A few years ago, when
Hacienda Chichen and Yaxkin Spa owners started formally
helping with social supports the Maya communities
nearby Chichen Itza, Yucatan,
especially caring for Mayan children's basic needs, they had no idea
where this commitment would take them. Nowadays, they know that their desire to
bring opportunities to support rural education, community health care,
and preserve Mayan traditions are but
a fraction of what they wish to do in the future
for the benefit of rural Mayan people.
Thus, the
Maya Foundation
In Láakeech
was
created giving a formal legal
presence to their social volunteer work ventures
and ecological programs.
"We truly enjoy helping people” says Jose,
a well spoken Mayan Healer that speaks Maya, Spanish and English and
part of the Maya Foundation In Láakeech Board of Trustees. "It is so wonderful to
see the good we have brought to Mayan children's lives, we are truly
making a difference by giving hope," adds Chef Josue Cime, he has truly embraced his commitment to social care.
Long before the "sustainable tourism" term began to catch momentum or
even Geo-tourism as National Geographic's 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
Bird-watching 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
(flora and
fauna) 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.
Please take a minute to
read about our Mayan Children
Nutrition Center
and do visit
Geotourism Challenge for Sustaining the
Future of Destinations,where you will find the Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. nominated
entry in conjunction with the Hacienda Chichen sustainable tourism
vision, this unique project competition is sponsored by National
Geographic and Ashoka's Changemakers.
A NOTE ABOUT: "Our
Volunteer Program" We are more than grateful to the people that
have taken the time and care to volunteer their job-related skills to
improve the life of many young adult Maya people.
The ESL
volunteer program has been truly successfully running
this year, if you wish to participate
please read our volunteering FAQ. These are a few of our MFIL
volunteer's comments and experiences:
Stephanie
Davies, (New
York). A dear friend of the Maya Foundation Laakeech and a truly
dedicated English Teacher
(ESL). Has volunteer several times
for the MFIL ESL program. During her many visits she has won the
hearts of many Mayan people. Her support is invaluable to the
success of the MFIL social work and and local public schools.
Stephanie Davies is
a bright freelance writer based in New York, USA. Her articles are
featured in
Organic Spa Magazine and travel sites.
"Generosity.
If I had to choose one word to describe the spirit of Hacienda
Chichen it would be this. "
"Last year I returned to the
Hacienda Chichen as a volunteer to teach English, and it was
then that I began to gain some understanding of the magic I had
felt. The Maya Foundation does not shout its achievements, though
they are many. But the more time I spent there, and listened to
people, and looked, the more I came to see that its commitment to
supporting the local Mayan communities and their environment is
absolutely integral to its operations—and that this spirit of
support and respect is part of what makes the atmosphere so
magical."
by
Stephanie Davis.
Name:
Lahnee Thomas Name: Pablo Pavlovech Volunteer Program: ESL Volunteer Teachers
Born in Australia, Lahnee
came with her fiancé Pablo to volunteer as ESL teachers to support the
Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. social programs, while they were
working on various writing and photo shooting ideas for various
traveling articles. They enjoy it so much that both return to help us
again for a few weeks and now are active members of our permanent
volunteer team! Thanks to both, our ESL teaching volunteer programs will
have a greater impact in children's life.
Her enthusiasm and good
nature has won her many children's hearts and ours. Read her own
volunteer experience while teaching at Xcalacoop Elementary Public
School during this 2009 Spring
here. She and Pablo will be returning this summer and fall to
continue their volunteer and support. Their ideas and experience
has helped us developed a better volunteer brief information kit gear to
answer frequent ask questions to people that may wish to volunteer
sharing their skills and time in any of our volunteer workshops and
programs. Pablo and Lahnee care and loving support has brought
many smiles in the faces of Mayan children as they both teach ESL to
them, their volunteer time has contributed to the young Maya students
education and future welfare.
Following are a few of
Pablo's wonderful photographs
of their ESL volunteer teaching
experience:
Name:
Daniela Masaro Volunteer Program: English as a Second Language (ESL)
I
was both honored and pleased to be the first Volunteer ESL Teacher
with the Maya Foundation In Laakeech this past June at Hacienda
Chichen. Upon arrival I was awed by the stunning beauty of the
grounds and was happy to learn firsthand how well managed the land
was by people who truly care for the environment: Yucatan's
flora
and
fauna.
My students, although shy at first, were very eager to learn. Not
only were they a pleasure to teach but they helped me practice my
Spanish and taught me a few Mayan words and phrases in return. The
entire staff at
Hacienda Chichen was extremely welcoming and kind
and I was made to feel like part of a special extended family. Belisa was so delightful and funny and I can't help but smile and
giggle to myself every time I think of her hilarious stories and
contagious laughter. I was left with beautiful memories and stories
of my own to share back home.
