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Nahua People
Chicueyaco, Mexico
Mexico
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“Wow, this trip seems like a wonderful dream in which I am hoping not to wake
up. Maybe it’s because we are living in the moment, not worrying about tomorrow
. . . or maybe we feel pulled from our own world in order to stop and take a deep
breath.”
—GCN trip participant
Our Partnership
High in the Sierra Norte region of the state of Puebla in Mexico lies the market town of
Cuetzalan. Outside of Cuetzalan about 20 minutes by local minibus is the village of Chicueyaco. This is a Nahua community. The Nahua are an indigenous group descended from
the Aztecs that have maintained their customs and their language. Traditional healers use
native plants to treat diseases, and cooking is done over an open fire. The primary occupation is agricul­ture, although some of the people work in the town of Cuetzalan. In Chicueyaco, Nahuatl is spoken and Spanish is a second language. The Nahua women’s committee
has built a small health clinic in the village of Chicueyaco
in conjunction with GCN. Although the clinic is not fully
complete, the community has been using the pre-natal
clinic since 2005, offering immunizations and health care
education to local people. Future GCN teams will work
alongside community members to finalize the clinic.
The Journey
In partnership with people
of diverse cultures,
GCN promotes crosscultural understanding
and interconnectedness
through authentic
immersion experiences.
For more
information:
1.800.892.0022
+1.612.436.8273
129 North 2nd St., # 102
Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.globalcitizens.org
[email protected]
Upon arrival in Mexico City, the group will travel together
directly to the city of Puebla, a two hour bus ride from the
airport. Puebla offers a lively zocalo, or central plaza, as
well as terrific restaurants and shops to explore. The next
day, the team will travel to Cuetzalan, where they may
visit one of the largest indigenous markets in the region. During the program, the team will be housed in an
eco-lodge named Taselotzin, run by Nahua women from The GCN team works side-by-side members of the community to
communities, including Chicueyaco. The team will meet construct a health clinic (these three were painting the inside walls).
Authentic immersion experiences since 1992.
Chicueyaco, Mexico
Be immersed. Be inspired. Create change.
Be a Global Citizen.
with the villagers of Chicueyaco and plan the project work for the trip. Upon departure
from the host community, the team will return directly on a 5 hour ride from Cuetzalan
to Mexico City. No special skills are needed, although participants should be able to hike
steep terrain.
Trip Dates
A Day in Community
Trip dates subject to change
– check with GCN office to
confirm details.
The morning starts with the crick­ets and cicadas of Mexican gardens serenading the team
members. The sun rises over clouded banks that fill the mountain-lined horizon of the
Sier­ra Norte region as the team
begins their day with a breakfast
of hot chocolate, pan dulce, fresh
pine­apple and melon, and coffee.
After a scenic bus ride, the team is
welcomed into the Nahua community with open arms as they
being the day’s work. Some tasks
include painting and installing
light fixtures alongside community members. Taking a break for
a lunch of beans and handmade
corn tortillas, team members have
A GCN team member plays baseball with kids from the
a
chance to chat with community
community.
members or play a quick game of
soccer with the kids. After lunch the team continues on with the work on the community project or visits local sites around the community. Team members arrive back at the
eco-lodge and are greeted by the smells of soup and beans made from scratch. Tea with
orange blossoms picked fresh from the garden in the backyard, along with tortillas and
fresh avocados make-up dinner. After dinner, team members have time for conversation
and reflection by the hotel’s fire before returning to their rooms.
Visit the trip calendar on
our website for dates.
Special trips can be
arranged for an intact
group of 6 or more.
We welcome families,
students, and individuals.
Discounts available.
Contact the GCN office
for group and individual
discounts.
All trip related costs are
tax-deductible in the U.S.
Many team members
raise funds to help
support GCN and their
travel. More info:
www.globalcitizens.org/
fundraising
Site Specifics
 Water: Bottled  Nearest hospital: Cuetzalan hospital
 Project: Health clinic
 Altitude: 2,000 - 3,000 ft.  Food: Rice, beans, tortilla, vegetables, chicken
 Lodging: Taselotzin eco-lodge  Language: Nahuatl, Spanish
 Arrival Airport: Mexico City
 Center for Disease Control for current information: http://www.cdc.gov/travel
 For travel advisories check the U.S. State Department: http://www.state.gov/travel
Costs
Program fees cover on-site accommodations (lodging and meals), in-country transportation, orientation materials, a donation to the project, emergency medical and evacuation
insurance, and a team leader to manage logistics and facilitate your cultural immersion
experience. Airfare to/from Mexico City, Mexico, and costs relating to activities outside of
the village are additional the responsibility of the individual participant.
1.800.892.0022
+1.612.436.8270
129 North 2nd St., # 102
Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.globalcitizens.org
[email protected]