Mexico City, April 20, 2023.- From the area of Social CommitmentUniversidad Panamericana seeks to contribute to the common good of society by forming in students a true social conscience and responsibility that contributes to the solution of specific problems, in search of a greater benefit for the community.
One of the areas in which Panamericana tries to join efforts is in the construction of housing to support families in vulnerable communities. It is with this purpose that since the UP Volunteer Workshop, after the earthquake of September 19, 2017, works hand in hand with "Dibujando otra realidad A.C.", a civil association that provides assistance to families residing in the Chinampas areas in Xochimilco.
At the head of this association is Viviana Sarza, whose path crossed one day by chance with Panamericana and the alliance was born. " The Universidad Panamericana is the one that opens the doors for us and tells us 'we believe in you'," Viviana recalls about the moment when the partnership was born.
The importance of helping
Dibujando otra realidad A.C. seeks to help all those in need, especially those who live in marginalization or poverty. Viviana points out that it is important to have empathy and put ourselves in the place of others and calls on young people to join her cause: "if others are cold, it also hits me, even if I don't even see them, so we have to draw another reality".
Regarding the support that this A.C. receives from Panamericana, Viviana explains: "For years we have been working with them (Panamericana students and collaborators) and they help us a lot, they donate to us, they give us hands and that is how we are achieving the improvements (of houses and buildings) (...) when Universidad Panamericana comes, the improvement is visible, because there are many hands helping us".
Sandra Dimas Gonzales, better known as "Caro", is also a beneficiary of the civil association directed by Viviana, but she says that more than five years ago, when she received help for the construction of her house, she decided to join "Dibujando otra realidad" to give others the same help she received, because she concludes: "This is not for one, but for everyone. Mexico needs people like this (who help others) so that we can move forward.
The voice of reality
Lucila Vallejo, mother of seven children, says that when she met Viviana she had doubts about the disinterested help that "Dibujando otra realidad" promised with the Universidad Panamericana, but when she learned about the work that the A.C. did with the volunteer hands of students, she did not hesitate to accept the favor: "I am happy that they support us. (The help of these kids) gives you a reason to keep working hard".
Lucila says that, although she has had the little house that UP volunteers helped her build for four or more years now, she still sometimes finds it hard to believe in her fortune: "Sometimes I wonder if I'm dreaming and I pinch myself (...) I want to thank the Universidad Panamericana for all the support they have given us," she says.
Results that make you proud
Since the UP Volunteer workshop began collaborating with "Drawing another reality", the following results have been obtained:
- 20 houses have been built in the areas of San Gregorio and San Marcos in the chinampas of Xochimilco.
- 200 people have benefited.
- During the pandemic, the construction of houses was suspended, but a fundraising project was supported, raising + $50,000 MXN.
- We have built +10 chicken coops so that families have an extra income and can be self-sustaining.
The mission of the Social Commitment area of Universidad Panamericana is to develop activities that generate better living conditions in the adopted communities, as well as to meet basic subsistence and development requirements in terms of food, clothing and housing, whose beneficiaries are people in need, low-income regions, indigenous communities and vulnerable groups.
Learn more about the achievements of Compromiso Social here: Annual Report 2022.
If you are interested in participating in any of these social aid initiatives visit: https://www.up.edu.mx/sobre-la-universidad-impacto-social-grupos-iniciativa/