I am so grateful to Dona Beatriz and Dona Venancia for sharing their
knowledge of
Mayan medicine with me. Learning about the local
medicinal plants and the
traditional Mayan therapies from more than
just books was such a gift and I feel so blessed to have had this
opportunity. I was inspired and encouraged to continue my studies
and to deepen and expand my own holistic training and practice.
I can't wait to return to my new family and friends and to learn
about the exciting new developments the foundation is creating,
specially to know more about the
Maya Children
Nutrition Center's activities. I
hope many more people will take advantage of this wonderful
opportunity and
become a volunteer with the Maya Foundation In Laakeech which helps make a difference in the lives of so many,
including my own.
Name:Magaly Pech Montes Profession:
Toh Boutique Supervisor & Maya Holistic Healer at Yaxkin Spa Volunteer Input: MFIL Fundraising V. Team Her Mayan Village: Libre Union, Yucatan,
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. Magaly 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
our Mayan Children Nutrition.
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.
Name: Belen Angulo de Iuit Profession: General Cashier Hacienda Chichen Volunteer Input:
Nutrition Program Administrator Mayan Town where she was born:
Seye, Yucatan, Mexico
An independent, responsible, professional
Mayan, Belen has join our team since December 2007; she began as the
executive assistant to the Hacienda Chichen's General Manager and few months after, she was
promoted and became the PECP General Cashier. Her smarts,
honesty, dedication, commitment to excel, and great organization skills,
have won her the admiration and respect of everyone in our team.
Thanks to the support of the Hacienda Chichen's owners and a Job Premium Grant
given by the Maya Foundation Board of Trustees, this
young married female started her bachelor studies in
accounting in 2009 and graduated in June 2012 with Top Honors, # 1 in
her class generation! Congratulations.
Working for PECP and coordinating payments for the
Maya Foundation In Laakeech nutrition and education programs, such
as the
Xcalacoop and
Xcopteil Clinics,
are
among the tasks Belen does with great joy, "I started working
as part of this unusual team, where self job-commitments and challenges are
expected from all executives," she softly smiles and continues, "it took
me a few weeks to adapt to the idea that daily supervision of my work
was not intended; here, the focus is on performance and financial control
results." She adds, "we all work in an independent manner, contacting
our boss or team group as needed; most of the time by phone or Internet"
then she explains, "rather than controlling each workers' scheduled and
work time, Mrs. Belisa Barbachano focus her approval of each worker
directly on personal performance, this has allowed me to distribute my
time to fit all my personal and professional goals in a manner that no
other company would have allowed me. For that and many other supporting
actions on her part, I am very grateful." Belen has a bright future in PECP where she has found a truly supportive labor ambiance to succeed
and grown professionally, her example is a beacon of joy to all of us.
Name:
Manuela de Jesus Moo Cocoom Profession: Mayan Spa Healer, Yaxkin Spa Volunteer Social Input: Mayan medicine. Mayan Village where she lives:
Xcalacoop, Yucatan, Mexico
Manuela is an
indigenous Mayan Healer and mother of four children, as a single
parent she has faced
many difficulties with grace and spiritual strenght. She began
working at Yaxkin Spa where she has found not only a friendly
supportive ambiance but the opportunities to grow professionally and
personally. A truly dedicated student of Mayan Healing Arts,
Manuela has had the loving support and guidance of
Senior J-Men Don Bartolome Poot and
Ix'men
Beatriz; both teachers of Mayan holistic healing
and shamanic Mayan traditions.
"Being
a single parent of four is very tough but with the help of God, family,
and people like Mrs. Beatriz and my co-workers, I have found
many moments to be grateful and have embraced my single motherhood
with joy, hope and faith;" says Manuela who now is one of the most experience
and highly educated Mayan Holistic therapist and young Ix-Men (Mayan
shaman female) at Yaxkin Spa. She has dedicated her work to the
Mayan Herbal Healing Arts and Rituals; today, she continues to study
Mayan Medicinal Plants and Healing traditions, cataloging many of
the wonderful healing plants found at Hacienda Chichen's
Mayan Jungle Reserve.
"The
past two years I have studied hard and practice daily all the
wonderful ancient healing methods
and holistic Mayan traditions," she says with a wide
smile, "herbal medicine is a gift of Mother Nature and the Spiritual
Realm," she adds. She has
planted a Mayan botanical garden
at her new home in Xcalacoop; "My work
is filled with positive healing energy, I am honored to be a Mayan
healer and a loving mother," she tells us as we visit her at home.
"I do volunteer at MFIL Toh Boutique, its profits help many Mayan rural children nutrition and education
as well as support rural families.
