As part of the Resource Hub Project activities in Mexico, Equitable Origin (EO) and the Red Indígena de Turismo de México Asociación Civil (RITA) signed a Cooperation Agreement in July 2020. The agreement outlines five workstreams to help strengthen Indigenous rights in Mexico.
1. Promote and implement the Resource Hub in Mexico.
2. Develop virtual courses to strengthen Indigenous rights.
3. Prepare and distribute communication materials to provide relevant and up-to-date information on Indigenous rights.
4. Improve access to the internet and connectivity in rural settings.
5. Establish a network of experts to support communities.
Currently, both organizations are working on Initiative 1 to “promote and implement the Resource Hub in Mexico.”
To do so, during the last quarter of 2020, Equitable Origin and RITA participated in an online meeting with RITA’s Council of Delegates and RITA’s administrative team in November. At the convening, 12 of the 15 delegates who represent the General Assembly of RITA, were briefed on the Resource Hub project. Local collective forms were discussed for the Hub’s implementation around Mexico. The key takeaways from the meeting were:
- The Resource Hub Platform is necessary and important to help strengthen indigenous rights and Peoples in Mexico.
- The platform presents a unique opportunity to enable new forms of advocacy.
- The Platform allows Indigenous Peoples in Mexico to connect with other Indigenous communities in the Americas and the world.
Unanimously, the implementation of the Resource Hub Project in México was approved by the group of delegates.
Computer Center – Teotihuacan, State of Mexico
As part of Initiative 4, to “improve access to the internet and connectivity in rural settings”, Equitable Origin is supporting RITA’s initiative to establish a Community Technology Training Center in Teotihuacan, located in the State of Mexico.
Equitable Origin and RITA visited Teotihuacan to meet with the surrounding communities and analyze the existing infrastructure for the Computer Center. The Computer Center would be set up in the community of San Francisco Mazapa, a strategic location where communities and Indigenous organizations often visit. Setting up a Computer Center in this area would allow several surrounding and out-of-state communities to gain access to the internet, information and assist e-learning modules.
The project activities and goals have been well-received and both organizations will continue to work on the project components throughout 2021.
By: Bruno Taborga (Equitable Origin’s Program Coordinator).
You must be logged in to post a comment.