Chiapas is the southernmost state in Mexico. It is the poorest and least educated state, but also one of the richest in culture and natural resources.
About one quarter of the population are of full or predominant Maya descent, and in rural areas many do not speak Spanish. The state suffers from the highest rate of malnutrition in Mexico, affecting about 40% of the population. Most people survive on corn, beans and coffee. Migration north from Chiapas has increased the past decade and the Mexican census bureau estimates that Chiapas accounts for 10% of the illegal immigrants in the United States. The fact that they are the furthest geographically and only represent 4% of Mexico’s total population is an indication of the intensity of the poverty and lack of economic opportunities.
In 1994 there was an uprising organized by the grassroots Zapatista movement. The Zapatistas call the world’s attention to their movement and NAFTA, which they believe contributes to the increasing gap between rich and poor in Chiapas. The EZLN also call for greater democratization of the Mexican government and for land reform mandated by the 1917 Constitution of Mexico. The EZLN seeks autonomy from the Mexican government, and (among other things) demands that the natural resources that are extracted from Chiapas benefit more directly the people of Chiapas. In the years since the uprising, the low-intensity conflict continues. The Zapatistas have moved ahead with their autonomy through the construction of much-needed infrastructure for the indigenous communities that are within their territories.
Thousands of Non-governmental organizations work in Chiapas due to the Zapatistas, the influx of Guatemalan refugees in the mid-1980’s to Chiapas and interesting cultural heritage of the Mayan people.
The two projects we work with in Chiapas are:
