Local organization donates used computers to students
January 30, 2009 San Miguel de Allende

Computadores Pro Jóvenes (CPJ), a three-year-old organization that refurbishes and repairs used computers and places them in K–9 schools in rural San Miguel, has already installed more than 1,000 pieces of donated equipment at over 100 schools.

They also supply computers to children with physical and/or learning limitations that make regular school attendance difficult or impossible and to university scholarship recipients from low-income families. In addition to donating the equipment to students, volunteers help them learn to use it.

Says Rosemary Swann, a CPJ volunteer at Primaria Ing. Rocce Rubio School in Atotonilco, "The computers are critical, of course, and the software is very important, but the key to making CPJ successful is the ongoing, hands-on coaching by its volunteer mentors. These donated computers arrive at the schools loaded with 21 different educational programs geared to different grade levels. Keyboards, mice, monitors, headphones and power strips are provided in each classroom, as well as personal mentoring in the use of the computer whenever it’s needed." 

Juan Manuel, a computer enthusiast and third grade teacher at the school, is excited about the power of the computer and has been quick to assist other teachers and the school's principal in the use of computer. 

"Juan Manuel's keen interest in acquiring new and better educational software for his students is transmitted to these students with a kind of electric enthusiasm that keeps them excited to learn," reports Swann. “Just last week, Juan Manuel asked for a laser printer and additional speakers for his computer so that his students can see and hear the results of their efforts and begin to comprehend the power of the computer as a tool that they can master.”

Many times the children's excitement about their new computers extends beyond the classroom to their homes and their parents.

"We have been delighted to see parents come to our aid in several schools by building desks for their children's computers and by replacing old, weak doors with new metal doors that protect the contents of each classroom," says Swann, adding that "school principals are working hard to bridge the literacy gap between schools in the city and schools deep in the campo." 

At a school in Palo Colorado, Elia, a dedicated kindergarten teacher, arrived for her classes much earlier than usual. Upon her arrival, she found that many of her students had preceded her! The great attraction was a newly donated computer loaded with Spanish-language programs. 

"When they listen to the 'Himno Nacional Mexicano' they started to sing," said Elia. "And when they finished singing, some of the children told me that when they were listening they wanted to cry because they felt so peaceful in their hearts." 

"When I showed the encyclopedia to them, they wanted to see everything," she added. "They are so happy and interested with the computer; now they have the technology and the world in their hands. It is going to open their minds and their visions of their future and give them more options in their lives. 

CPJ provides computers to about 40 university scholarship recipients. These college students must maintain a high grade point average at their universities. All are from families that are unable to provide computers which are critical to their academic success. 

"We try to level the playing field for these students," says Richard Cretcher, who is responsible for providing computer access to college students for CPJ. 

How you can help

CPJ pays no salaries and strives for zero overhead. Their goal is to stay "lean and mean." They do not compete with other community service groups here and, in fact, have provided support to a number of them. To achieve their goals, they depend on donated equipment, time and funds. 

By donating your used computer or laptop you can help others while avoiding the toxic waste problem associated with disposal of computer parts. And if you like, CPJ can provide a letter thanking you for the donation that you can use for tax purposes. They are anxious to place your gently used computer or monitor in the hands of school children. 

If you are in San Miguel or nearby, contact CPJ to arrange a pickup. If you are in the States, please email them about your prospective donation. They now have an arrangement whereby donated equipment is picked up in the US and transported to San Miguel without charge. 

CJP is in need of more volunteers. You can be a mentor even if you are not computer savvy. You just need to be able to use Word and work with documents and you will do fine. A little Spanish goes a long way.… You can be a driver and transport computers from a donor to a technician's shop and then to a school. No Spanish is required, just a means of transportation. If you are a computer whiz and would like to help diagnose and repair problems the organization would love to have your help. CJP needs techies who can help by installing software and otherwise making donated machines ready to place. 

For more information on how to donate equipment, time, or funds for equipment, contact Ann Bontatibus at computersforschoolkids@gmail.com.  CPJ's website is located at www.cpjmex.   

