Arts & Crafts for At-Risk Children in Oaxaca

One of the most transformative workshops we shared with the children and youth of Santa María Mixtequilla was the creation of Monos de Calenda (giant festival puppets).

“Everyone was enthusiastic and attentive, and the results amazed me. Reviving these traditions is so important, because in our town they are slowly being lost. This workshop reminded me of the children’s great capacity to learn. The mistake is ours, the adults’, when we underestimate them. They showed their autonomy: sewing cardboard, cutting with sharp knives, teaching each other. Today’s children can do practically anything they set their minds to.”— Francisco, workshop teacher

The Monos de Calenda are a beloved Oaxacan tradition, representing the clothing of each community during celebrations. They are giant papier-mâché puppets danced during the Calendas: festive parades that announce the arrival of a great celebration.

“During the workshop, the children made every detail of the female puppet: her skirt, headdress, earrings, even makeup. But in the end they also wanted to create the male puppet with his guayabera shirt. Francisco told them to organize themselves, and they did. They built the pair, though I was the one who danced with them because they were too heavy for the kids (laughs). After that, even the mothers asked us for a workshop to learn. Everyone was delighted.” — Sara, UMPO team member

At UMPO, the heart of our work has always been the children. We believe that strengthening the roots of the new generations is key for our communities to live with the love and harmony they deserve. The Monos de Calenda were a lot of fun, but also a reflection of the joy of life in the Isthmus villages.

Thank you for making this possible.

Links:

• You can watch the first Calenda of our Monos