2016 Project Site Visit - Coba

Today, Mundoers also traveled to Coba, about an hour bus ride from Tulum.  The town of Coba seems isolated but it has a great feel and passionate locals who are proud to live in an ancient Mayan City. We were able to see the important archaeological site and ruins that housed impressive pyramids, ball courts, temples and ancient roads.

Walking the town of Coba outside of the ruins we saw homes that incorporated ancient Mayan wall structures, small hotels, outdoor restaurants serving Mayan cuisines, a large plaza and a school.  There is a potential to partner with an organization already established in Coba working with locals citizens.

This has been a successful first project site visits for Isa Mundo and we will be assessing potential school projects in the area which will be our first in the state of Quintana Roo.  We will keep you updated on next steps and look forward to launching a project in the region.

Muchas gracias.

2016 Project Site Visit - Tulum Puebla

Isa Mundo Foundation is currently completing it's first Project Site Visit Trip of 2016.  We have decided to travel to Tulum Puebla and the town of Coba to assess potential projects in the future. Both towns are in the state of Quintana Roo

Tulum Puebla is located approximately 5KMs outside of the Tulum beach resorts and where most of the locals supporting the resort economy live and also where their businesses reside.  It is known for great restaurants, excellent Spanish schools, great plazas and to experience the day to day life of local community members and expats.

Mundoers walked every corner of the main town to see various schools and learning centres and observed challenges on accessibility of education for all of Tulum's children and youth. We were also able to visit the Tulum ruins - site of the only Mayan city built on a coast and one of the few protected by a wall. This visit will allow us to see the contrast between the town and the Mayan ruins of Coba, which we will visit in the next few days.

We will be assessing Tulum Puebla very closely as there are potential partnerships that can be established in this area that can have positive effects in the community.

The Key to a Strong Partnership

The year 2016 is shaping up to be a busy yet productive year for Isa Mundo based on strong partnerships. We have been asked before the secret to our success in completing projects and it always comes down to strong partners and a willingness to collaborate based on mutual goals.

In order to find strong partners - we start with our similar approach to project completion and our five stages: to consult with community members and leaders on what is needed; find individuals and/or groups with mutual objectives; assess capacity of each group and strategize to deliver a project; find a way to keep it sustainable; and repeat!

As an example, we met a couple who volunteered in Mexico in 2014 and are big supporters of the Volcanes project in the PV area. When they approached us that they are able to help bring education supplies to the Volcanes school and community, we took the opportunity to meet and discuss what they see as both the success and challenge in doing humanitarian work in the area. This was a great opportunity to learn from the experience of two long time humanitarians and also to strike a potential partnership to support future projects in PV.

Ed and Jo-Ann Grainger have seen various community projects in Mexico through their mission and volunteer work and have been gracious in sharing their experience and ideas regarding project completions and how to approach future projects in Volcanes and surrounding areas. In 2015, Ed and Jo-Ann also became formal supporters of Isa Mundo by donating funds to the foundation to carry on our work.  This is a great example of how through direct contact and involvement with the same community and schools - strangers with similar interests find common bonds to collaborate further and formalize a partnership. So in our five stage approach - meeting them accomplished both stage two and three :-)

Gracias Ed and Jo-Ann for taking the time to work with us and support our work in Mexico.

The Honourable Howard Pawley: 1934 - 2015

Blog written by Paul Lorilla

On December 30, 2015, The Honorable Howard Pawley passed away.  He was a lawyer, a professor, a provincial minister, the Premier of Manitoba and an Officer of the Order of Canada.  To me, I have always known him as Professor Pawley.

When I arrived at the University of Waterloo, there was only one class I wanted to attend, Professor Pawley’s Canadian Federalism: Past, Present and Future – the one that eventually shaped my path to become a public servant. He was so dedicated to this course that he would show up for a night class in front of 10-12 honours students while traveling to and from Windsor to Waterloo.  He was part of the University’s Stanley Knowles Visiting Professor in Canadian Studies and he had our attention from the moment he showed up on campus.  He was more than a professor, he entertained us with countless stories of his time as a Premier and discussions he had with Prime Minister Mulroney, various international leaders and diplomats, the life of a politician, the NAFTA debates and the Meech Lake Accord. Each class built a momentum that pitted our values and ideals about politics, policy and what it is to be Canadian. To this day, his class atmosphere produced one of the most valuable intellectual debates I have experienced and influenced the lens from which I view public service.  At Waterloo, he observed my passion for human rights, social justice, international development and indigenous issues.  He would often tell me that if there was one thing I could focus on and make a significant difference in the country, I should dedicate my time on indigenous policy – learn the history, build relationships, understand the culture and contribute to progressing our nation.

He is one of the most influential mentors in my life.  When I left Waterloo, he was my reference to attend Carleton University’s M.A. Program at School of Canadian Studies.  He suggested that I intern in various Government departments and one day, my passion may even lead to creating an organization that would help communities outside of Canada.  We did not agree on all things and surely debated his stance on various issues but rest assured, he cared for his students as evident in the way he kept emailing and asking about my family, my studies and my career progression. He was patient and respectful and was always a willing reference and an advisor if need be. He was also a visionary.

