page last updated 1-28-2015
IF 160 Sunflower Lane Watsonville, CA 95076 Phone: 831-724-4108
About IF
IF is a nonprofit humanitarian, educational and social change organization located in the Santa Cruz, CA, area. We are a community of friends seeking hopeful alternatives to the violence, greed and destructiveness of our world. more about IF's history and mission
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IF Fiscal Sponsorships
IF offers Fiscal Sponsorships to qualified groups to facilitate their fundraising.
more information about Fiscal Sponsorships New IF Donor-Advised Project
IF recently approved a new donor-advised project with Yonton Ansetik Stisikos Svokolik, an organization of women artisans in Chiapas, Mexico. more about Yonton Ansetik Stisikos Svokolik |
Upcoming Fundraising Events and Activities
Information on some of IF's supported projects
Pietro Ameglio, Latin American Educator and Activist,
Awarded 2014 El-Hibri Peace Education Prize
 Pietro Ameglio
Dear Friends of IF, Followers of this website will be familiar with the extraordinary and courageous peace building work of Pietro Ameglio in Mexico that IF has supported for the last several years. In fact, IF's support was integral to Pietro being able to devote himself full-time to nonviolence education and organizing, his true vocation, when he left his long-time job as a department chair at a university in Cuernavaca several years ago. It is with great pleasure that we share the news that the El-Hibri Foundation has selected Pietro for its 2014 Peace Education Prize. The award cites Pedro "for his courageous and relentless dedication to the spirit and principles of nonviolence, non-militarism and social justice and for his empowerment of countless victims and survivors of violence." Pietro is clearly one of the most important nonviolent activists in Latin America today in the specific sense of promoting both the study and the practice of active nonviolence. He has a sophisticated knowledge of nonviolence theory and history, and he combines that with a deep commitment to social justice and decades of front-line experience in nonviolent action. He is an inspiring and popular peace educator who walks his talk, who educates in formal settings as well as on picket lines and at mass actions. The leadership, commitment, vision, knowledge, diverse competencies, courage, and love that he brings to each task and to each challenge are the |
Poster promoting a workshop by
Pietro in Cuenca, Ecuador on "Active Nonviolence Strategies for a New World" consistent and outstanding characteristics
that make him worthy of this award.
Pietro is a bit uncomfortable with the personal recognition, insisting that it is actually a recognition of collective efforts. In that regard, he has been able to arrange with the El-Hibri Foundation to be accompanied in Washington by a representative of the relatives of the murdered and disappeared, Carlos Moreno, so that they would be seen and have their own voice. He has also announced that the prize money will be divided among several social movement groups that he works with closely. Please see the accompanying press release and join us in celebrating this great news and sharing it with others. |
Supporting Active Nonviolence in Mexico:
On the Frontlines with Pietro Ameglio
IF is raising funds to support the crucial work of Pietro Ameglio, who for decades has promoted active nonviolence in Mexico and across Latin America. An activist, popular educator, university lecturer, and author, Pietro is a co-founder and leader of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) that emerged in 2011 to challenge drug-war violence, increasing militarization, and human rights violations in Mexico. His nonviolence education programs are in constant demand across Mexico, and he has helped organize and lead numerous nonviolent direct action campaigns. more information on Pietro
He is a co-founder (1987) and leader of Servicio Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice Service/SERPAJ) in Mexico. SERPAJ is a Latin American network working in 13 countries to promote human rights, social justice and nonviolent culture and struggle. Your contributions make possible the modest stipend that allows Pietro to dedicate himself to the nonviolence education and organizing work.
click here to donate and support Pietro and read updates on his nonviolence activities
On the Frontlines with Pietro Ameglio
IF is raising funds to support the crucial work of Pietro Ameglio, who for decades has promoted active nonviolence in Mexico and across Latin America. An activist, popular educator, university lecturer, and author, Pietro is a co-founder and leader of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) that emerged in 2011 to challenge drug-war violence, increasing militarization, and human rights violations in Mexico. His nonviolence education programs are in constant demand across Mexico, and he has helped organize and lead numerous nonviolent direct action campaigns. more information on Pietro
He is a co-founder (1987) and leader of Servicio Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice Service/SERPAJ) in Mexico. SERPAJ is a Latin American network working in 13 countries to promote human rights, social justice and nonviolent culture and struggle. Your contributions make possible the modest stipend that allows Pietro to dedicate himself to the nonviolence education and organizing work.
click here to donate and support Pietro and read updates on his nonviolence activities
Patricia and Sergio's helpers, Iker, César, Edith & Alfonso.
Updates on Sergio Castro/Yok Chij
(January 2015)
For over 45 years Sergio Castro (Yok Chij) has been working within the indigenous Mayan communities of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas, one of the poorest states of Mexico. Sergio spends most of his time providing medical and wound care to burn victims, and, with increasing frequency, patients suffering from the effects of type 2 diabetic complications. Don Sergio does not charge any fees.