Name:
Marcela Noh Hau Profession: Yaxkin Spa Maya Healer Volunteers: Mayan art workshops Mayan Village where she lives: Yodzonot, Yucatan, Mexico
An independent Mayan Healer and mother,
a great role-model to other motivated females in
her town; caring, committed, and serene, Marcela has a gentle
character and a great "holistic healing" gift she continues taking
responsible choices to improve her lifestyle and that of her
small
daughter.
Working at
Yaxkin Spa has helped her meet many of
her personal dreams and to continue studying about her
Maya cultural
roots. As a child, Marcela was taught Mayan as her first language, then
she learned Spanish; later on, a elder Mayan healer started her in the
herbal healing arts and Mayan prayers. As a young adult, Marcela
began her formal training as a Mayan Holistic Healer under the guidance
of Mrs. B. Nowadays, she excels as a Mayan healer and
holistic beauty care therapist. At Yaxkin Spa, she enjoys the rewards of her
professional
commitment which have improved her personal life and economic greatly.
"At Yaxkin Spa, I have found many opportunities to
grow professionally and to achieve economical independence; for a rural
woman like me, these were dreams I was not sure I could reach," she
smiles and adds, "It has been
a great
opportunity for me to
work under Mrs. Beatriz," she is Yaxkin Spa Ix-Men and Mayan Senior
Holistic Healer; then Marcela adds with a warm smile, "She is truly
gifted and insightful; I am grateful for all the many skills and
techniques she has taught me that have enhanced my education and
work." Indeed, Mrs. Beatriz
shares her holistic healing skills with joy and a caring
heart.
Name: Luis Esteban Iuit Dzib (left) Profession: PECP Purchasing Coordinator Volunteer Input: MFIL Food Coordinator. Mayan Town where he was born: Seye, Yucatan
Luis E. Iuit and his assistant worked since their late teen
years with the owners of PECP with a high dedicated service attitude and always eager to help.
Their commitment to work in a polite responsible manner helped them earn
the respect of their co-workers and the Maya Foundation Board of Trustees
who have entrusted
them with the purchasing and delivery of our nutrition produces send
every fifteen days to the
Nutrition Clinics.
Luis
Esteban Iuit is a smart, self-trained, hard working
Mayan young adult, that has accomplished many of
his personal goals and dreams. At the age of 23, he became the
PECP Purchasing Agent. Luis has learned
to master many job related skills including using professional
computer programs, book-keeping and earning his heavy-weight truck driving-license. "Working with Mr. Bruce Gordon has given me the opportunity to learn many property management skills, including some
construction related handy-man work," Luis tells us with a friendly
smile. "Luis is always in a good mood, friendly and very eager to cooperate with
all of us," says Juan, who is his assistant and brother-in-law; both
young Mayan adults have worked together since their teen years. Learning
to cope with the demands of having a family, growing professionally,
continuing their responsibilities in PECP Purchasing Department,
plus helping us by
volunteering for the MFIL Nutrition Program, a task they take with
great joy and intense dedication.
Maya Shaman J'Men Jose Tamay
closed the Maya Male Energy Cycle on November 11, 2011 (11.11.11) by
celebrating the sacred Maya Saka ceremony and to prepare our
collective spiritual awakening to the New Light Cycle that will
start December 22, 2011 and open the rebirth of the Mayan Female
Energy Cycle that will lead us in 2012.
In August 2008, Jose represented the Maya Foundation In Laakeech in the 8th
International Mayan Encounter dedicated preserve the
Maya Culture &
Traditions, specially the language and rituals, this three day
convention was held in Jolom Konob'(known as Santa
Eulalia in Guatemala). Jose worked since
his late teen
years at
Hacienda Chichen with a
high dedicated service attitude and personal
commitment to learn the traditional
Mayan
holistic Cosmovision of his ancestors.
View interview "From the Pier"
Name:
Josue Cime Tuz Profession: Maya Chef worked for Hacienda
Chichen Resort Volunteer Social Input: Nutrition Program
Josue retired in Dic. 2014 to run his own bakery after 10 years of
service to the Hacienda Chichen cuisine.
“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 Josue, an indigenous Maya that has
stepped up the professional latter with great success. He and the owners of
Hacienda Chichen 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.
Find Mayan Cuisine recipes at our
Mayan Cooking
For further
information contact The Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. by phone: US toll free # 813 435 6904 or by email to: info@yucatanadventure.com.mx
DID YOU KNOW:The
Geo-tourism
Challenge for Sustaining the Future of Destinations,
featured our NGO the Maya Foundation In Laakeech
and the Hacienda Chichen sustainable innovating tourism vision? This
Geo-Challenge was sponsored by National Geographic and Ashoka's Changemakers.
Name: 
