“Guiding the transformation” [] Jóvenes Adelante

“Guiding the transformation” – Jóvenes Adelante Studen on the Relationship of the people with the territory of Turícuaro.

Published September 2, 2022

By Norma Alvarez Baeza

Imagine that an entire community becomes conscience of their relationship with the territory they inhabit, with the environment, the distribution of land, the contamination of their water and land! By making it conscious they no longer see it solely as “their traditions,” but as a reality with the possibility of change; they identify community problems and can replace a legacy of problems to future generations with one of sustainability.

This may be possible in the Purépecha community of “Turícuaro,” a town in the state of Michoacán, MX, where our scholarship student Mariano Monzón, together with a group of classmates from the Social Studies and Local Management department at Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Morelia, UNAM, began a journey with the academic task of carrying out a social diagnosis of the community. They applied a participatory methodology with the community, paying special attention to cultural identity, problems and needs.

This team of students began with pre-diagnostic research. They documented demographic, social and political issues in Turícuaro. Mariano commented that this town has a communal government, meaning that its political structure is governed by counselors and a general assembly conformed by adult members of the community. They have access to state resources and manage them collectively.

The community assessment consisted of generating spaces for meetings and reflection. The students conducted interviews, focus groups and workshops, totaling 64 activities at the end of the process. They worked with inhabitants of different ages and occupations in the community. The young people of Turícuaro stood out for their involvement and willingness, as well as their vision of the problems, how they affect them and the alternatives to solve them. Mariano and his team see a great potential for the youth to work on proposals to face the problems of Turícuaro, to later present them formally to the counselors and assembly, and this way open the historical gap of their participation. Mariano points out that youth participation in community decision-making is limited. However speaking both Purépecha and Spanish, they serve as a communication bridge between the adults and the work team.

Mariano comments: “The project is in its initial phase, and is expected to be completed in December. I feel excited that my knowledge is not just staying on paper – it is being applied and useful and will improve living conditions, going beyond theoretical conclusions. And building spaces for youth to express themselves, get involved and create support networks in the political life of their community is very satisfying. Guide the transformation moves me in many ways on a personal and professional level.”

Mariano, like many Jóvenes Adelante students and graduate has found his vocation and is being an agent of change. Students like him are waiting for an opportunity to study a university career that will allow them to fulfill their professional dreams. Learn about the different ways to support them at www.jovenesadelante.org.

Jóvenes Adelante  provides scholarships and other essential support to young Mexican university students facing economic adversity so that they may acquire the academic and life skills necessary to foster positive social and economic change in their society. Since 2001 Jóvenes Adelante has helped nearly 200 students obtain university degrees. Our standards are high. Through a rigorous screening process – including two interviews, one with the applicant’s family – the brightest and most financially challenged students are identified and assessed. Successful applicants are funded for the entirety of their university studies (four or five years).