Bridging the Border Bulletin

Bridging the Border

March 2022 | Issue 10

A US-Mexico collaboration providing factual news on Nogales region bi-national community development programs generating critical resources for migrant families in Nogales, Sonora. The bulletin is produced by FESAC volunteers dedicated to spreading awareness of the amazing human service work performed daily by local NGOs as the Nogales community responds to a growing crisis at the border. Click here to view our past issues.

Who is FESAC?

Fundación del Empresariado Sonorense A.C. (FESAC), is an independent community foundation founded in 2003 by the Mexican state of Sonora’s business organizations and supported by a council formed by Sonoran businessmen. FESAC has formed lasting partnerships with local civil-society organizations on both sides of the border to address poverty, migration, and social inequality. FESAC works in close partnership with the Border Community Alliance (BCA), a US nonprofit in Arizona. FESAC uses university interns from both sides of the border to assist with its programs for local NGOs.The founding Executive Director of the Nogales chapter of FESAC is Alma Cota De Yanez.

FESAC board members are pictured above. Alma Cota de Yanez, FESAC Nogales Executive Director, is seated in the front row, on the left. Luis Torres Muñoz, FESAC Board Chair, is in the center of the back row.

Social Investment Strategy

FESAC uses a social investment strategy to spark sustainable positive change in the Nogales border community. Social investment is defined as the contribution of resources in a sustained way to social projects that will yield a measurable positive return on the investment, with continued commitment by the donor. This leads to greater follow-up regarding resource application and impact.

Programs like Taller de Costura Guadalupana, ARSOBO, and CECATI’s new adult courses at Casa de la Misericordia are examples of how FESAC creates social and human capital. By investing economic and in-kind resources in local programs, these projects build the future of communities.

Above: Executive Director of Casa de la Misericordia, Angelica Macias, holds educator Lupita Moreno's son, Tadeo during a birthday celebration for a young child residing in the shelter.

Above: Gabriel Zepeda, wheelchair manufacturer for ARSOBO, prepares metal rods for the construction of future wheelchairs.

Together with Casa de la Misericordia, a Nogales shelter for families seeking asylum, FESAC has started the first school in a Nogales shelter.

Escuelika: an historic new school in a Nogales shelter!

The FESAC supported educational program at Casa de la Misericordia, called Escuelika, provides in-person schooling to asylum-seeking children in Nogales, Sonora. Escuelika is the only program of its kind in Nogales. Two educators, graduated from Universidad Pedagógica Nacional (UPN) in Nogales, Sonora, teach children aged 3-17 in academic courses such as mathematics, Spanish, geography, and science. Additional educators are funded by Save the Children and BYTE. Your support helped us continue this project and has enriched the learning experience for students at Casa de la Misericordia.

Escuelika is the kind of social investment FESAC strongly supports. Funding education for asylum-seeking children creates opportunities for them and their families to thrive socially, emotionally, and mentally in the long-term. Families have noted that the academic environment has aided children with:

Adjusting to new environments
Retaining academic knowledge and skills
Making academic gains
Overcoming traumatic experiences from immigration

In addition to investing in children’s education, Escuelika provides growth opportunities for young professionals in the education field. Escuelika’s teachers, Lupita and Yesi, have gained teaching experience and contributed to their academic program through practice and observation.

Casa de la Misericordia, an asylum family shelter in Nogales, has received direct financial and educational program support from FESAC in the form of teacher salaries and online access using FESAC supplied iPads. Casa has also been granted local government funding for STEM programming. Above, students collaborate and work independently, using FESAC iPads during STEM classes (mathematics, general science).

Quotes about Escuelika

The following quotes are translated from parent interviews conducted in Spanish.

We’re content and grateful for the school at the shelter. Until today, the children haven’t missed classes and are advancing in their education, learning new things. Hopefully the support for the shelter continues. The teachers are great, and it’s very beneficial for us as our kids are able to keep learning.

Mexico, Mexico

I think they’re able to learn more than they would back home, where classes would be online. My kid is learning to do division and write, and I hope we continue to receive support from you (the teachers) and the people who make this possible. I’ve noticed an improvement in both of the kids. My older boy had a lot of shame and I see that he is able to socialize more now. Same with both kids. I see that the program has helped my kids academically and socially.

