Quaker Social Action in Mexico Learning Tour

Quaker Social Action in Mexico Learning Tour
A project of Casa de los Amigos When: January 10th to January 18th, 2015 Where: Mexico City and surrounding countryside Who: Friends in California (other interested Quakers are welcome) Casa de los Amigos, a Quaker Center for Peace and International Understanding in Mexico City, is offering a nine-­day Learning Tour for Friends led by the Casa team. This will be a powerful, educational and fun experience! Why the Casa: Casa de los Amigos has more than a half-­century of experience nurturing friendship, justice and peacework in Mexico City. We practice deep, daily Hospitality, and have expertise coordinating the activities of international visitors of conscience in a Friends' setting. During nine days in Mexico, you'll have the opportunity to take in the city, enjoy fellowship with Friends, and engage with the most important issues in modern-­day Mexico. You'll learn directly about: ❏ MIGRATION: The roots, realities and complexities of the migratory phenomenon within Mexico, including a visit to local migrant shelter that the Casa helps coordinate ❏ PEACE: Stories of families resisting Mexico’s drug war ❏ THE MEXICAN COUNTRYSIDE: The struggle of rural communities for autonomy, and their cooperative work to provide water for all and protect against genetically-­modified crops and seeds ❏ URBAN ECOLOGY: Local and municipal efforts to live in right relationship with the Earth ❏ ECONOMIC JUSTICE: The long journey of the members of an indigenous women's sewing cooperative, Mexican “community money,” and a Mexican trueque bartering fair ❏ QUAKERS and SOCIAL ACTION: The exciting work of Casa de los Amigos, and the rich community of Mexico City Friends Meeting Goals: Through the unique lens of the Casa's work and environment, participants will learn about Mexican society and culture, politics and economics, and both the struggles and triumphs for peace and justice in Mexico. Through direct contact with social actors, this Learning Tour will provide a human face and a living context to help you shape your understanding of people, communities and social movements in Mexico. Activities: We will visit Casa partner organizations, and learn from and dialogue with activists working with social movements and non-­profits. We will spend one night in a rural village in the neighboring state of Tlaxcala. The group will have regular group reflections and debriefs, attend Meeting for Worship, and participate in the life of Casa de los Amigos. We will also be able to experience the vibrant life, incredible food, and beautiful sights of our wonderful city. Cost: $1,100 USD. This cost includes comfortable housing at the Casa's guesthouse, local and home-­cooked food, private and public transportation, professional interpretation, and additional related costs. It does not include airfare. We’re asking for a $150 deposit to reserve your place by October 31st, 2014. Fundraising is encouraged: We hope you’ll look for ways to find support from your Meeting and other sources, and we can provide outreach materials to help. Please let us know if the cost of the trip represents a serious hardship. Requirements and recommendations: The Learning Tour is limited to ten people. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Flexibility and good health are recommended, as plans sometimes shift in Mexico and we'll be doing plenty of walking. Spanish-­speakers are welcome;; the ability to speak Spanish is not necessary as we’ll have consecutive interpretation. Security: Mexico City is statistically safer than many cities in the United States. We live here and love it, and feel very comfortable moving around the city everyday. Casa de los Amigos welcomes over a thousand international guests each year to the city. Coming? To apply for this trip, send your name and contact information to [email protected]. Questions? Please send any and all questions and inquiries to [email protected].