Category: Rec & Health

Nina Andrade’s Skills Enrich Puerto Palomas and Border Partners

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Border Partners is always expanding its projects in Palomas. In order to do this, we’re continually hiring staff.  Their local expertise allows us to accomplish our goals and fulfill our mission.

Over the last year, we’ve added several new staff members to support us in key areas of development. They have helped us strengthen our accomplishments in supporting mental health, maintaining sustainability, and improving our outreach to senior citizens.

We’ll highlight a few of these new additions in upcoming posts. They’re already hard at work improving lives in Palomas. We think you’ll enjoy getting to know these key people.

Nina Andrade works for Border Partners as a health promoter and as a cook who prepares “meals on wheels” for our senior program.

Nina Andrade

First to take the spotlight is our longest-serving “new” addition at Border Partners. Promotora (health educator) and cook Avelina “Nina” Andrade has served us well. Nina originally hails from Mexico City and has been working with us for about one year.

She cooks the fresh and healthy meals that we deliver daily to seniors across the community of Puerto Palomas. Previously, she worked as a cook in one of the Palomas schools. So, she brings years of experience to the role.

When asked what she likes most about her job, she lists: “the environment, the conviviality, and the rewards of the service we provide to others.”

Nina also appreciates the time her work leaves her to spend time with family. She has four children. Two of them live in the United States and two in Mexico.

Outside of her work with Border Partners, Nina Andrade enjoys spending time caring for her youngest granddaughter. Of course, that means cooking her some delicious meals. And, Nina replicates those great meals for us in Border Partners’ kitchen, as well. 

Irrigation system set to drip in newest greenhouse

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The drip irrigation system feeds water directly to the plants in the soil, allowing for better water usage, less evaporation and water loss, and ultimately improved vegetable production. This conserves natural resources and saves money.

Border Partners staff and volunteers completed our third community greenhouse this week. This one has a drip irrigation system – something we’ve wanted for a long time. The gardening staff rose to the occasion, putting in extra hours to get the greenhouse shell and the raised beds finished in time for the volunteers’ arrival. The volunteers brought supplies and a good plan for the installation.
Fortunately, the weather cooperated: no high winds or intense heat interfered with this construction job.

BIG THANKS are due to many:

  • the generous donors to our “SeedMoney Challenge” fundraising event of November 2021 who funded the materials.
  • Pete Nason, faithful supporter, for his solid knowledge of how drip irrigation systems function.
  • Samuel, our neighbor near the greenhouses who allowed Border Partners to site the greenhouse on his land.
  • Peter Edmunds for his research into the parts needed for the system and how to put them together successfully. And finally –
  • Juan Rascon, our Community Coordinator in Palomas, for master organization and to
  • Border Partners’ competent gardening staff: Joel Carreon, Juan Lares and Jose Luis Munoz for their hard work getting the greenhouse built.

What’s Next?

The gardeners plan to keep careful records of the water use. This will let them compare the new system compared with the traditional hose-watering used in the other two greenhouses. They’ll also track and compare production of vegetables in all the greenhouses to try to quantify the effect of the drip irrigation. From all we have learned, drip irrigation will use less water more efficiently. In our desert climate, it’s very important to conserve water.

Come and visit if you can to see the plants growing. And if you can’t, we’ll keep you posted about how it’s working.

Palomas Senior Citizens Concentrate on Identifying, Managing Emotions

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Jacqueline García Castillo involved participants in a workshop aimed to help isolated senior citizens identify and manage emotions.

In July, with COVID cases decreasing in Palomas, the Health Promoters planned a special workshop for 15 senior citizens in Palomas that they have identified as

Melissa Reyes (L) and Jaqueline García Castillo

isolated. This was the first group meeting that they were able to conduct in this year 2021. Throughout the past year of COVID restrictions, life was particularly difficult for these isolated seniors. To complicate their lives further, many of them have physical limitations, too. Throughout this period of time, the Promoters were able to continue to deliver a hot meal to each senior on each week day. But, they could not hold group meetings due to fears of spreading the COVID virus.

