Living in Mexico - Los Ayala’s Town Plaza

Town plazas are very important to the Mexican culture and families, as they serve as a gathering place for all the community to enjoy. Traditional Mexican towns embrace town plazas, otherwise known as zocalos; a place where children play; locals gather to chat and relax; and the site of lively fiestas, civic and cultural events. Until most recently one square block of earth and sand served as the town plaza for Los Ayala.

There is a government program called the “3 for 1 Program” which is available to help small towns in Mexico, such as Los Ayala make improvements. The program was started by a group of Mexican immigrants living in California who formed a formal society to raise money to help small communities in Mexico.

The Mexican government recognized the donations from this society and in recognition of the society’s efforts and to show their appreciation they set up the “3 for 1 Program” program, and agreed to match any funds raised - three fold. It was created to acknowledge the fact that tourists and immigrants do contribute to the small towns they visit and reside in. In the municipality of Compostela, the federal government and the state of Nayarit, will match the amount donated by tourists and immigrants.

Here is the link for the web site which contains more detailed information about the program

http://microrregiones.sedesol.gob.mx

In  March of 2009, Romy Mora “Juez of Los Ayala” learned of the “3 for 1 Program and, approached the government representatives and demonstrated the true need for a town plaza for Los Ayala. She established that the town had already raised some monies for this project, requesting an extension of the deadline date and a revision to the program process which would allow the Mexican people in our community to donate directly to the fund in Los Ayala, instead of through the society in California.  She worked very hard to demonstrate the great need for a town plaza for the community of Los Ayala, and in recognition of her efforts the coordinators for the “3 for 1 program” in Compostela found a loop hole which would allow the local Mexican people to contribute funds straight, and granted a three week extension to Romy to allow her more time to raise funds for the Town Square project.

The projected cost of building the Town Plaza which was to include a gazebo, seating areas and decorative plants was $100,000 CAD. The town’s goal was to raise $25,000 CAD. A traditional Mexican Fiesta was organized as a fund raiser for the Town Plaza.

The small town of Los Ayala had just three weeks to raise $25,000.00 CAD, not an easy feat! Everyone worked together to organize a Mexican Fiesta to raise funds for the Town Square. The fiesta was hosted by a favourite local restaurant Palapa Rosita. The venue and the entertainment were donated; as was the majority of the labour, food and beverage; ensuring that the majority of the funds raised  went towards the Town Square… At the event we sold raffle tickets for prizes and silent auction items, which were all donated by residents, tourists and businesses to raise even more funds.

The event combined with donations from community businesses and personal donations from the community including residents, tourists and expatriates raised $28,200.00 CAD. Each dollar raised was matched by the government will threefold, and the result is the beautiful Town Plaza you see in Los Ayala today.

By Christina Stobbs
www.LosAyalaLife.com

We would love to hear more about the place you live as an expat - email us at editor@expatdailynews.com

Subscribe to our free newsletters Everything you want and need to know about - from overseas employment ideas and opportunities, to international retirement tips, from where to buy bargain real estate investments abroad, to how to ship out and set up a brand new life overseas. Easy subscription, easy to unsubscribe - No Spam

Back to Expat Daily News  Subscribe in a reader

ESCAPEARTISTS - TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE THAT YOU ARE NOT SEEING

What articles would you like to see added? What questions would you like answered? We want to provide you with more of what you want to see. Click here and tell us now.