Guerrero, Mexico

My kids didn’t go to school because of my community’s insecurity and the effects of the pandemic, and this has been a great improvement from that. They really enjoy going to the classes. When I see my kids doing well, I feel better too. They’re becoming more independent and socialize more with the other kids. Sometimes they don’t even need to be around me, as they feel safe here and without fear. Back in our home community they weren’t able to leave the house, even to the store. They would run and hide upon hearing the shootouts. We feel safe here, and we don’t feel the need to complain about anything. My girl wants to read, and is starting to write now, although slowly. My boy is doing his homework on his own now. Honestly, we feel that we’ve been able to overcome a lot, with the support we have here. Thank you for everything.

Guerrero, Mexico

FESAC and Casa de la Misericordia launch a new Adult Education Program to provide vocational courses!

Pictured: Asylum seekers at Casa de la Misericordia participate in a new vocational life skills program. The photos feature courses in teacher's assistantship and beautician skills.

Casa de la Misericordia, home to 100+ asylum seeking children and their families, has extended their educational program to adults. There are more than 60 adults registered for courses in first aid, educational assistance, and barbering. The training cost is $10/month per person and includes instruction from Centro de Capacitación para el Trabajo Industrial (CECATI) CECATI educators. CECATI is a federally funded training center that prepares individuals for job success. They develop programs according to the communities they work with (ex: pool cleaning courses in tourist-heavy areas).

FESAC Nogales is funding the project during its initial stages, and is actively seeking funding to establish a sustainable educational program for asylum-seeking adults and children. CECATI’s typical cost per 3-month course is $50. The course at Casa de la Misericordia will last 1 month and cost $10.

Many migrants at Casa de la Misericordia are interested in taking more than one course. FESAC hopes to continue the program in the long-term and provide broader, more in-depth courses to adults. This exciting new program is a prime example of FESAC using social investment to transform communities.

Spotlight: Arizona Sonora Border Projects for Inclusion (ARSOBO)

A young family’s baby goes through testing for an auditory device. Graduate students from the University of Arizona volunteer their time to conduct auditory testing and provide medical devices and training.

A brother and sister attend one of ARSOBO’s monthly hearing clinics in Nogales, Sonora.

ARSOBO is a Mexican nonprofit organization that provides medical devices and testing to people living with disabilities in the Nogales border region. Their three main service areas are manufacturing wheelchairs; production of prosthetics; and audiology clinics. While people of all ages benefit from ARSOBO’s work, supporting children and working young adults is a major focus for the organization.

FESAC has supported ARSOBO since its inception. For example:

Office and manufacturing space: when ARSOBO started in a very small office at CECATI manufacturing a unique all-terrain wheelchair, a BCA board member (Eduardo Robinson) donated a large warehouse space enabling ARSOBO to grow.
Resource development: FESAC assisted with ARSOBO board trainings in fundraising and building a donor base. ARSOBO now serves people not only in the Nogales community but families experiencing disability throughout the state of Sonora.
Legal and administrative support: in order to become a nonprofit. FESAC has supported ARSOBO to become a legally recognized NGO. This enabled ARSOBO to create jobs for people with disabilities and provide role models for people with disabilities.
Collaboration with local government: with FESAC’s community connections, ARSOBO has been able to obtain land and build a new modern headquarters.

ARSOBO is the perfect example of what FESAC does for the community.

The following stories are about people who work or volunteer at ARSOBO, and how social investment transformed their lives.

Gabriel Zepeda

Gabriel Zepeda in ARSOBO’s shop, where he manufactures wheelchairs.

Gabriel Zepeda was originally a cattle rancher from Nayarit, and is now a wheelchair manufacturer in Nogales, Sonora. His journey to ARSOBO started at 21, after a car accident left him paraplegic and led to the calcification of his bones. Unable to bend his joints for 1 year after the accident, Zepeda met the original designer of the ARSOBO wheelchair during his convalescence, and soon after travelled to San Francisco for wheelchair manufacturing training. More than thirty years later, Zepeda now designs and manufactures wheelchairs for ARSOBO. ARSOBO’s purpose is about more than providing medical devices and services to the community; Gabriel’s story is one example of how people with handicaps contribute to society while sustaining themselves. His resilience, perseverance, and integrity demonstrate the power of social investment.

