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A few years ago, when Hacienda Chichen and Yaxkin Spa owners started formally to help support the Maya communities nearby Chichen Itza, Yucatan, they had no idea where this commitment would take them. Now, they know that their desire to open opportunities that bring education, social support and health care are but a fraction of what they wish to do in the future as part of the Maya Foundation In Láakeech, created to give a formal presence to their social and ecological programs and projects. "We truly enjoy helping people” says Jose Tamay, a well spoken Mayan Healer that speaks Yucatan Maya, Spanish and English; an active member in the Maya Foundation In Láakeech A.C Board of Trustees, who works at Hacienda Chichen as its Guests Service Director. Long before the "sustainable tourism" term began to catch momentum or even Geo-tourism as National Geographic editor tag the trend, the Hacienda Chichen has been practicing such ideal way of blending ecological care with social support and 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 in an informal manner to help avoid local activities involving deforestation and ecological damage such as is the case of "craft souvenirs for tourists" sold at side street vending stands. "When we started this venture, we were a handful of social volunteers that understood the need to create job opportunities and alternative economic support to the small villages nearby Chichen Itza," says Mrs. Belisa Barbachano when asked about her social volunteer work, "there is still a great social need to support the Maya children health and education; another important need is to protect the environment from the massive wood demanded created by craft souvenir carvers which seems to be the faster grown activity for locals that sale them to tourists in this area; but such activity is damaging and the region is getting devastated and deforested in a rapid manner." Mr. Bruce Gordon knows this issue well, he has been reforesting Chichen Itza's private land areas for over four years now, "Without alternative job skills, local residents are over cutting hardwoods in this region at a rate that is increasing, a prompt change of income avenues is needed; otherwise, this area will be in serious ecological danger." That is way the volunteer team of the Maya Foundation In Láakech are always supporting community business oriented endeavors such as the Yodzonot Cenote Eco-Park. "Ten months ago, we found a Mayan female group working hard to create a eco-friendly park at Yodzonot Cenote; these females had a strong commitment and great faith that somehow their work was to pay off," Ms. Isabel Gutierrez remembers and smiles, "we promise these females to help and support their interests by marketing their project to the travel industry." The volunteers' broadcasting of the Yodzonot females caught interest, with the help of Yucatan Adventure web article, Yucatan Today's editor support and Yucatan Living webmaster, the story got spread to others, including International media, travel websites and tour agents. Nowadays, Yodzonot cenote is well known and visited, "we feel happy to have contributed to their success with our token of loving help” says Mrs. Beatriz Correa who helped start Yucatan Adventure's online magazine and who conducts a Maya Holistic Training Program for young adult females in Yaxkin Spa at Chichen Itza. “Now we have the Maya Foundation In Lákech A.C. also spell Láakeech, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to help many good Maya people achieve their goals and dreams. Travelers, and visitors alike, enjoy participating in our social work programs; they feel happy to help with their donations and small gifts of love as we call their packed old clothes brought to help the poor Maya families in this region,” explains Magaly Pech Montes, Toh Boutique Supervisor and a young Mayan mother that studies computer skills and English courses to increase her education level and job opportunities; she expressed her desire to become Toh Boutique Administrator and to continue working in the organization that has helped her find opportunities to grow and reach her dreams. These are some of the personal successful stories we wish to share with you:
Name:
Jose Luis Pech Yam A highly dedicated and bright executive with an impressive achievement-oriented mind, Jose Luis has stepped up the professional latter with great success and steadfastness. His well-manner personality and inner commitment to work hard, study and acquire new skills, have help him excel and become a local professional role-model. Today, Jose Luis enjoys a well deserve professional executive status within the Hacienda Chichen & Yaxkin Spa's Administration. He has been working at the Hacienda Chichen since 2003, first as a front desk clerk, then as an assistant to the administrator, and now he heads the accounting department and is the Hotel's Resident Manager. "Meeting my goals and dreams required great self-discipline and a responsible team-work attitude," he told us. Jose Luis exudes self-confidence and poise as he explains how he has focus on learning self-taught skills and undertaken hard-core self-trained job commitments, "I continue stretching my education and learning goals to include a wider horizon of professional opportunities in my life;" he adds "Currently, I am at the end of my Tour Guide professional training and plan to continue my education by studying Russian," a tourist market that has gain interest in Mexico's hospitality industry.