He is a “one-man-wound-care clinic” and is always moving, hence the name ‘yok chij’, Maya language, Tzotzil for ‘deer foot’, because he’s always moving. Don Sergio's project activities are regularly updated on his blog, maintained by Patricia Ferrer, who has worked with him for seven years, @ http://sergiocastrosc.blogspot.mx
Sergio and his work in Chiapas were the focus of a New York Times article on August 14, 2013. The online article also includes a short video and slide show. Access the article at this link "In Mexico, a Healer Who Asks Nothing in Return". His work is also the subject of an award winning documentary film, El Andalon. (@ http://veremosproductions.com/el-andalon-2/)
Ms. Ferrer recently provided IF with a report on Don Sergio's activities in 2014. During 2014, Don Sergio completed, on average, 140 patient visits a week. Many of the patients have wounds from burns and diabetic foot ulcers and venous stasis ulcers (leg). The reason for the frequent visits is that burns and wounds require daily to every 3 day wound care depending on the severity. The length of visit per patient also varies from 30 minutes of wound care for severely burned patients to 5 minutes for basic dressing change for healing leg ulcers.
(January 2015)
For over 45 years Sergio Castro (Yok Chij) has been working within the indigenous Mayan communities of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas, one of the poorest states of Mexico. Sergio spends most of his time providing medical and wound care to burn victims, and, with increasing frequency, patients suffering from the effects of type 2 diabetic complications. Don Sergio does not charge any fees.
He is a “one-man-wound-care clinic” and is always moving, hence the name ‘yok chij’, Maya language, Tzotzil for ‘deer foot’, because he’s always moving. Don Sergio's project activities are regularly updated on his blog, maintained by Patricia Ferrer, who has worked with him for seven years, @ http://sergiocastrosc.blogspot.mx
Sergio and his work in Chiapas were the focus of a New York Times article on August 14, 2013. The online article also includes a short video and slide show. Access the article at this link "In Mexico, a Healer Who Asks Nothing in Return". His work is also the subject of an award winning documentary film, El Andalon. (@ http://veremosproductions.com/el-andalon-2/)
Ms. Ferrer recently provided IF with a report on Don Sergio's activities in 2014. During 2014, Don Sergio completed, on average, 140 patient visits a week. Many of the patients have wounds from burns and diabetic foot ulcers and venous stasis ulcers (leg). The reason for the frequent visits is that burns and wounds require daily to every 3 day wound care depending on the severity. The length of visit per patient also varies from 30 minutes of wound care for severely burned patients to 5 minutes for basic dressing change for healing leg ulcers.
Iker treats while DS looks on
During parts of 2014 Don Sergio had the assistance of three pre-Medical students working with him and a Spanish RN Santo Iker (pictured in photos). Iker, from the Basque region of Spain, said when he arrived at his posada last year, he briefly met someone who told him of Don Sergio. Iker went on DS’s tour and then came back later to see if he could help. DS told him, “only look, don’t touch”. Iker, a well-trained RN with a lot of experience with serious wounds, saw DS getting busy so he stepped in and got to work. He has been in San Cris for almost a year and helps DS most evenings at the museo.
Many people ask what will happen when Don Sergio is not able to provide wound and burn care to the people he’s been serving all these years. DS usually answers, ‘I don't know’ or ‘it will just stop’. It makes sense to train someone who can continue, but who would be likely to give of themself as DS does? People have wanted to help but the follow-through has been iffy and in the past and has compromised his trust. Iker's working with DS consistently has built trust. Shortly after his arrival, César and Alfonso, two Coletos jovenes (young people born in San Cris) showed up wanting to learn and help DS as well. Now Edith (another premedical Coleta) is helping and its obvious DS appreciates and enjoys their help. They all plan on attending medical school and are eager to play a part in some type of patient care exposure. It is Patricia Ferrer's hope that these Coletos will continue to help and possibly return after all their medical training.
Don Sergio has also always worked on building schools and water catchment filtration systems for the indigenous villages and poor neighborhoods in the San Cristóbal area. In 2014 a water project was completed for a community, Golnahoktik, on the road to Chamula. This is a cistern that collects water for drinking and washing which serves over125 families. It was funded by a private donation and a Whidbey Island Rotary Grant. Don Sergio also has finished up 2 rooms for a school in the suburbs of San Cristóbal, partially funded by a French group and the Whidbey Rotary Grant
read more about Don Sergio's work in Chiapas, Mexico
Many people ask what will happen when Don Sergio is not able to provide wound and burn care to the people he’s been serving all these years. DS usually answers, ‘I don't know’ or ‘it will just stop’. It makes sense to train someone who can continue, but who would be likely to give of themself as DS does? People have wanted to help but the follow-through has been iffy and in the past and has compromised his trust. Iker's working with DS consistently has built trust. Shortly after his arrival, César and Alfonso, two Coletos jovenes (young people born in San Cris) showed up wanting to learn and help DS as well. Now Edith (another premedical Coleta) is helping and its obvious DS appreciates and enjoys their help. They all plan on attending medical school and are eager to play a part in some type of patient care exposure. It is Patricia Ferrer's hope that these Coletos will continue to help and possibly return after all their medical training.
Don Sergio has also always worked on building schools and water catchment filtration systems for the indigenous villages and poor neighborhoods in the San Cristóbal area. In 2014 a water project was completed for a community, Golnahoktik, on the road to Chamula. This is a cistern that collects water for drinking and washing which serves over125 families. It was funded by a private donation and a Whidbey Island Rotary Grant. Don Sergio also has finished up 2 rooms for a school in the suburbs of San Cristóbal, partially funded by a French group and the Whidbey Rotary Grant
read more about Don Sergio's work in Chiapas, Mexico
