writing more about this program later! There are two more programs at C.A.S.A that are also fantastic. They have a radio program that airs once a week that has interviewed members of the government, counselors, and experts on the subjects of reproductive education and health, nutrition, and domestic violence, just to name a few. As they express on their website, they are also not shy from exploring delicate subjects such as the many illegal abortions that are carried out in Mexico every year. The theater group at CASA writes and directs plays that are taken and performed in different communities. The themes of the plays range from violence against children, addiction, nutrition, values, HIV, migration and more. As if that isn't enough, there is also a hospital and midwifery school!It is Mexico's only government accredited midwifery school and they have a three year program for midwives to receive acredidation as a professional midwife. C.A.S.A's Maternity teaching hospital and family clinic is located less than a mile from the school. I was also given a tour of the hospital by one of the professional midwives, a woman named Kate, whom has been at CASA for a little less than two years. They have a podiatry clinic, the only one in San Miguel, as well as a tub for water births(apart from Mexico city, the water birthing tub at C.A.S.A is one of the only in the country.)Needless to say, I am struck with awe by amount of work that is being done to reach in order to provide rural communities with information and resources that they would otherwise not receive. Have I said how beautiful it is here? Words do not do it justice but yes...it is beautiful. I am so grateful to be here and to have the opportunity to learn. There is so much to be learned! My sincere gratitude for reading! Saludos!