Music, prizes, scholarships
By Keith Wall; photos Jon Sievert

Concert and raffle
Jueves for Jóvenes
Thu, Mar 19, 5pm
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Mesones 82 
300/250 (includes raffle ticket) & 50 pesos
Raffle tickets, 100 pesos 

Jóvenes Adelante’s spring fundraiser, a concert called “Jueves for Jóvenes,” also includes a raffle, for which tickets go on sale in early February.

Winning tickets are drawn during intermissions at the concert (winners need not be present). All proceeds go toward scholarships for talented but disadvantaged local Mexican students hoping to begin university careers this August. The organization’s goal is to fund 25 new students.

The Jueves for Jóvenes concert features performances by top musicians from Mexico and the US, including Ken Bichel on piano, Ken Bassman on guitar, Vishnu Wood on bass, Victor Monterrubio on percussion and Tim Hazell on several instruments. Other amazing performers are being lined up, including an exceptional vocalist and violinist. This concert is a rare gift to the community from an exceptional group of musicians giving their time and talents to the cause of raising money to send worthy Mexican students to college.

Raffle tickets cost 100 pesos and concert-goers receive one raffle ticket with paid admission (except bargain-priced second balcony tickets).

The 30 raffle prizes include a beautiful quilt donated by the San Miguel Quilters; an overnight for two with breakfast at a renowned Guanajuato B&B/folk art museum; three iPod Shuffles; a digital camera; a round trip to León/Guanajuato with Viajes San Miguel; gift certificates at local shops; fine wines; artwork; massages and spa treatments; and complimentary lunches and dinners at many local restaurants. 

Jóvenes Adelante supports nearly 60 students currently studying in 20 universities throughout Mexico. Scholarship recipients receive financial support for up to five years for university expenses, as well as additional support including an individual mentor, the opportunity to study English in small classes with qualified volunteer member-teachers, computers (as available) through a joint effort with Computadores Pro Jóvenes, and special counseling and tutoring as necessary to help them make a successful transition to university and career. The organization is devoted to seeing its students succeed, make themselves and their families proud and gain professional employment in their country.


For more information or to volunteer, contact jovenesadelante@gmail.com. To learn more about Jóvenes Adelante and to see photos and details about the exceptional students, go to the new website http://jovenesadelante.org. 

René Mey in San Miguel

Recently, about 500 people, including visitors from Jalisco, Nuevo León, Querétaro and other states, gathered at the Hotel Arcada for a free conference offered by René Mey. The conference opened with a concert by singer María Sánchez.

Mey is a French humanitarian who for more than 25 years has traveled the world, setting up free clinics, sharing his philosophy of humility and inspiring many to discover a new form of human intelligence based on respect for oneself and others. René said, “Love is the essence of life, and for that reason nobody can live well until you learn to love.” 

The conference was organized and supported by volunteers from René Mey’s Centers in San Miguel, Hotel Arcada, Atención San Miguel, Canal 3 and radio station XESQ, among others.

The city’s two René Mey Centers, which offer free alternative therapies, are located at Refugio Sur 15 in Colonia San Antonio and at Ignacio Acosta 27, Colonia San Rafael. 

An upcoming workshop on cell regeneration therapy (Mey Therapy) will be held for those who have donated space for new centers or who volunteer to administer the therapies. For more information, visit any René Mey Center or email renemeysma@gmail.com. 

Tomorrow’s leaders in Jalpa
By Steve Joseph

Burro Festival
Sat, Mar 28
Sponsored by FINO
Jalpa

“If I don’t succeed in becoming president of Mexico,” says 12-year-old Edgar Martinez, “then I want to be a policeman, to stop the drug traffickers.”

We are speaking in the small village of Jalpa, 20 kilometers from San Miguel. Edgar lives there with his mother, three sisters and two brothers. “My teacher told me that Benito Juárez was the first president to come from the campo. I want to be the second.”

Edgar is a voluntary student, selected by his teacher, in FINO’s Leadership through Language program, developed four years ago by SMA residents Craig and Sara Tylosky. The program teaches English literacy and leadership skills to the children of Jalpa, a village where women head 80 percent of the families, as most of the men toil in the US. FINO’s primary goal is to bring resources and hope to rural children. Volunteers come from the US and Canada to work with the children. So far, they have helped to build a lunchroom, a kitchen, a library and were past sponsors of the daily lunch program through Feed the Hungry.

