The Summer rains have begun, and it is a quieter season in beautiful San Miguel de Allende. However, the rains don’t stop the work of Mujeres en Cambio. The next distributions of the becas (scholarships) will occur on June 17 and 18 at the Instituto de Allende.
Becas Distribution and Seminar
Earlier this Spring, 112 secundaria and prepa girls and 36 university students received becas. And as part of our mission to empower our students, the MeC Board presented one of our series of planned semi-annual educational seminars to teach skills for successful living. There was a great turnout for both days of the Spring seminars.
One of the seminar speakers, Kali Hewitt-Blackie, RP, MA, CMHP, presented a Self Defense Workshop. She explained the meaning of self-defense, and taught various relaxation and grounding techniques. Then she led the group in exercises to develop situational awareness and how to break a hold if someone grabs them.
The second work-shop of the seminar was conducted by Paula Anaya Lafforge, psychologist. It focused on strategies for self-care. Paula Anaya shared tools that will benefit the girls throughout life, promoting mental health and emotional management for the benefit of self, family, and community.
New Volunteer
A new volunteer, Natalia Delgado, was introduced at the last MeC Board meeting. Natalia is a marketing specialist who will be working closely with Marie Toler Raney, our web developer. Natalia is skilled with using social media platforms. In recent strategic planning meetings, the MeC Board has identified greater use of such platforms as a good way to spread updates about our work and assist in fund raising. Natalia is inspired by the work of MeC and will be a great asset. Welcome Natalia!
Our Gala Birthday
Finally, the compliments keep on coming about the wonderful 30th Anniversary Gala celebrated this past March. The event was attended by 176 people at the spectacular Instituto de Allende. Christine Yannitelli and her amazing crew not only created a fitting commemoration of our years of service they raised a significant part of this year’s budget. Especially successful was the silent auction, chaired by Patricia Sabolsky and her helpers. Events Co-chair, Jo Cartwright, volunteers: Lulu Lum, Donna Steward, Katherine Lebold, and many others collected art, cookbooks written by local chefs, clothing, and gift certificates for dinners, hotels, and tours. Thanks to their hard work, the silent auction was a very successful big fund-raising activity. Mil gracias!!
President, Barbara Salazar,
and Events Committee volunteer, Lulu Lum
Our Girls Need Your Donations
So that’s what we have done this summer so far, and we will keep working to support the students for the rest of the summer. We ask that you do your part too to help our wonderful girls and consider making a donation for the coming school year.
Thank you from all of us!
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