Dear friends and comrades,
We are running this fundraiser to support six autonomous, intercultural schools fully led and operated by Indigenous members of the Wixárika and Na’ayeri peoples in Western Mexico.
Following the principles of autonomy and sovereignty, these schools are self-organised and provide a learning environment for young Indigenous people aged 11 to 20 in remote areas of the state of Nayarit. Here, students receive instruction in Wirrárika and Nayeri language, traditional medicine and herbology, Indigenous rights, weaving, wood carving, and more. These educational spaces not only preserve Indigenous knowledge but also empower communities in their resistance against extractive projects and land grabbing threats from private corporations.
Because the schools operate independently from state support, they face significant challenges with resources and infrastructure.
To strengthen this vital, autonomous, and decolonial effort, we are requesting two types of donations:
- Monetary donations: These contributions will help improve the schools’ infrastructure (floors, roofs, and windows) and support the volunteer Indigenous instructors who dedicate their time and expertise.
- Devices (new or used tablets or laptops):Donated devices will be used to teach computing skills to students. We can also accept non-working devices, as we will arrange repairs before donating them.
To contribute financially, please use this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/intercultural-education-CNI-Mexico
For device donations (laptops or tablets), please contact us via Instagram (zapatistasolidaritynetwork) or on our website https://zapatistasolidarity.net/
To learn more about this autonomous education project, visit these links (in Spanish):
Red de Bachilleratos Interculturales Wixáritari
Bachillerato Intercultural Muxatena
To learn more about Indigenous struggles in Mexico and the recent visit of members of the Indigenous National Congress to London, visit this link: https://lab.org.uk/mexico-national-indigenous-congress-delegation-visits-london/
Thank you for your support!
With love and solidarity,
The Zapatista Solidarity Network
