San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico – Entreamigos began in 2006 on a kitchen table in the middle of a San Pancho street. Today, housed in a giant warehouse recognized as a model sustainable facility, it is an active community center with classes and workshops, a scholarship program, a bilingual library for children and adults, a computer center, an extensive recycling program, a gift store and the Recicla thrift shop. Here’s what’s happening this month at Entreamigos:
Entreamigos 5th Annual Environmental Fair
We were so excited that we were able to have our 5th Annual Environmental Fair at Entreamigos! This year, to ensure everyone’s safety, the fair was held over an entire week. Each day had a different environmental theme (Nutrition, Upcycling, Bio-Construction, and Nature Conservation) with workshops for children and adults.
The fair culminated on Friday in an interaction tour with 6 organizations offering experiential learning activities for grade school children. Tours began every 15 minutes with groups of 10 students. We received 92 people during the week in the specialized thematic workshops and 140 children the day of the fair!
Thank you to the volunteers, workshop teachers and participating organizations:
Karla Jimenez
MarJo Guyot
Federico Chupete Illanes
Indi Rodriguez
Alessa Araiza
Luis Morales
Patricia Rosales
Rodrigo Nuñez
Riviera Nayarit
Bahia de Banderas Government
Grupo de Investigación de Mamíferos Marinos (GRIMMA)
La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club
Imperial Bee
Bee Green
Curcu+
New Collaborative Recycled Art Installation
We want to thank our incredible recycled art volunteers, Julie and Erik LaGacie for yet another fabulous installation with art from the children of San Pancho using recycled soda cans. Here is how the artist describes this intricate work:
“The ability to see things in a different way is an important skill when it comes to being creative. This project, inspired by the recycla program at Entreamigos, used recycled materials in a different way. Many children in the community painted their own little circular paintings on the bottoms of aluminum cans that were thrown away or put into the recycle bins around town. Much like a quilt or a weaving when joined together, this wall hanging was created to show that everyday items can be beautiful when used in a creative way.
Art doesn’t have to require a lot of money to make. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and it certainly can be inspired by what is around you. As a middle school art teacher in the United States, I am constantly trying out different materials and learning to look at things in a new way.
When people see the recycled art projects at Entreamigos I hope that they are inspired to see things differently. Look at what can happen when everyone takes a little action – the results can be meaningful and beautiful, as well as beneficial to the earth.”
Last Artist Corner of the Year!
Please join us for the last Artist Corner event of the year. This month features artists Conny Torres and SKOHABIBI. Conny has worked at the Entreamigos ReciclaShop for 7 years. What you might not know is that she is also a poet and bookmaker. Come check out the her handcrafted work!
Skohabibi is a renown artist who worked with our Creative Women’s Group to created up cycled throw pillows that were featured in an event at Cielo Rojo last month. Now these incredible works will be on display at the Entreamigos Gallery.
The event will be held in our open library space and there is a maximum of 15 guests at one time. We look forward to seeing you this coming Thursday, May 6th between 5:00-7:00 pm.
To reserve a time slot, please email us at info(at)entreamigos.org.mx.
Outdoor Education at Entreamigos
We are happy to share this great piece written by a long time friend and supporter of Entreamigos, Shiela Koch. After our recent newsletter sharing our outdoor classes, she reached out to interview our Education Director, Nicole Majewski about what we’ve been doing outside in the garden this year.
Not only is Nicole our coordinator of educational workshops and spaces, she also serves on the Board of Directors for The Cedarsong Way, a Forest School Association in the US and has much to share with us about this subject. We are grateful to have her input in times of such change and shifting dynamics in the education systems at large.
To take a look at the full article click HERE.
Thank you to our Fundraiser Supporters!
We were so moved to see all the incredible support for our 15th Birthday and Annual Fundraiser. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event possible, everyone who donated and to every person and business who donated items to our online auction. You are what makes it possible to continue this important work!
Thank you the musical group, Caravan, featuring Nina, Humberto, Julien and Charlie who donated a set of their music stylings to the event. Click HERE to see the video.
Thank you to Benjamin Ramauge, Levi Zortman for your video footage and editing and to Jillian Mitchel for her photos to capture all the Entreamigos magic in our 15th Anniversary video. Click HERE to see the video.
Other Ways to Support Entreamigos
Be a Volunteer!
If you are here in San Pancho, we have lots of safe ways to become a volunteer with everything from painting, outdoor small group classes, sorting materials, processing donations, etc. Please email Gaelle at voluntarios(at)entreamigos.org.mx for more detailed information.
Use Amazon Smile
When you go to smile.amazon.com and enter Entreamigos as your beneficiary organization, you can shop with your normal account and Entreamigos receives .5% of the price of your purchase at no additional cost to you. It’s an easy and convenient way of supporting this important work!
In-Kind Donations
Our secondhand store, ReciclaShop has become so important to our community, now more than ever! You are supporting local families when you donate you clothes and household item in good condition. Please note: donations are accepted at the MAIN ENTRANCE, Mondays thru Fridays 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
One-Time or Monthly Donations
If you would like support this important work, you can make a secure donation via credit card or PayPal, by clicking HERE.
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of the children and families of San Pancho!
Entreamigos primary focus is to increase educational opportunities for the children of San Pancho in Nayarit Mexico. To achieve these goals Entreamigos runs an art collective non-profit store, a library, a computer center and a collection of educational and community based workshops and initiatives. Entreamigos is entirely funded by donations and almost completely run by volunteers. To learn more about our programs and activities please visit entreamigos.org.mx.