Thanks to the
Geotourism
Challenge 2009 for Sustaining the Future of Destinations,
sponsored by National Geographic and Ashoka's Changemakers,
where our social sustainable commitment were featured as part of the
innovating travel efforts worldwide.
Contact us to be a volunteer for:
the Maya Foundation In Laakeech NGO. sustainable mission and the
Hacienda Chichen sustainable tourism
vision.
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.
"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
did the labor with great care and pride; for each hour paid, the staff decided
to donated an hour of their free time. "This experience taught our staff to give
freely to those in need, and to do so for the joy of caring" said Mrs. Belisa
Barbachano who owns the hotel and an active donor to the Maya Foundation In
Laakeech social 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.
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.
"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 in his
words, "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.
Indeed,
most of the Maya Foundation In Laakeech (in lak' ech) volunteer labor-work
was done by
the staff of the Hacienda Chichen. They have learned the pride and
joy that comes from freely giving of oneself to support and care for
needs of families and residents 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 and at the hotel after work hours.
This year, four volunteers have helped the English as a second language
summer program.
"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.
2010 Update: Our Mayan Children Nutrition
Centers will be featuring new Nutritional and Healthy Cooking
Classes this summer with new low budget, high nutrition and flavor
recipes to integrate "old nutritional produces from the jungle and
rural homes' backyard trees and herbs." We are all very
excited with this new approach to include "natural home ingredients"
to the rural families healthy food choices that 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!
Check
this report on Maya Nut
Please take a minute to visitGeotourism
Challenge 2009 for Sustaining the Future of Destinations,where you will find the Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. nominated
entry in conjunction with the Hacienda Chichen sustainable tourism
vision, this unique project competition is sponsored by National
Geographic and Ashoka's Changemakers.
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.
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.
DECEMBER 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
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. One of the first social programs sponsored
by the hotel owner was gear to certified interested staff members as
Bird-watching Local Guides, Mrs. Barbara McKinnon conducted a series of
workshops to that end; since then, Bibiano and Jose Santos are
successfully guiding various Nature Tours and Birdwatching groups at the
Hacienda Chichen Bird Refuge and Maya Jungle Reserve. Many
individual programs, all gear to help the Maya people find jobs and new
economic opportunities, have been sponsored to
help the Maya families learn the art of giving and sharing; thus,
empowering the community sense of pride and self-reliance rather than to
continue the ill saga of waiting for election times so politicians give
out of their desire to win official power.
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.
Back to Top
MAYA PEOPLE HELPING THEIR COMMUNITIES:
Name:
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
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.
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
We thankGeotourism
Challenge 2009 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.
Back to Top
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM TRENDS IN
YUCATAN
Yucatan Adventure
article by Sarah M. Levin
