Monthly Program Update - Mexico (December 2020)

MEXICO EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY UPDATE DECEMBER 2020

TOTAL IMPACT TO DATE

2,105

STUDENTS IMPACTED

1,246

VOLUNTEERS

15,400

VOLUNTEER DAYS

18

SCHOOLS REBUILT

Current Activities After a six-month operational suspension due to COVID-19, we’re looking forward to restarting work in Mexico — preparations are underway to welcome DM12 volunteers in January. Our Program Development Team (Architects and Structural Engineer) arrived in Oaxaca in October to begin this process. To date, they’ve focused on re-assessing the school buildings for any new structural challenges from the earthquake of summer 2020 and reviewing the scope of work.

Next Steps The focus of this program is on rebuilding and retrofitting two schools that serve more than 200 students—Escuela Secundaria Paulo Freire and Escuela Primaria Insurgente Vicente Guerrero—in the Oaxaca region. In December, our Project Development Team will carry out the following activities in preparation for the program launch this January: -

Hold community meetings with the school teachers and parents to explain the program process and agree on how best to work together.

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Finalize all the technical drawings and detailed construction schedule.

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Oversee contractors doing demolition work at the school plots.

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Conduct masons interviews.

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Set up the supplier chain.

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Set up the base of operations.

Photos: (Top) Celso Muñoz Primary School, completed July 2019. (Left) A student at Jardin de Niños 13 de Septiembre in Oaxaca, completed July 2019.

Learn about our programs at

allhandsandhearts.org

Disaster Profile On September 7, 2017, one of the most lethal earthquakes in Mexican history hit close to the southern state of Chiapas, with a devastating magnitude of 8.2. Just 12 days later and a few hundred miles away, a 7.1 magnitude quake rocked central Mexico, toppling buildings, breaking gas mains, knocking out electricity and sparking fires across the city and other towns in central Mexico.

Our Work Our efforts in Mexico began in March 2018 in El Jicarero, Morelos, where we partnered with Happy Hearts Fund (now All Hands and Hearts Mexico) to reconstruct and retrofit two primary schools. Since then, we’ve run two volunteer programs in Oaxaca and have rebuilt another four schools, including playgrounds, libraries and WASH facilities. In addition to our construction work on the schools, our teams collaborate with local partners to identify Renewal Projects with an aim to build community resilience. To date, we’ve implemented a community Disaster Risk Reduction Training program, reactivated a community waste management system and piloted an agricultural education program. We’re looking forward to returning to work on Escuela Secundaria Paulo Freire and Escuela Primaria Insurgente Vicente Guerrero in Oaxaca.

About All Hands and Hearts We effectively and efficiently address the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters. We communicate directly with local leaders and community members and then deploy our unique model of engaging volunteers to enable direct impact, helping to build safer, more resilient schools, homes and infrastructure.

We have earned a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator six years in a row and a Perfect 100. Less than one percent of rated nonprofits have received this distinction for financial and operational efficiency.

Photos: (top) a classroom at Revolution Primary School, completed Dec 2019; (middle) staff and volunteers at the Vicente Guerrero Primary School handover, Jan 2019, (bottom) playground at Jardin de Niños Itzcoatl, completed Dec 2019.

Our Partners

info@allhandsandhearts.org (508) 758-8211