On March 28, FINO sponsors the third annual Burro Festival in Jalpa, a day filled with a contest for most beautiful burro, a burro race, home-cooked comida, beverages, music and a tour of the local ruins and church. For more information, see www.finomex.org.

“This is my third year in this class,” Edgar continues, “we play games, sing songs and go to the new library which our friends have built for us. Sara told us volunteers came from all over North America to help build it. There are many children’s books and games. I figure reading will help me. If I don’t get elected president, I will find other ways to be a leader. Here, I learned to help in the class, to speak English and to keep the other kids quiet without hurting their feelings. I like learning the words for the family, like “mother” and “father.” I hope to help stop the drug problem and to help people get nicer houses and have responsible families.”


Juana, also 12 and nicknamed “Luni,” says, “I have eight sisters and five brothers. What I like about the group? We get presents, but mostly I am learning that a girl can be a leader, not just boys. We learn that we are smart, that we can do things. Before, I wanted to be an airline pilot, but now I want to be an English teacher. If I were president, I would bring more fresh water, schools, clinics and stores to Jalpa. I would also help the church. I’m learning to read English, but the books are a little advanced for me. I will read them one day and I’m going to secondaria next year.” 

Sweet strains to ease a burden

Benefit Concert
Santa Julia chorus
Sun, Feb 1, 3–4pm
Posada de la Aldea
Ancha de San Antonio 15
50 pesos

“I want to be an English teacher like Juan José,” says a 15-year-old Santa Julia girl who is now in the third grade.

Her Madres, Catholic nuns who care for this girl living in a children’s home, know she has the ability and are pleased she is inspired despite the challenges she faces.

Her inspiration comes in large part from her English teacher, Juan José, for whom this girl and her “sisters” at Santa Julia are organizing a concert of violin and choral music. Their motivation is to help Juan José pay back 700,000 pesos of medical debt incurred after a devastating automobile accident and resulting hospitalization. 

“I had just been told that my chances of survival were only two percent,” said Juan José, “and all my mother and I could do was weep. In walked my brother with a big smile on his face. He handed me a can that had held chilis. It was filled with pesos. He said, ‘The Santa Julia girls asked the students in their school to contribute pesos, and to deliver this to you.’” Juan José rallied and is again in the classroom, inspiring students from various countries to improve their language abilities.

The 40 children of Casa Hogar Santa Julia rely on donations from the community. Their four Madres receive virtually no support from government or church sources. They have known ongoing hunger due to lack of resources, and their Madres have bemoaned 80-peso medical bills for injuries have incurred in formerly unsafe areas of their home. They also understand giving back. When Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of New Orleans, the girls rounded up donations they could not use—such as men’s clothing— and volunteers took them to those who were struggling.

“Isn’t it everyone’s responsibility to help others?” asked Madre María de Jesús Ortiz Balderas, Mother Superior and director at Santa Julia. “There but for the grace of God we all could go, and the girls are particularly attuned to the suffering that a lack of resources can cause, so we are happy that their choir and violin teachers are helping to organize this fundraiser.”

Elsmarie Norby, a pianist who studied at Juilliard, created the Anyél children’s music education program that raised funds to form a choir at Santa Julia. The girls have performed with choirs from Palo Alto, California, and Boston, Massachusetts, among others. Libby Clemens, an accomplished concert violinist, leads the Suzuki Music Program in San Miguel and raised funds to allow the Santa Julia girls to learn to play the violin. Together with the girls and potentially other guest artists, these professionals will perform to help Juan José.

Concert-goers will be asked for a 50-peso donation. Children will be admitted free. Refreshments will be provided after the concert. The girls are grateful to the Unitarians for arranging for the space.

“We have a slogan at Santa Julia,” said Madre María de Jesús. “Santa Julia: Where Love Grows Miracles! We are praying for the miracles we know this community can create to help the girls help Juan José so that their goals to speak English can be realized.”

For more information, contact Robin Loving Rowland at robin@robinloving.com ; info@santajulia.org ; 152-3709; 925-481-8003 (US line) or see www.santajulia.org.