Jaqueline García Castillo came from Casas Grandes, Chihuahua to present a workshop for the group on managing their emotions. The goal was to help these isolated seniors identify and differentiate pleasant and unpleasant emotions and understand how to live with them. Jacqueline’s degrees equipped her very well for the presentation. A practicing psychologist, she has a Masters degree in Psychomotor Skills and Bachelors degree in Psychology.

Positive Response

The seniors responded enthusiastically to the content they learned as well as to Jaqueline’s kind and approachable demeanor. They asked for another session that would help them to manage their loneliness and to feel more self-sufficient. We’ve also invited Jacqueline to return this month for 20 minute individual sessions with these designated seniors.

The Health Promoters are looking for a few people to volunteer to participate in a new Adopt-a-Senior program. If you might be interested, contact Melissa Reyes, Border Partners General Manager, for more details. Email her to inquire.

Adapting to Change and Moving Forward

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Sadly last month, we learned that Border Partners will no longer be able to use the old building that we renovated to serve as our Sports Center for the last five years. It had soccer, basketball and volleyball courts and a children’s playground.

Not one to be discouraged for too long, Peter Edmunds, began to think of ways to enhance the existing sports facilities in Palomas. Since 2015, when the Sports Center opened, various facilities have been added and/or improved. Peter went on a drive through town to visit some of these and think about how Border Partners could enhance them. Here are some of his ideas.

There is a new shade/shelter at Ford Elementary School. To use this sports/play area outside school hours we would have to build fences and gates to isolate the school buildings like we did at the Ramon Espinoza Elementary School. This is a desirable site to improve because it would be the only play/sports facility on the far west side of Palomas. The school in the past has expressed interest in having us build a stage and a soccer field on their property.

This is the high school’s brand new soccer court. It only lacks goals that may be stored elsewhere. It could use some spectator seating. Maybe we could use this when school players are not there?

This is the first swing set we built in Palomas in 2009 at the Pancho Villa Park. It looks tired now and should be replaced. It was the first play equipment in a park in Palomas. It gets used so much that the chains wear through and break. This swing set inspired the town government to build many other play structures at this park.

gym

The gymnasium at the Ramon Espinoza Elementary has been open after school hours for the past four years, with a BP staff person to supervise. There are several additions that would make this a better facility. A climbing wall would be fun! Some lower basketball hoops would please the younger crowd and a large fan or two would help everyone in the heat of the summer.

Three other town parks have some equipment but all could use additions like picnic tables, little kids play areas and upkeep. The Kinders could use better play equipment.

These are just ideas and will require input from town and school officials. Over the years, we have built good relationships in town. Our staff will have input too. Which investments would be most beneficial to the people we try to help? Our Board of Directors will weigh in too. And we will need to do some fundraising. But you just may be hearing more about one or more of these ideas in the future.

Health Promoters Prepare Palomas for COVID-19

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Border Partners’ staff load food supplement boxes for distribution to families in need to strengthen their health and potential resistance to the pandemic.

We have good news: there have been no cases of COVID19 in Palomas (as of June 15). And, it may be, at least in part, due to the work of the Border Partners’ health promoters (promotoras). In March, when the virus became a threat, they quickly changed the focus of their work to helping needy families and vulnerable seniors weather this crisis.

Since then, thanks to the Paso del Norte Foundation and to Border Partners’ generous supporters, the four health promoters, assisted by Juan Rascon, have:

● delivered a box of basic groceries and fresh vegetables, every two weeks to 20 needy families;

● delivered a hot meal, five days each week, to 20 vulnerable seniors;

● offered information about how to avoid contracting the COVID19 virus to the families and the seniors;

● opened their office Monday through Friday from 9 am to 12 pm, to offer screenings for depression and glucose levels and basic information about how to stay healthy during the pandemic, and

● earlier this year, helped the Mexican transit police screen people arriving into Palomas from the U.S.

In addition, they will soon be able to begin distributing masks. So far, this has been a missing piece of their prevention work. Now mask distribution will happen thanks to cooperation among three different groups begun under Border Partners! The women of Palomas OIlcloth Designs have agreed to make 200 masks at their cost. The Mexican nonprofit group, Amistad por Salud sin Fronteras, formed by local people involved with Border Partners agreed to pay for them. The Border Partners promotoras will distribute them!

