Donors Be Aware

During my four-year stint in Yelapa, I have met, greeted, chatted and dined with countless visitors to our rural Mexican village. At some point in casual conversation, the topic will fall to giving/donating to the community. While outwardly, Yelapa presents as a beautiful, time-forgotten, leisure locale along the coastline of Banderas Bay, there are areas of need. These "areas" include health, the environment and education.

Yelapa is home to a beautiful health clinic, which also serves neighboring communities. As a growing population requires expanded health services, the community owned clinic finds itself in need of greater quantities of medical consumables as well as diagnostic equipment. Long-term visitors and locals alike have been abundantly charitable. The benefits of such charity are identifiable and far-reaching throughout the communities. Their services are highlighted on the Face Book page Centro de Salud-Yelapa.

Yelapa offers children a pre-k thru high school educational opportunity. Funding beyond the providing of basic brick and mortar is scarce. Essential student supplies are always in demand. Aline Shapiro, a trusted, long-term visitor, together with a cadre of selfless volunteers, converted a spare classroom at the elementary school into a library/media center for the children. These ladies now bring the gift of literature and so much more to the next generation of Yelapans. The benefits to the population served are immediate and identifiable. Age appropriate mono-lingual (Spanish) or bi-lingual (English/Spanish) books are welcomed. Amazon gift certificates are easily converted into needed supplies. The Face Book page is Biblioteca Yelapa.

Yelapa outwardly offers visitors the appearance of a pristine bay defined by the lush jungle rising above the high tide level. Look just beyond this starting point and you will determine that the "pristineness" is subject to daily assault and degradation. Gray water is directed into the path of the El Tuito River from the time it begins its flow through the mountains south of us. It treks towards and ultimately joins Yelapa Bay. Waste water lines exit the majority of our houses sending pollution into streams or directly into the bay. Septic systems built decades ago to service a single dwelling, now accept effluence from the three or more units built above the original structure. Candy wrappers, chip bags, small plastic juice containers line our paths having been discarded earlier by little hands of children consuming empty calories and nutritionally void snacks. Local families/markets strategically display such items along the path to/from school. No money required here, other than early education as to healthy diet, and environmental sustainability.

A word/s regarding donor caution; a well-intentioned visitor is likely to be exposed to other soft requests for donations. These range from assistance with medical bills to supporting some personal cause. Do your homework. Research whether your contribution will benefit one individual or many. In most cases, avoid giving cash. It cannot be tracked and has proven ripe for abuse in the past. Such organizations as Rotary International operate a Sister City Program. One such relationship exists in Boca de Tamatlan. In reference to assisting an individual with their medical bills, know the person either directly or through someone you trust completely. If you choose to assist, contribute in a manner that is comfortable to you, and to someone whom you trust.

"There is no knowledge which is not power." Just a thought.

Adventures with Teo/Aventuras con Teo

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Gracias--Yelapa Memo