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Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. logoFUNDACIÓN  MAYA  
IN  LÁAKEECH  A.C.

New Nutrition Center at Xcalacoop Health Clinic

 

    It took a few months to built the New Nutrition Center and a lot of hard work and goodwill from the Hacienda Chichen staff, who donated their time and skills during the construction of the New Nutrition Center for the Mayan communities nearby Chichen Itza. This effort was a learning opportunity to the local families accustomed to have promises of help for alternative reasons, such as political gain during elections.  This is one experience the local families have found to be a true gift of love with joy to share, give and receive with a caring heart.

Mayan Volunteer programs - Maya Foundation In Laakeech, Yucatan, Mexico   "We did it!" exclaimed with a great smile Abraham Blanco, who was in charge of pluming and electric installations for the new center.  "We all worked to make this dream a venture we can be proud of," he adds with a joyful expression in his face. Indeed, he and other of the Hacienda Chichen workers labor with great care and pride. "This experience taught our staff to give freely to their community, and to do so with joy," said Mrs. Belisa Barbachano, she is active donor to the Maya Foundation In Laakeech sustainable programs.

 A charming garden at the entrance of the new building was carefully plan and planted by the team of gardeners working atl Hacienda Chichen.  Filiberto and Don Paulino team led the work, level the terrain, planted small trees and ornament plants around the new center which features a state of the art bio-degradable septic system, eco-friendly light features, an ample open kitchen in a  multi-use living area, plus two lovely public bathrooms. 

 Maya Foundation In Laakeech Board of Trustees, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico   The Maya Foundation In Láakeech Board of Trustees worked with the local young doctor to created various levels of nutrition and health programs including workshops for young adults to learn how to successfully budget economic meal plans and learn to cook using soya meat and other health food.  "We are proud do see children grow health thanks to our volunteer efforts, support and care” said Luis Iuit who is in charge to buy and bring the nutritive produces each week to the center.  His commitment to the quality of the produces bought has helped ensure that over 120 Mayan children were diagnosed out of mal-nutrition levels in the past two months.  "We have now a new level of support to the Mayan families, which includes post-malnutrition meal programs for those children that we have helped in the past year," says Mrs. Belisa Barbachano who is one of the main sponsors and active member of the Maya Foundation In Láakeech Board of Trustees.

Maya Foundation In Laakeech - Mayan Children Nutrition Program, Xcalacoop, Yucatan, Mexico"It is wonderful to be part of the volunteer team that help create this place for our community," said Jose Tamay who is an active Board of Trustees member for the Mayan Foundation In Laakeech and oversaw the construction financial needs.  "We still need a lot of help to meet our goals, a new refrigerator donated by the foundation president, Mr. Ruben Gutierrez should arrive this week," Jose explains, "Mrs. Judy Abbott de Mier y Teran, co-owner and editor of Yucatan Today donated the colorful children chairs and Chef Josue Cime's kitchen offered the cooking pots and pans to prepare the meals each day.  "We have the opportunity to give and share," Co-chef Saturnino expressed with joy, "our community people are not used to volunteering for the common good so this project gave us all the opportunity to feel good about sharing, giving and caring," he added "we are so proud we have done this and look forwards to the new Nutrition Centers that the Foundation will open next year with our help and support.

New Xcalacoop Health Center donated by Maya Foundation In Laakeech, Yucatan, Mexico

     Indeed, most of the Maya Foundation In Laakeech (in lak' ech) volunteer work was done by the staff of the Hacienda Chichen; a task that brought pride and joy by freely giving of oneself to support and care for needs of their communities.  The foundation programs include travelers' volunteer efforts as well, which give of their time and skills to teach English classes to the workers and residents in the villages. This year, four volunteers have helped the English as a second language summer program.

  Maya Children Nutrition Program - Maya Foundation In Laakeech Social Work near Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico
 
  "Few months ago, when we first visited the Xcalacoop Health Clinic, our hearts were overtaken by the conditions of the site," explains Mrs. Belisa Barbachano, since her first visiting the Health Clinic (photo bellow) she accepted the challenge to bring positive changes to this community by constructing a new center and creating a Nutrition Program that was to meet more than the basic needs of the Mayan children and families; since then, she and The Maya Foundation In Laakeech have brought a pro-active financial support to bring health and job opportunities to the young Maya and to the communities future generation.


Donating a Nutrition Fun Party to the Maya Children through the Maya Foundation In Laakeech:

Maya Foundation In Lakech volunteers sponsors of a Nutrition Lunch Party with Chef Josue Cime

If you can not spend two or more weeks as a "in-field" volunteer, then you may wish to donate or sponsor a Nutrition Lunch Party at one of the many Maya children community centers we cater in rural Maya villages near Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.