One of the health promoters in Palomas, Gricelda Loya Loya, describes the great impact all this support makes on just one of those twenty families who receive the grocery supplement box:

One family in need, led by a single mom, holds their supplement box with appreciation and relief.

One of the families is that of “Doña L.” [editor’s note: name withheld]. She’s 70 years old and lives alone with her four grandchildren who are between two and nine years of age. Her situation is sad. She doesn’t have a job to support her grandchildren. And her daughter, the children’s mother, has been missing for two years. Since then, Doña L. has taken care of the children. She collects aluminum cans to sell so she can buy food. Every time we promotoras come to deliver the box of groceries, the children run out to meet us. They’re so happy to receive it. Doña L. thanks us very much for this help.”

Now, the COVID-19 situation has negatively affected her ability to support the grandchildren. She’s unable to find enough aluminum cans on the streets due to the shortages in the food and beverage supply chain. So, we promotoras are very happy to be able to help Doña L.. And, we’re pleased to see that the children so clearly appreciate this help that we bring to their family.”

Border Partners staff display the support that food baskets provide families in need. Their devoted work and the financial backing of our grantors and supporters make this possible.

Hello from the Health Promoters in Palomas!

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promotora group

Palomas health promoters 2020. Back row, L to R:  Juana Flores, Gloria Aquilar, Gricelda Loya.  Front row, L to R: Victoria Ibarra and Cruz Espino

We’d like to introduce you to Border Partners’ Health Promoters (Promotoras). Thanks to your support, they’re active every day in Palomas helping keep people healthy. They do important work and deserve to have us all sing their praises!

Gricelda Loya

“Hello! My name is Gricelda Loya. I’m 34 years old, the same number of years that I’ve lived in Palomas! Yes, I was born here. I have four children. And they drive me to do my work each day. My three boys are 19, 16 and 8. My daughter is 11 years old. I also take care of my sister’s children. These six children are my motivation to teach residents of my community to maintain a healthy lifestyle and take care of their health. Thanks to Border Partners and your donations, this is possible.”

Gricelda (center) pictured with her children

“I was part of the original group of promotoras trained by Border Partners in 2012 and have continued working until now. We receive more training each year. For example, after we were trained about how to teach teenagers about healthy sexuality, another promotora and I started classes on sexuality for teenagers in Palomas.”

“My other job for Border Partners is Director of the Education Center where we have computers for people to use and classes to instruct them on their use.”

“I’m very grateful to be part of this great family called Border Partners. I like to learn and share what I learn, and I also love to help vulnerable people.”

Juana Flores

Juana

juana Flores bestows an award to a child for his healthy activity.

“Hello! My name is Juana Flores. I was born in the Valley of Zaragoza, Chihuahua, MX. I’m 45 years old. My husband and I have three children: two sons and a daughter. I’ve lived in Palomas for ten years and worked with Border Partners since February 2011, when I started helping with the garden program. When I began, the United States had just deported me to Mexico. I was very sad to be separated from my children who stayed in the U.S. with my mother. Working has helped me a lot.”

“I’ve been a promotora since 2012 and have learned many skills. I like my work because, in my community, families do not have a healthy diet and don’t get enough exercise. I think that, due to our health promotion work, people have learned a lot about nutrition and health. As a health promoter, I focus on learning about different health issues so I can teach others.”

“My favorite thing I do as a promotora is to teach Zumba classes!”

“My other area of work for Border Partners is supervising the garden program which coordinates very well with what we teach people about nutrition and the importance of eating healthy food.”

“Thank you for supporting our work in Palomas and for your confidence in me.”

Victoria (Vicky) Ibarra

Vicky ibarra

Delivering fresh garden vegetables to elderly residents is one of Vicky’s tasks.

“Hello, my name is Victoria (Vicky) Ibarra. I am originally from Oaxaca de Juárez. I’ve lived in Palomas for about nine years. My one daughter, Jennifer, is 15 years old and is a student at the College Preparatory High School. My husband, David, is a volunteer firefighter here in Palomas. We both like to serve the community.

Vicky grabs a selfie as she teaches a nutrition class to Palomas students.