In 2003, I joined the federal public service.  I have dedicated more than a decade of my work on indigenous issues and currently a Senior Advisor, Aboriginal Affairs with the Department of Canadian Heritage. I am the Founder and Director of the Isa Mundo Foundation which was launched in 2005.  I know that all these endeavors were shaped in some way by Professor Pawley.  He always believed that I would find a way to contribute, his role was to support and inspire, which he did in countless ways.  In our last encounter, he reminded me to be a strong and compassionate public servant. To always consult, be inclusive and to stand for things I believed in.  I remember him telling me how Isa Mundo is a legacy I should be proud of and to continue the work despite the challenges and stress of directing a non-profit organization.  He said in the future, I will see generations of children and youth who benefited from our projects by providing opportunities to be able to contribute to their families, communities and nations. 

It took some time for me to digest the fact that I would no longer be able to contact Professor Pawley via email or see him in Ottawa from time to time. Upon his passing, I read accolades about his life’s work and I learned how respected and praised he was for his “ability to listen, to consult and to lead gently by consensus”.  As I read tributes for him, I am grateful that I was able to spend time and converse with Professor Pawley and so thankful for his friendship.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau summed it up best that Professor Pawley was "… a remarkable Canadian, widely respected for his championing of human rights, social justice, and economic development … his legacy will live on in the many advances our country has made toward achieving greater social justice for all."

Professor Pawley, through the Isa Mundo Foundation, I vow to continue to help those less fortunate in the world - as you have taught us all.  Rest in peace, you will be missed.

 

Photo courtesy of windorstar.com

Season's Greetings

It has been another successful year for the Isa Mundo Foundation. We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone Happy Holidays and all the best in the coming year.

As each year passes - we are even more grateful to our supporters, volunteers and partners who have contributed to our past and present projects.

In 2015, we continued our work and focus in improving the Volcanes Primary School and the Isa Mundo Education Centre in the area.  By investing in teachers and providing modern learning tools - we have seen the difference our efforts have made this year.  There will be some exciting new projects launched at Volcanes in 2016 with Appnovation.

We also strengthened our partnership with Casa Connor and Pasitos de Luz by doing research on how to improve the facility being constructed by using solar panels.  We hope to complete this project in the coming year.

Appnovation meets Isa Mundo Foundation

Blog contributed by Brittany Neale, Development Specialist at Appnovation

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Appnovation uses open technologies to educate, empower, and engage developing communities to create sustainable economic and social change.

Appnovation was founded in 2007 as an open source development shop specializing in the creation of websites and mobile applications for a variety of locally­based companies and non­profits. Headquartered in Vancouver, with offices around the globe in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and the United States, we have set a company goal to begin to build a corporate legacy, using tech as a force for social good. This past February we launched our C​orporate Citizenship program, which seeks to build partnerships with civil society, the private sector, and institutions interested in creating sustainable development and change through technology. Citizenship to Appnovation is about a commitment to being an active community member, fulfilling our duties, obligations, and desires to act as a positive force and change maker. For Appnovation, this means a sense of responsibility to our local communities, and to the world as a whole.

Since its inception, Appnovation’s Corporate Citizenship program has found strong legs within the Vancouver community. With a number of worthy organizations operating in the city, we wanted to ensure that our Citizenship partners emulated our workplace culture and core values of growth, innovation, teamwork, customer satisfaction, and openness. The Isa Mundo Foundation stood out as an ideal candidate: believing that using our skills and expertise can act as a powerful force for those in need.

As an active Corporate Citizen, Appnovation is committed to implementing projects through two methods. First, we donate developer’s hours to non­profit partners for a variety of web­based and mobile projects; second, we work with our partners to seek funds for larger scale deployments that require the assistance of third party members.

After initial meetings of introduction and determining a values alignment, Appnovation is very excited to continue a dialogue with Isa Mundo around future projects and areas of collaboration. We feel very honoured to have the opportunity to work with such a reputable and respected organization. We are greatly looking forward to what the future holds for our teams and the individuals who can truly witness technology become a tool for social change. 

To learn more about our work, please visit us at Appnovation.com.

October 2015 - Mexico Project Site Visits

Isa Mundo Foundation will make its annual project site visits in the state of Jalisco this month. The team will land in Puerto Vallarta to visit ongoing projects that are making a difference in communities. Our focus in the area has largely been in the Volcanes community where we support an education initiative and attempting to develop and Life Skills Program at the Volcanes Primary School.

Paul Lorilla (Director and Chair, Education Projects) will visit the IMEC and school staff at Volcanes and asses how to continue improving education opportunities of students. Paul will also see the newly launched Volcanes Sewing School that has been developed to provide training to women in the community with the goal of increasing employment opportunities in the future.

Andrée Lacasse (Chair, Children & Youth Projects) has been invited to visit and participate in a life skills program class with a local teacher and her students. This is a great opportunity to learn and observe first hand a program being used that we can support and perhaps fund as a formal Isa Mundo Life Skills Program.

We also hope to visit the Casa Connor facility being constructed to see its progress and to learn how to better support this important project. We look forward to meeting our colleagues and friends in Jalisco and continue building strong partnerships with local non profit organizations in the area.