With a budget as little as USD $280 or a bit more we can help you organize a wonderful Lunch or Dinner Party for the children serving nutritional meals, fresh fruit refreshments, and some joyful activities to bring big smiles to over 65 children living in Student Housing Centers or you may wish to donate a special Nutrition Cook Out Lunch in one of the rural schools we support.

Just send us an email to let us know you wish to sponsor such event and we will be happy to help you organize it, purchase the groceries and do the organization work of the event for you to come and enjoy it with the kids.


2012 Summer Update: Our Mayan Children Nutrition Centers will be featuring new Nutritional and Healthy Cooking Classes with new low budget, high nutrition recipes from Maya Nut and Chaya among other "old nutritional produces from the jungle and Mayan rural homes' backyard trees and herbs."  We are all very excited with this new approach to bring nutritional meals to rural Mayan families, especially to children and the elder.  This healthy food choices are truly low budget, highly nutritional, and tasty for the whole family. Chaya is already one of the most nutritional food produces that are served today, but we will re-introduce the Maya Nut recipes, or Ramon seeds as they are commonly known in the Yucatan; for decades, these nutritional seeds have gone unnoticed by local families as a great way to add nutrition and taste to a families meal.  But today, with the help of the Maya Foundation In Laakeech and Chef Josue Cime, the Maya Nut will re-emerge as a favorite healthy choice in the rural Mayan homes!

 Maya Nut Nutrition Cooking Classes and Free Recipes are conducted in Mayan Rural Villages by the MFIL

FREE MAYA NUT NUTRITION AND COOKING WORKSHOPS
Mesoamerica’s Wonderful Tree: A Sustainable Nutritional Food Staple.
Article by Belisa B. Gordon for the Maya Foundation In Laakeech, a Sustainable Civil Society (NGO)

           Maya Nut Brosimum alicastrum, also called Capomo, Breadnut or Ramon seed.

Know to the Maya people of Yucatan as Tax’ Osh the Maya Nut Tree, Brosimum alicastrum, is one of the largest evergreen trees found in Central America and parts of Mexico.  A native evergreen to tropical America from the Moraceae fig family, the Maya nut tree tolerates marginal soils, salt and drought, an excellent species for rehabilitating degraded land and to establish valued agro-ecosystems that contribute to air cleansing and reducing deforestation in favor of corn farming practices. Maya nut trees can help many indigenous communities to have nutritional staple food and increase their income while protecting water sources and the tropical forest biodiversity

     Historically, every part of the Ramon or Maya nut tree is useful to humans including the fruit, seed (“nut”), bark, wood, leaves, and latex. The seed in particular is widely recognized for its nutritious value. Various parts of the Brosimum alicastrum are used in Mayan natural medicine, such as latex or seed decoction use as a lactation stimulant. ( Morton, 1977).

Maya Nut or Ramon Seed is also known as Ojite, Capomo and Breadnut.      Maya Nut tree leaves, pulp and seeds are a part of the staple forest food not only for human but for domestic and wild birds and animals, the seeds known among Maya of Yucatan as O’ok  (called Maya nut in English) is among the most nutritional staple food produces for the ancient Mayan people and other indigenous groups of Mesoamerica. The use of fresh and powder Maya nut in people’s diet has declined drastically since the early 1950s with the industrialization of corn farming. Maya nut trees are a true gift of Mother Nature; their leaves are excellent fodder for cows, deer, horses and goats, providing a sustainable alternative to pasture in the tropics.

     Nowadays a few rural ranchers use these seeds as nutritive food to grow organic pork and beef; but few young native mothers and their families understand the nutritional value this wonderful seed can bring to their own families table.  Consuming this healthy seed can improve the health of family members, especially infants and elder people.  The Maya nut or Ramon seed can be dried and stored for up to five years; it is rich in fiver, protein, vitamins A, E, C, and B, minerals such as calcium, potassium, folate, iron, and zinc. 

     Nutritionally compare with soya bean, the Maya nut is surprisingly higher in nutritional value and far more accessible to get in rural villages in South Mexico and Central America. Re-introducing its value as a nutritional food is of great importance to avoid mal-nutrition in young children and elders; thus, the Maya Institute (NGO) and the Maya Foundation In Laakeech are conducting volunteer workshops to inform and educate rural young females about the great nutrition value of this tasty seed.

      Maya nut flour has served as a valued emergency food during difficult times in many regions, thus many communities considered it only as famine food and its consumption has dropped to less than five per cent of local diets.  Sadly the Ramon or Maya nut tree numbers in the forest have decline due to timber practices, becoming almost extinct in many regions of Central America. To counter this trend, great effort is given to re-introduce the Maya nut or Ramon tree as a rich nutritional food and eco-value to local people by the Maya Nut Institute, founder Erika Vohman; her team with the collaboration of the Maya Foundation In Laakeech (NGO) are nowadays establishing regular Maya nut cooking classes and nutritional workshops..

