Sometimes Divine Providence steps into our ministry and takes over, this was the case with International Women's Day. We only had a week to plan a celebration, but things fell together easily, and on March 8 Proyecto Juan Diego celebrated the International Women's Day with women around the world. A group of 40 women (ranging in age from their teens to 80's and who participate in our various programs) gathered to listen to a short reflection by Marianella Villarreal on the enduring qualities of women. Marianella inspired us with her testamonies of the strength of the women in Cameron Park. The participants were encouraged to touch their own power and passion as women and to stand up for issues they believed were important for the betterment of our society. After the reflection, we gathered to march around the streets of the neighborhood. Young mothers with strollers lined up along grandmothers and our staff memebers, to help pass out a carnation and a special prayer for women to all the women we passed. We could see women inside their homes peek out of the curtain as we walked by, men stopped their conversations and wondered, what is this group of women doing? It was an opportunity for us to raise awareness of the inqualitites that still exist in our world and encourage woman to know their power to make the world a better place for themselves and their children. Proyecto Juan Diego is already looking forward to celebrating International Women's Day next year!
















This year the United Nation's theme was "Ending Impunity: An end to Violence Against Women and Girls" and reports the following facts:

• It is estimated that between 113 million and 200 million women are demographically "missing." They have been the victims of infanticide (boys are preferred to girls).
• Globally, women between the age of fifteen and forty-four are more likely to be maimed or die as a result of male violence than through cancer, malaria, traffic accidents or war combined.
• Domestic violence is the largest form of abuse of women worldwide, irrespective of region, culture, ethnicity, education, class and religion.
• Systematic rape is used as a weapon of terror in many of the world's conflicts. It is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 women in Rwanda were raped during the 1994 genocide.
• Studies show the increasing links between violence against women and HIV and demonstrate that HIV-infected women are more likely to have experienced violence, and that victims of violence are at higher risk of HIV infection.
  

Proyecto Juan Diego will soon have a new home! After much prayer and discernment, the board of PJD decided to purchase a 32 X 76 mobile home unit for our offices and four three year old classroom units from a local high school. It is not what we had envisioned in the beginning, we had hoped to build offices, classrooms, as well as some dorms for potential volunteers. But it seemed that Divine Providence had something else in mind for ‘the project.’ Our new offices (the mobile home unit) will have ample space for our 6 staff members, a kitchen, a waiting area, storage, 2 bathrooms and a meeting area. It
seems to be exactly what we need and is just the right price! The classroom units are roomy, slightly larger than the rooms we use now. Two of the classroom units will sit next to one another and bathrooms and showers, for men and women, will be constructed between them. These two rooms will be used as dorms for future volunteers while the other two classrooms will always be free for educational programs and community meetings.
Although we will miss being on the complex of San Felipe de Jesus Parish, we will remain closely tied to the parish through collaborative projects. Our staff at PJD will continue to work closely with the parish staff and programs: Fronetras de Salud, Youth, and referrals. The relationship between us has made a positive impact on the community.
Remember the Provincial Meeting 2005? That is when the members of the province were first introduced to Proyecto Juan Diego. It was proposed that ‘the project’ would become a sponsored work of the WCP. We are happy to tell you that Proyecto Juan Diego has been approved by the council as a sponsored work of the Daughters of Charity of the West Central Province. The by-laws were approved by the board of PJD in June of 2006.

You may see us in the movies
The issue of health care is a growing problem for many Americans. Health care is a luxury in south Texas where 45% of residents are uninsured. Our health programs reach out to address issues of health care and education. The Promatoras de Salud (Community Health workers) educate people in their homes on various topics of health: heart disease, cancer, depression, etc. They also keep up with the health of the those living in Cameron Park through home visits. Sr. Phylis has gained the reputation of someone who can help when the hospital says “Sorry, we’ve done all we can for you. See a specialist -and by the way be sure and take $200.00 + on the day of the appointment.” She has worked closely with doctors, community organizations, and the parish social worker to get help for those in dire need of health care. A mother of a 17 year old girl going blind came to the project asking for help with a retina transplant. Sr. Phylis worked with the eye surgeon, the Lion’s Club, San Felipe Church, and St. Anthony’s School in Harlingen. Enough money was raised to have the transplant in one eye. The young girl is now able to see! We look forward to the day when she can have a second transplant.
Recently, documentary film maker Michael Moore’s staff visited Cameron Park. Mr. Moore is working on a film about health care in the USA. Mr. Moore was interested in visiting us because here people have an option that other US residents don’t: we can go to a third world country for care. YES, American citizens go to Mexico to see physicians. A number of the people we work with were interviewed by his staff and may be in the upcoming movie.

MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM UNIVERSITY OF GALVASTON screening Cameron Park Residents for blood pressure and diabetes. Students in the Frontera de Salud Program make the journey to Brownsville once a month to make home visits with the uninsured and help with screenings. (Photo:Fr. Mike Seifert)

When they see the Tumble Tots staff arrive to cover the floor with rainbow colored mats the kids can’t wait to exercise. Each week kids from 8-14 yrs participate in a unique program that combines exercise, nutrition classes, and self esteem building activities. Push-ups, tuck jumps, and pikes are all exercises the kids are now familiar with thanks to Tumble Tots’ instructors who combine aerobics, gymnastics, and strengthening for an hours work out. The group is divided into two groups. “The Fruits”, attend nutrition classes taught by a Cameron County Extension Educator, and the other group, “Vegetables” works with a counselor on issues of self-esteem.

“I love this. I want to be healthy”, says Paulette, age 10. The goal of the program is to help kids and their families to be healthy. 83% of the youth participating are obese.
We are also working with the parents through an education program. Each week moms meet to learn about various health topics and then participate in a nutrition class.
The parents and children are able to work together to put in to practice what they have learned in order to have a healthier life style. This year long program addresses the growing problem of obesity in children and is funded by The Daughters of Charity Foundation.

MONDAY MORNINGS

Monday Morning is a time we all look forward to at PJD. After a short staff prayer, Carolina, Maria, Sr. Phylis and Sr. Sharon pack the Toyota with teaching supplies and head to Matamoros, Mexico.
We go through check point and over the bridge to Saint Michael the Archangel Church where health education classes have been held for the past year. A faithful group of women walk to the church and continue to learn about various topics of health. Maria teaches from a lap top where the mom’s lean in from the wooden benches to see the pictures and information being presented. Meanwhile, the children are gathered in a circle in the back of church for their own activities with Sr. Sharon.
Carolina and Sr. Phylis continue on the dirt roads of the colonia to the home of a woman who is hosting the educational sessions for the next few months. She has gathered a group of neighbors for classes just outside her home under a tree. The women have decided they would like to learn Capacitar before continuing with health education. Carolina will walk the woman through the Capacitar course beginning with Thai Chi then move to other stress management techniques.
A couple hours later we pack up and head back to Brownsville. We often reflect on this experience together on the ride back to PJD. The women face many challenges in their daily life yet we are always struck by their thoughtfulness, generosity, and gratitude.

Proyecto Juan Diego has begun another year of programs from English classes to health education in homes.
Promadoras de Salud are out in full force holding classes in the Cameron Park neighborhood. Seven groups are meeting weekly having sessions on diabetes, cholesterol, cervical cancer and other health topics. Our neighborhood leaders gather women into their homes where the Promadoras de Salud teach the classes.
At Casa Digna, classes are in session! We have over 35 students in the beginning and intermediate english classes. English classes are focused on conversation. Capacitar, a stress management program, has also begun it's 6 week course. Last week the women were introduced to basic Thai Chi movements, hand massage, and breathing exercises.
New programs reach out to the youth of Cameron park offering art classes to children who live in Paseo Plaza Housing Project and at San Felipe de Jesus' After-School program. Our newly formed Youth Group of teens will have its first service project this weekend. The youth will visit the sick and elderly of the parish taking them a handmade cross.
In the weeks ahead other programs will begin: Citizenship Classes for those over 50, GED, Primary and Secondary Education Classes, and an Exercise Program for Childern ages 8-12.