This past August, YDCCF, in partnership with The Xflats, hosted the third year of the Xcalak Community Engagement project in Xcalak, Mexico. Started in the summer of 2022, this year presented a major expansion with a model that also supports year-round English and arts program for the children of Xcalak.
During the weeklong project, local Xcalak adults continued with increasingly advanced English lessons through hands-on dialogues, games, and targeted lessons at the lodge, while children ages 3-16 attended a day camp in the village at the new “Esperanza de Vida,” a community-built structure that will support year round programming. The camp, with new materials provided by YDCCF, supported sports and fitness, English lessons, art, crafts, music, and sign language. Both groups, including the teachers, worked with Oceanus to learn more about coral reef restoration and reef conservation techniques.
A celebration and raffle with the entire community capped off the week. Artist David Danforth, who had been at Xflats working on a commission, painted a permit outline on the outside wall of Esperanza de Vida that the children added their colorful handprints to, while participants also received hats and mugs and certificates to commemorate their week full of fun and learning.
The ultimate goal of the Xcalak Community Engagement Project and Esperenza de Vida is to provide a self-sustaining community center with vibrant programming offered throughout the year. In all, over 20 adults and almost 50 children in the community participated in the weeklong program, and many children have already signed up for the year-round enrichment classes. The Xcalak Community Engagement Project is jointly funded by YDCCF and The Xflats through the YDCCF Lodge Partner Program.