Francisco 'Kiko' Trujillo

Francisco Trujillo, executive director of ARSOBO, and Bob Phillips, senior advisor to FESAC, in ARSOBO’s facilities in Nogales, Sonora.

ARSOBO’s executive director, Francisco Trujillo, was born in a small fishing town, although his family has resided in Nogales for three generations. He graduated with a degree in industrial engineering, and went on to manage a US-based maquiladora in Nogales for 15 years. Eventually feeling unfulfilled by his work, he sought an opportunity to contribute to the Mexican community and break out of his bubble. His social, political, and personal transformation led him to work as an administrative director for the Chamber of Commerce in Nogales, Sonora when NAFTA was first being implemented. After 7 years, he again knew it was time for a change, and became increasingly interested in working with marginalized communities in Nogales. His social service work included establishing a community center and designing an eco-friendly house, before working with ARSOBO. Kiko’s propensity for collaboration, dedication, and his heart for helping others is a reminder us of what a life dedicated to community service can achieve.

Yolanda 'Yoli' Terrazas

Left: Carmen Yolanda poses in ARSOBO's foyer.

Carmen Yolanda Terrazas, also known as Yoli, was born and raised in Obregón, Sonora, MX. When Yoli was an infant, she was diagnosed with polio. Her symptoms were mild, and she “lived a very normal life.” She moved to Nogales to attend high school and learn English in Arizona. She worked at the Center for Commerce with ARSOBO’s executive director, and traveled to Japan 5 times. However, about 10 years ago she suddenly started feeling the effects of post-polio syndrome. Although she has a progressive loss in mobility, she maintains a positive attitude and finds fulfillment in her service work. Yoli started volunteering for ARSOBO in February of 2015, and supports administrative and client-facing work to keep the organization running smoothly. To this day, Yoli considers ARSOBO her second home. Of her life, she says, “I like each day more than the last”.

San Juan Bosco Shelter celebrated its 40th anniversary on January 31st

Founders of the San Juan Bosco Shelter, Francisco (rest in peace) and Gilda Loureiro, are pictured above. The shelter has been open since January 31, 1982.

Since its opening in 1982, the San Juan Bosco Shelter has served more than 1 million people migrating through Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The asylum shelter provides them with warm meals, showers, and a safe place to rest. Before the pandemic, the shelter allowed people to stay for a maximum of 3 nights. Since then, the shelter has adapted to better serve the increased number of families and now allows people to stay for consecutive months if necessary.

Next Issue: Health Needs in Asylum Shelters of Nogales, Sonora

Left to right: Kerry McCulloch, Nancy Lopez-Alvarez, María Fernanda Vergara Rivera, and Fernanda Bustillos Gastélum after a delicious team lunch at Chiloquiles in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The Fernandas are local university students at UPN, Nogales's leading institution for future educators.

FESAC Interns Kerry McCulloch and Nancy Lopez-Alvarez, together with local university students, spent 3 weeks conducting an extensive survey of the health status of migrant and asylum-seeking people staying in Nogales shelters. Master's in Public Health student Kerry McCulloch received a grant from the University of Alabama, Birmingham to study health needs among people who migrate and seek asylum.

The results will be analyzed and shared with health organizations and asylum shelters that provide essential services to people migrating and seeking asylum. Stay tuned to learn more about the study's findings!

How To Support FESAC's Social Investment Work

Given that this crisis will go on for years, a regular monthly contribution will give FESAC a predictable income stream. If you know people who may be interested in this cause, send them to the FESAC contact on this bulletin or direct them to FESAC Sr Advisor Bob Phillips at rtp1844@gmail.com for further information. Your contribution is tax deductible. It will make the families at the border know that they are not forgotten and that their lives matter!

To support the asylum seeker education program at CMTN, click "Donate Now" and review the instructions below. You will be directed to FESAC's partner organization, BCA. This partnership allows donors to make tax-deductible contributions to Mexican organizations. We work closely with Border Community Alliance (BCA), a US Nonprofit based in Tubac, Arizona, to bring resources, education and hope to the Nogales community.

How to donate to the education program:

You do not need an account to donate through BCA, so you can close the pop-up window
Indicate "asylum seeker education program" in your donor note
Under Campaign, select "Mexican Pass Thru"
Under Mexico Pass Thru select "FESAC Sonoran Community Foundation"

Help us provide quality education to children in border communities so that they can recapture their future!

Donate Now