Interested in his ancestor's Maya
Cultural heritage, Jose Luis plans to study more
Name:
Jessica Tamay
An independent small hair-salon owner in her
village, Jessica at 22 years old is our youngest indigenous
Mayan professional that has achieved a successful career and met many of
her personal dreams. She started working at Yaxkin Spa over a year
ago to gain true understanding of her Maya cultural roots, traditional
healing arts and holistic beauty care. Now, Jessica is Yaxkin
Spa's supervisor and enjoys the rewards of her education efforts and
commitment to improve her family's lifestyle. " I help my family,
caring for my younger sisters" she told us, "I would like them to have
more opportunities that I did when growing up and help them achieve
their own dreams." She is a great role-model to other motivated
single females in her town; independent, committed and serene, with a
gentle character and a great loving heart, she continues taking
responsible choices to improve her lifestyle and that of her smaller
sisters.
"It has been a great opportunity for me to work under Mrs. Beatriz Correa, Yaxkin Spa Ix-Men and Mayan Senior Holisitc Healer; I have enjoy learning the holistic traditions of Maya healing care and become a Spa therapist under her guidance. She is truly gifted and insightful as a holistic healer and has taught me many skills and techniques that have enhanced my education and understanding of health and equilibrium." She is planning an arts & crafts program this summer as part of the Maya Foundation In Lákech social volunteer activities in her town. Soon, she will start training other young Mayan young females as Maya Spa therapists.
Wearing with pride her attractive "Terno," a regional gala hand-embroider dress, Magaly tells us about her active volunteer commitment with the Maya Foundation In Láakeech: "It pleases me to help the children of our communities and to help bring them opportunities many of us lacked as we grew," she says with a great smile. She is a highly active fundraising participant and donor, volunteering a lot of her time to run Toh Boutique and to create colorful "rebozos" sold there, profits help the Mayan Children Nutrition Program. A self-motivated indigenous Mayan young mother, Magaly works hard and takes care of her household financial responsibilities with great success. She understands the power of faith and the importance of what a loving support can bring to a young soul; thus, she is whole hearty dedicated to her son's welfare and education as much as to improve her own education and professional skills. "My life has brought me challenges and opportunities to grow and improve myself, some of them have been hard to bare," she then adds: "I have learned to be strong and to believe in myself; I am blessed with the support and encouragement of those that love me and wish to see me succeed and happy." She tells us that when she started working at Toh Boutique four years ago, she lacked the professional skills and education the job required. With a sweet smile she told us: "Thanks to Mrs. Belisa Barbachano's encouragement and support, I have faced many personal and professional challenges with great courage and faith." Committed and responsible, she takes great pride in her career achievements and joy in her work as a Mayan Spa Therapist. She continues her computer and English classes on Sundays, and assist as a volunteer with Toh Boutique's sales and book-keeping. Today, she is a living example of positive action and professional excellence.
“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. Now, 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.
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.
Visit our free recipes article
▫
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?
View the Hacienda Chichen's
website to confirm your stay. Yucatan Adventure article by Sarah M. Levin February 2008 Updated March 2008 |
in
depth the archaeological rich context of Chichen Itza and help local
younger generations acquire a greater understanding of the vast Mayan
cultural traditions. "Our Mayan rural towns do not offer higher
education programs and opportunities. In Piste, seldom we find
professional programs; and when offered, only a few of us who can afford
them," he explains, "that is why I support the volunteer social work
offered by the Maya Foundation In Laakeech. Increase volunteer and
low-budget education opportunities will help Maya people learn computer,
foreign languages and other job related skills. Today, no other
institution is catering to this important community need; our volunteer
nutrition and education programs are essential to help rural children
achieve a better future." 
Name:
Magaly Pech Montes
Name:
