By Courtnie Higgins
A group picture with staff members from Casa Amiga, a center that responds to gender violence.
Fourteen students participating in the semester programs Crossing Borders: Gender and Social change in Mesoamerica and International Business and Global Citizenship gathered on Friday in El Paso, Texas to begin our semester with a Border Awareness Experience. We spent the week at the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez border where we visited and spoke with businesses, organizations, and academics about issues in Mexico, the U.S., and between the two countries, and all the while
getting a taste of the culture in Mexico.
Two events particularly stood out to me. The first is when we spoke with an individual from Casa Amiga, which provides violence prevention and intervention programs. What specifically caught my attention are the preventative methods provided by Casa Amiga, which brings nonviolence to communities by giving presentations surrounding issues like domestic abuse, sexual harrassent, and gender issues. Furthermore, the organization reaches out and brings awareness to people of all ages. Casa Amiga´s preventative methods range from presenations given to adults who work at maquilas, which are factories under preferential-tariff programs established from the North American Free Trade Agreement, to showing muppet theatre to young children.
The second event I found most interesting was when we spoke with an individual from CETLAC, which is a center for labor issues and workshops located in Ciudad Juarez. I found this to be powerful because a large population in Mexico struggles to make ends meet financially and this organization is working with academics, politicians, and other organizations to examine the roots of economic situations, like why unions do not form. In addition, CETLAC works directly with individuals for their labor rights.
One issue that was presented to us is the labor dilemma. We were informed about salaries and what is needed for a living wage which is a salary high enough so that families can survive comfortably. While the legal minimum wage is 52 pesos/day, an equivalent of 4-5 minimum wages is necessary to raise a family of four. Therefore, people often work more than one job and once children turn 15 they begin working in maquilas to help their family.
Another issue brought to our attention was unions. The federal law allows for unions to exist, but in reality they don´t happen. Also, many people who work in maquilas had once lived and worked in the center-region of Mexico where the salary was less than it is now in the maquila. Because some people make more money now, although it’s still not a living wage, they have no motive or interest in organizing a union.
Another issue brought to our attention was unions. The federal law allows for unions to exist, but in reality they don´t happen. Also, many people who work in maquilas had once lived and worked in the center-region of Mexico where the salary was less than it is now in the maquila. Because some people make more money now, although it’s still not a living wage, they have no motive or interest in organizing a union.
Speaking with Casa Amiga and CETLAC was both educational and inspiring. While it may be challenging to grasp the social contexts and laws in another country and to understand the conditions individuals undergo inside the realms, it’s inspiring to hear that organizations are working for people in a positive context.
A student observes graffiti at Casa Amiga, which invited neighbourhood youth to show expression through graffiti. In this way the center could become acquainted with the community members while the community members could learn about the services being offered.