       For us at the Maya Children Nutrition Center, the re-introduction of these seeds as a tasty low-budget meal choice will help mother's avoid mal-nutrition in young children and elders. In many Mayan villages near Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, the MFIL is actively introducing to the local communities the value of this nutritional seed by providing free Maya Nut Cooking Workshops and nutrition classes. Maya people are encouraged to conserve the tree, to establish community Maya nut nurseries and reforest depleted areas, after being re-introduced to the nutritional value of the nut. During demonstration cooking days, the women are shown how to make new and traditional recipes, substituting Maya nut for maize. 

Maya Nut Delights are served at Hacienda Chichen's Gourmet Mayan Restaurant in Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico   Not only Mayan communities are encouraged to conserve the Ramon or Tax O’sh, at Hacienda Chichen in Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, the staff has started a sustainable Maya nut nursery and reforestation program to reclaim depleted farmland.  Executive Chef Josue Cime has introduce a variety of new organic menu selections based on Maya nut to increase the interest for this great seed in staff and visitors and to promote the nutritional value of this wonderful and the truly tasty nut.  The introduction of the Maya nut as a Mayan organic food product in his menu, is part of the sustainable eco-cultural vision of  Hacienda Chichen.

    "It is inspirational to witness the change in the health, self-esteem and status of so many indigenous women. Recognizing the benefits of Maya nut have helped them change their lives," expresses with great joy Erika Vohman, Executive Director and Founder of the Maya Nut Institute NGO. Through this organization effort many communities have been inspired to plant more than 300,000 Maya nut trees, supplementing food and income, and protecting water sources, and forest biodiversity. 

     A variety of Ramon or Maya nut tree that produces fruit in four years, half the usual time, was recently discovered in Merida and Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico. Erika Vohman, founder of the Equilibrium Foundation and Maya Nut Institute affirms: "Investing in research and genetic improvement of this species, as well as encouraging its use for food, fodder and environmental services, may well be one of the most positive things governments and organizations can do right now to improve agro-ecosystem resilience to climate change and thereby secure the future of both human and wildlife populations in the neo-tropics."

     “Maya nut can be a keystone species in neo-tropical lowland ecosystems, as it is the preferred food source for over 85% of neo-tropical birds and wildlife. Healthy Maya nut forests are ideal for subsistence hunting and ecotourism as well as providing a refuge for tropical biodiversity. The Maya Foundation In Laakeech has started a program to sale many Maya Nut Food Products such as roasted Maya nut (delicious taste similar to Mocha / chocolate) and dried Maya nut flour, a nutritional powder presentation that can be used as a substitute of corn or wheat flour (or mix it) in any recipe including cakes and dessert.

Be a Maya Foundation In Laakeech Volunteer... Read Volunteers' Comments here.

Read Lahnee's own article about her volunteer experience with us!

Become a MFIL Volunteer and help us help children in need!
Your kind support to our Mayan Children Nutrition Center is highly appreciated, small contributions help our daily nutrition meal program continue providing quality food to many young children in their developing stage of grown.

Come and join our volunteer team or if you are visiting soon Yucatan, please bring a few "gifts of love" such as good used clothes for the children or better yet, donate children's multi-vitamins and other nutritious supplements to help them grow healthy, happy, and with all the needed nutrients to develop with a good start.

Help us bring a healthy meal to hundred of Maya children with medically declare mal nutrition! Join our volunteer team today!

To learn how you can become a MFIL volunteer please contact via email: info@yucatanadventure.com.mx and do read our volunteers FAQ.  We have many social volunteer opportunities awaiting you with an open heart; so come and give a gift of love and care to Maya Children in Yucatan, Mexico. 

Hacienda Chichen Resort actively supports our work through the Maya Foundation In Laakeech (in lak' ech) social volunteer civil association and our social work programs, by donating rooming within this green boutique hotel, Yucatan's best Eco-Spa Wellness destination and Mayan Holistic Retreat.  Visit their website to learn more about this lovely Eco-Spa Resort truly committed to Sustainable Tourism and GeoTurism practices in Yucatan, Mexico.

DID YOU KNOW: For many years Mayan Children did not have a proper place to eat a nutritious meal at the Public Health Center in Xcalacoop, like many rural towns in Yucatan, Mexico, Xcalacoop had little support to bring proper public care to its residents and local families. Since 2007, the Maya Foundation In Laakeech  (in lak'ech) a small private civil volunteer association, with no governmental funding, committed its efforts to support the Mayan people and communities with their private founding and volunteer team.

Old Xcalacoop Health Center, YucatanDECEMBER OF 2007, Yucatan Adventure Reported:   The Maya Foundation's volunteer team is currently focusing their efforts to support the Children's Malnutrition Program at the Xcalacoop Health Center near Chichen Itza, Yucatan.  With the collaboration of Hacienda Chichen & Chichen Services, the Xcalacoop Health Center will inaugurate a brand new building in 2008.  Keep checking back for updates!  Our recent efforts have helped repair the dilapidated facility (depicted left) so that they can continue to function and serve the community, while we await the building of a New Nutrition Center (this article's top photo).

   Yucatan Adventure Volunteer Team congratulates all those involved in the creation of the Maya Children Nutrition Program and the building of the new center.  If you wish to support our efforts, please contact us via email to info@yucatanadventure.com.mx

Contact us now to request articles you would like to read in our website.

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Sustainable Tourism Trends in Yucatan
A WORD ABOUT OUR ACTIVE SPONSOR: HACIENDA CHICHEN

    Long before the "sustainable tourism" term began to catch momentum or even Geo-tourism as National Geographic's editor tag the trend, Hacienda Chichen Resort has been practicing such ideal way of blending ecological care with social support with respect for the Maya cultural legacy in their region. 

Yucatan's Wildlife:  Our World, Our Mission
protecting Yucatan's fauna (indigenous animals)

Mammals   Birds   Reptiles
.
Butterfiles   Flying Insects    Spiders / Mantis

We hope you find our Online Volunteer Magazine's articles interesting and full of learning fun.  Yucatan Adventure welcomes article, news, travel contributions, and ideas on how to support the Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. efforts to help the Mayan Communities nearby Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.

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MAYA PEOPLE HELPING THEIR COMMUNITIES: 

Mayan Chef at Hacienda Chichen, Gourmet Eating at Chichen ItzaName: Josue Cime
Profession:  Executive Chef - Hacienda Chichen
Volunteer Social Input: Cooking Trainning Program and Job Opportunity Development for the Maya Foundation In Laakeech (in lak' ech)
Mayan Village where he lives: Kahua, Yucatan, Mexico

    “We all enjoy helping and making a small difference in our communities, it is rewarding to give our time, share our vision and dedicate our efforts to help improve our public schools, health centers and other local community needs,” explains  Executive Chef Josue Cime, an indigenous Maya that has stepped up the professional latter with great success.  Chef Josue Cime and the owners of Hacienda Chichen have joined their efforts to create training and learning opportunities for young adults; the hotel’s kitchen is like a great workshop with a small young team that he personally teaches and trains.  "Helping this young local Maya people develop many skills in the art of cooking Maya cuisine and Fusion gourmet entrees is a great challenge and honor," he said.  He enjoys the challenge and has his heart set in helping these young adults increase their job opportunities within the growing hospitality industry.

  Now, Chef Josue Cime and co-chef Saturnino will be helping the New Nutrition Center's Meal Planning and Healthy Cooking within a low budget for mothers and young adult females wishing to learn the art of cooking healthy economic meals for their families.  The Nutrition Cooking Classes will be held in October after Placido Domingo's Concert to be celebrated October 4th in Chichen Itza's famous Maya temples and archaeological site.  For more information about the concert please contact www.chichenservices.com

                      Mayan Cooking Statt at Hacienda Chichen -  Chef Josue Cime and his Cooking Staff

       With Chichen Itza new title as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, business is not as usual.  Demand for fine gourmet food service is growing in the region and the Hacienda Chichen catering reputation has grown to be the best Maya and Fusion Gourmet Cuisine served in all Chichen Itza.  Chef Josue Cime has two senior cooks, Saturnino and Florentino, both help him with the great responsibilities encounter in running a boutique hotel kitchen while teaching and training the young apprentices he has selected to be his first in the job cooking-workshop.  We praise his dedication and support he brings to his community young adults and hope his example is followed by other skilful professionals.  Mayan Cuisinne - Hacienda Chichen's Gourmet Menu

Visit our free recipes article:

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Mayan Cooking

For further information about the Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. please contact us info@yucatanadventure.com.mx or
call our US toll free #  813 435  6904

Want to visit Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico?                      
Book your stay at Hacienda Chichen, a true example of Responsible Tourism in Yucatan.

 

We invite you to contact us requesting articles you would like to read in our website.

 

We thank  Geotourism Challenge for Sustaining the Future of Destinations, where the Maya Foundation In Laakeech NGO and the Hacienda Chichen sustainable tourism vision were featured as examples of unique Geo-Sustainable innovating visionaries. Program sponsored by National Geographic and Ashoka's Changemakers.

 

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SUSTAINABLE TOURISM TRENDS IN YUCATAN
Yucatan Adventure article by Sarah M. Levin

August 2008

Update March 2009, May 2010, June 2012, April 2014, Aug.2016
 

 

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