The Border Partners annual health fair in Palomas, Mexico ( pop. 4700) has come and gone. Young women offering free blood pressure testing, a special meal of burritos with all sorts of sauces, clothing and shoes for those in need, free hairstyling for many of the women.
People came from all town including a group of brightly dressed but very solemn Tarahumara women who shuffled through the clothing looking for the brightest outfits. Kids played soccer in the background while we visited with the Border Partner founders, Peter and Polly Edmunds and their very impressive director of their Palomas office, Juan Rascón.
We brought some of the clothing and shoes and there was clearly an immediate need. These needs will continue here; The town is impoverished and there are few job opportunities. Back in 2008, with input from the citizens of Palomas, Border Partners ( founded by the Edmunds originally from Minnesota as well as Helena Meyers now living in Columbus) settled on four priorities and has pursued them now for all these years. They are:
One example is the computer classes organized by Rascón’s very capable assistant Vicki Ibarra. 45 youth ages 11-16 attended their youth center four days a week since last August for classes, sports activities and healthy food.
Helena Meyers, Peter and Polly Edmunds. (Photo: Morgan Smith)
Health care as exemplified by the annual health fair we attended plus several others. Border Partners also provided 300 classes about the benefits of healthy eating to some 700 students, as well as classes for the teachers and cooks in the seven schools.
In addition, Border Partners has hired a health promotor, Aylin Vega to do health checks, host sports activities and other events. It is also working with a retired doctor, Francisco Javier Parra who will work on nutrition training including workshops. Diet is a huge issue in Mexico, in general. Seventeen percent of Mexican adults age 20-79 have diabetes; it is the second leading cause of death after heart attacks. Mexico consumes more Coca Cola per capita than any country in the world.
Are there ways to generate employment here? A difficult task.
Much of what Border Partners does is to meet immediate needs. Food distribution, for example. What makes it unique, however, is its efforts in sustainable technology and how that can affect the future. Look at two projects, both of which will move ahead in 2026.
First, papercrete. This is a building material like a cinder block but made with a mixture of paper and concrete. It is lighter, cheaper, better for the environment and has better insulating values.
Girl at food distribution in Modelo. (Photo: Morgan Smith)
A lighter brick is easier to build with. The better insulation values give it other uses. Peter Edmunds pointed out a house with a metal roof that offered no protection from either the blazing summer heat or the winter cold. The owner resolved this by spreading a layer of papercrete over the metal roof.
By mixing waste paper with the cement, you also reduce the amount of waste paper that goes to the foul, smoky local dump on the edge of town which is a source of air pollution.
The question now is how to commercialize this technology or at least put it to use in other border areas.
One idea might be to team up with the non-profit, Siguiendo los Pasos de Jesus (Following the Footsteps of Jesus) which has built over 700 houses in the area south of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry and on the west side of Juarez. Their houses cost about $10,000 each to build. Could this technology reduce costs and provide better insulation?
The second technology involves what are called biochar stoves and their role in the development of community and school gardens. Originally the idea was to burn pecan shells in these small stoves and mix the biochar with the poor local soil; now there is abundant manure to use instead. The result has been three large community greenhouses which provide vegetables for six schools as well as three more greenhouses at actual schools. This area like much of the border has historically been a “ vegetable desert” and as a result there has been no real tradition of eating fresh vegetables.
The Border Partners idea is to focus on students, creating a generational change in dietary habits.
In the meantime, the biochar stoves – locally made – can be used for less costly home heating.
Free hair styling at health fair. (Photo: Morgan Smith)
Most all of us who provide support for various humanitarian programs along the border meet immediate human needs such as food and clothing, needs that persist from visit to visit. Border Partners has taken an additional step in an effort to change culture. What, for example, would be the long-term result of the cheaper, more effective papercrete blocks on the ongoing lack of decent housing? Couldn’t many more houses be built? What will be the result of kids changing their diets and including more vegetables? Wouldn’t this reduce the deadly occurrence of diabetes?
Greenhouse in Palomas. (Photo: Morgan Smith)
This small non-profit in tiny Palomas and its leaders – Peter and Polly Edmunds, Helena Myers, Juan Rascón, Vicki Ibarra and their staff members – have set a powerful example of leadership that needs to replicated along the border.
Editor’s Note: The above guest column was provided by writer and humanitarian Morgan Smith. Smith has been traveling to the border at least monthly for the last 15 years to document conditions there and assist various humanitarian organizations. The column appears in the Rio Grande Guardian with the permission of the author. Smith can be reached by email via: Morgan-smith@comcast.net.
