The following photos were taken in the border towns of Arizona/Mexico for one of the Leaders Today youth volunteer trips. These programs highlight the issues faced by undocumented migrants attempting the perilous and often fatal desert crossings. Unfortunately I was only in the area for a couple of days and didn't have the opportunity to dig in deep; however, I did at least skim the surface by taking photos at the border itself, at the More than Just Coffee headquarters, CRREDA, Wind Song, and Patagonia Lake State Park.
At one point we climbed 'the wall' dividing Arizona and Mexico for a couple of shots, and within seconds border patrol was waiting on the other side. Needless to say, the area is rife with political tension.
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More Than Just Coffee: A large percentage of the migrants attempting to cross the border into the United States come from areas as far away as Chiapas and Guatemala. In many cases, entire villages will contribute all of their money in the hopes that one of their community members will make it across, find a job, and be able to send money back to support their village. This makes the situation very difficult for those who don't make it. The More Than Just Coffe cooperative provides a viable alternative for these people. Coffee beans are grown and harvested in the provinces (ie. areas of Chiapas and Guatemala), shipped to the border town of Agua Prieta, packaged by former migrants, and then sold in areas across North America. Unlike Fair Trade , More Than Just Coffee pays a fair wage to harvestors, but also keeps the labour and income from roasting and sales within the co-op community of former migrants. Money is then allocated to the worker's union for health benefits, education, and community development. CRREDA: Located just outside of Nogales, Mexico, the CRREDA is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center that provides shelter, food, and counselling to anyone in need. No one is ever turned away, at any hour, and people stay under their own valition. The center is not government run, so it is kept running through the work of those using the facility, and through volunteer donations. What makes the CRREDA program unique is its process of rehabilitation. There are no drugs to help with detoxification; instead, addicts are buoyed up through the support of other program participants and their personal stories of failure and triumph. Wind Song: The ranch and homestead built by Gini. The ranch has been donated to Free the Children/Leaders Today as an education facility for their youth volunteer trips. Patagonia State Park: One of the largest fresh-water lakes in Arizona, this man-made body is renowned for its diversity of bird life.