Five years ago, I joined the Border Partners’ Health Promoters. I like this work that we do for the community, serving our older adults, children, and families who want our health knowledge. Before I came to Palomas, I worked as a volunteer Health Promoter in my rural community in southern Mexico. To all those people who support us, I want to thank you for everything you do for us. My family, also sends a cordial greeting.

Gloria Aguilar

gloria

Gloria snaps a selfie of the zumba class she’s leading.

“Hola! My name is Gloria Alicia Aguilar. I am from Chihuahua, Chihuahua, MX and have lived in Palomas for 23 years. I have four children – two daughters who are 20 and 19. My two sons are both 12! I am interested in educating my neighbors about health because my second daughter has had many illnesses since she the time she was born. Because I did not want to take her to the hospital so many times, I learned ways to take care of her at home (injections, using a nebulizer etc.) “

gloria family

Gloria (center) pictured with her family

“I love my job as a Health Promoter for Border Partners! It is difficult to choose one thing I like best but I would say knowing that I can help so many people to have a better quality of life is very pleasing to me.”

“For all the people that support Border Partners, I have so much gratitude for the great work you do for my community. It’s incredible to see the number of people who benefit thanks to you!”

Cruz Espino

“Hola! Hello! My name is Cruz Delia Simental Espino. I was born in the NIcolas Bravo municpality of Madera, Chihuahua, MX but I grew up in Cuidad Cuauhtémoc. I have lived for 30 years in Palomas and have two children, a son who is 29 and a daughter who is 20 years old. My work has always been helping people in my community. I feel very proud to belong to Border Partners because, like me, we all care about the welfare of people without discrimination. I am grateful for you believing in me and giving me the opportunity to perform my work in the interest of the people of Palomas. (The person who gives from the heart, multiplies with love.)”

Editor’s note: Cruz works with the Promotoras for about half of each year and works the other months in Deming at an agricultural processing plant. We first met her when she organized a group of neighbors to stop cars from driving through a city park near her house by digging a trench and standing old tires up in it to create a barrier. At the time, Border Partners was putting in play equipment including a climbing wall at that park.

Promotoras fight COVID-19 at border, in Palomas and beyond

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covid19

Promotoras in personal protective equipment monitor temperatures at the port of entry.

promotoras fight covid19

Palomas Promotora Facebook post April 3, 2020

The Health Promoters (promotoras) in Palomas are now at the center of the local response to the COVID-19 virus. They work with the Palomas Health Center and government officials to soften the potential impact of the virus. The goal is to mitigate its spread. 

The health promoters (promotoras‘) training and experience prompted the project supervisor of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation to recommend their service in the fight of COVID-19. Thus, the Palomas Health Center engaged promotoras’ help and support during the COVID-19 contingency.

Promotoras work three hour shifts on days they can assist this effort. As part of their normal activity, they monitor temperatures of older adults in the Border Partners’ senior citizen program and of those who visit the office. 

Extraordinary Duties

But, in addition to their normal duties, the promotoras are screening people as they enter Mexico. Working with the Palomas police, the promotoras survey all border crossers. They check for anyone with elevated temperatures. Their presence supports the government health truck stationed immediately inside the Mexican border.

Any Mexican resident who registers a fever is placed on a two week quarantine. Border crossers from the United States who register a fever are turned back. Promotoras advise border crossers who present with any virus symptoms during the last seven days to self-quarantine at home for 14 days. They advise anyone who develops active symptoms to call 911 in their home community and follow local instructions.

Health Education 

The promoters provide prevention information for COVID-19 on their Facebook page. They meet with concerned people in their office, at the local health clinic. They respond to phone calls of residents who request information as well. The importance of social distancing and washing hands is their key focus. 

Nutrition Supplementation

Another component of the promotoras work is the delivery of food boxes. Twenty particularly needy families were identified as extremely food insecure. The promotoras deliver supplemental food allocations. In addition, they continue to deliver meals and monitor the health of many Palomas senior citizens.  We’ll will write more about these activities in our next website post, coming soon.

Promotoras Gift Garden Veggies to Older Residents of Palomas

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duo

Promotora Gloria Aguilar (L) and Viky Ibarra (R) delighted Palomas elders with garden grown vegetables and a home visit.

