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 Vallarta Living | September 2006 
A Fishy Little Sleeping Village
 Robert Hardin - PVNN
| | Welcome to La Casa de la Imaginación community center for children. (Photos by Kathryn Hardin) | 
| | The children of Yelapa take Yoga classes at the center. | 
| | An average of thirty to forty children per day participate in artistic and cultural activities at La Casa de la Imaginación. | 
| | All are welcome, and you might even want to put on a workshop or talk to the kids about something you know. |
"It may be we shall touch the happy isles"
- Tennyson, "Ulysses"
Although Yelapa, the fishing village seventeen miles south of Puerto Vallarta, is a popular tourist attraction, most visitors are unaware of several factors that make it unique.
No major roads lead to Yelapa's remote jungle location, so it is accessible only by boat. Electricity and phone service did not arrive until 2001. Water is conveyed from high above the famous "cascada" by an intricate network of plastic tubing.
But Yelapa's most important distinction derives from the fact that it was established as an indigenous community through a land grant by the King of Spain in 1581, and since then the land has been owned collectively and exclusively by members of the communidad. Not even other Mexicans may buy property or houses there.
My wife, Kathryn, and I have lived in Yelapa almost two years now, and the people in the village, especially the open, gleeful, and loving children, provide us endless joy. Since our casa is situated right on the town beach, we are in the midst of the daily life of the community - seeing kids and dogs frolic in the water, observing the arrival of goods and materials by pangas, and occasionally observing courting teenagers who are not conscious of our second floor perspective.
It is a magical place that we were attracted to on our very first visit. When we are asked how we came to reside there Kathryn answers that we never intended to move to Mexico - we simply fell in love with Yelapa.
Although Yelapa has retained the look of the rural pueblo that it is, changes have come. The municipal government has almost completed a project to bring water to every dwelling in the community through underground pipes. A sewage disposal system would be the logical next step.
Our favorite addition was the creation of La Casa de la Imaginación, a vibrant community center for children. The Casa is the brainchild of a year-round American dweller who was a trustee of a fund left by a former resident to benefit the children of Yelapa.
The idea was embraced by the community, and a small group of foreigners and locals was informally organized to turn the concept into reality. A young Mexican couple from Guadalajara volunteered their time for the day-to-day operation of the center. A two-story house was rented and the children of the village were soon happily participating in artistic and cultural activities.
After the first year of operation a non-profit corporation was formed, a board of directors was elected from members of the community, and an advisory board of foreign residents was created. Contact was also made with an organization of international volunteers, and the Casa was publicized on various websites.
The result was an outpouring of contributions, donations of supplies, and the arrivals of volunteer teachers from all over the world. An average of thirty to forty children a day now attend La Casa de la Imaginacion and have so far (in addition to Spanish) conversed in French, English, Japanese, and German while taking art, language, music, and yoga classes.
They have also been taught how to communicate with dolphins in the wild and learned about the birds and other wildlife that inhabit the community and its environs. As part of their education about the harmful effects of burning toxic trash, the children spend one afternoon a week picking up litter on the streets and the beach and separating plastics, cans, and bottles, much of which is recycled into art projects.
As the program has grown, several village teenagers have volunteered to work with the kids at the Casa. The exciting news is that one such young woman was so inspired by her experiences she has applied for and been accepted to a University, where she hopes her studies will lead to her becoming a psychiatrist.
Thanks to the suggestions of a couple of tireless American supporters, five owners of Yelapa rental properties donated a free week's stay, an online raffle was conducted, and enough funds were raised to cover the budget.
Everyone involved in the Casa is excitedly looking forward to the year ahead, because finally we will have enough money to pay the rent and electricity, and to fund the children's activities for the year.
Most everyone who visits is enchanted by Yelapa, so come see why and stop by the children's center while you're in town. All are welcome, and you might even want to put on a workshop or talk to the kids about something you know. Be sure to bring your camera.
Ah, Yelapa, a paradise on earth that Dr. Carolyn McCall in her Yelapa History Project described as "like an island outside of time and space."
Robert Hardin is a Yelapa-based author with four published books under his belt. His novels, AMATEUR HOUR, WARPATH, FEDERAL OFFENSE, and his latest release, IMPERFECT CRIMES, can be purchased online at Amazon.com, Albis.com, most American book stores and at The Book Store on V.Carranza in Puerto Vallarta. A recent addition to the BanderasNews Team, Robert has also written articles for several magazines, including Flying, Dance, and San Francisco. For more information about the author and his literary works, visit his webpage on PublishedAuthors.net or send an email to capnbobby@yahoo.com. |
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