Promotoras Gloria Aguilar and Viky Ibarra cut, washed, and hand delivered fresh BP garden-grown vegetables to seniors in the Palomas community.

delivery“Ellos al vernos que llegamos a visitarlos estuvieron felices. Muy contentas nos recibieron e incluso nos dicen que volvamos a cortar vegetales y llevarles. Ellas estan muy agradecidas por la visita de nosotras.// When they saw us arrive to visit them, they were happy. They were very happy–and they even told us to cut more vegetables and come back again. They are very grateful for our visit,” said Viky.

To help support projects such as this tell your friends and family about this year’s Give Grandly event at the Silver City Farmer’s Market on May 11!  Visit givegrandly.org or more information and https://givegrandly.civicore.com/borderpartners to donate, beginning May 4. One generous Border Partners supporter has promised to double every contribution we receive that day! Find out more HERE on our website. Your donation on May 11 will mean so much to us. Thanks for your ongoing support!

For updates on this project and others, continue to visit our website or check our Facebook page, Instagram, and follow #BorderPartners.

Border Partners’ 12th Semi-Annual Health Fair – 12a Feria de salud semestral de Border Partners

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healthy exercise

The 12th annual Health Fair is a celebration of good health in Palomas.

Free haircuts

Join us Friday April 26th, from 10am to 4pm, at the main plaza in Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua, Mexico!
There will be FREE diabetes, hypertension and HIV detection, children and adult vaccinations, anti-rabies vaccinations, oral health screenings, renewal of insurance, healthy burritos, cardiovascular exercises (ZUMBA), activities for children, family planning counseling, advice on nutrition (NUTRIOLOGO), addiction counseling (CAPA – Addiction Care Center), eyesight testing, gardening tips, and haircuts! ALL FOR FREE!

Download flier in English HERE

displays and consultations

Displays and consultations

¡Únase a nosotros el viernes 26 de abril, de 10am a 4pm, en la plaza principal de Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua, México!
Habra GRATIS detecciones de diabetes, hipertensión y VIH, para niños y adulto vacunación y antirrábica, detecciones de salud bucal, Afiliación Y renovación del SEGURO POPULAR, Demostración del burrito saludable, Ejercicios cardiovascular (ZUMBA), Actividades para niños (JUEGOS), Asesoría de planificación familiar, Asesoría en nutrición (NUTRIOLOGO, Asesoría en adicciones, (CAPA – Centro de Atención para Adicciones), Detecciones de la vista, Jardinería, Concurso para niños de talento, y Corte de cabello, TODO GRATIS!

Descarga el folleto aquí

Health fair flier 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

espanol health fair 2019

Promotoras Sponsor Sports Day March 30, Open New Preschool Playground

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VIVA LOS DEPORTES! Long live sports in Palomas!

girls-soccer

Boys and girls’ teams engaged in lively competition at the sports day tournament.

puppet show stage

Puppet shows are more fun on a real stage.

On Saturday, March 30, the Border Partners Promotoras organized a day of soccer and volleyball games–Sports Day. At the same time, they opened a new children’s playground at the Border Partners’ Sports Center. Teams of boys and girls attended Sports Day, coming from various schools in Palomas and also from the high school in La Victoria, a small town south of Palomas. More than 100 children and adults enjoyed the competition. Music, healthy burritos with lots of veggies, and rides on an amazing swing added additional highlights to the event.

Gricelda Loya, President of the Promotoras, opened the event by saying that they had two objectives in mind as they planned the day.
Their first objective was to help youth reap the benefits of physical activity. This is a long-held value of the Promotoras. Secondly, Loya announced a tournament that the Promotoras will hold in May. They started to recruit teams for the tournament at the Sports Day event.

toddler climbing wall

Toddler Climbing Wall

The new children’s playground was built by local workers under the direction of Peter Edmunds. It’s designed to include activities especially meant for very young children, allowing them to play safely while their parents watch games at the Center. The new playground includes: a miniature climbing wall, a tunnel, a tire structure for climbing and a puppet stage.

People of all ages benefit from healthy exercise!

Enjoy these photos that document the joy and activity of the day, Sports Day March 30 in Palomas! Click any photo to see it in full size.