My Story, and my Dream

¨My name is Maria Marilu Jimenez Lopez, my dharma name is Loving Path to the Heart, I was born in Cruz del Rosario, Las Margaritas District, in Chiapas, Mexico. I am a member of the Tojolabal Indigenous Community. I work with children in Grammar School, both, boys and girls who come from these indigenous communities.  I also work with young adults, and teenagers in junior high school in the same communities. My work consists of helping our youth to build up strong foundations that will prevent discrimination and violence, especially those associated with gender discrimination. We work with them to form the young minds that will stand up for their own rights and respect, and learn how to take good care of their own bodies, which we hope will result in future harmonious relationships with their partners.

I came to learn about Mindfulness and through starting to practice it, I have become a stronger person and I have found peace, understanding and the patience I need to solve difficult conflicts both at work and with my own family. Mindfulness has also positively influenced all my day-to-day relationships.
This where I find the conviction that participating in the Spanish educators retreat with Thây, would enable me to deepen my understanding and practice of his teachings, which I feel will help me become a more wholesome person. In turn, this experience will undoubtedly enable me to better help the children and adolescents I work with in the indigenous communities of Chiapas, who simply need better role models.

In these increasingly challenging times of globalization, good guidance and support is indispensable for young adults to make informed decisions at the various demanding and important stages of their lives. 

I hope you would be willing and able to support me in realizing my dream, so that I can receive the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, and return better prepared to support the children and young adults in my community and all those around me in the poor Tojolobal indigenous population. 

With much gratitude,
Marilú"

Short Background & Summary

Norma Inés and her husband Carlos are members of the Orden of Interbeing. They run a social empowerment and education for children NGO in the southernmost State of Mexico, Chiapas. Chiapas is the most impoverished and underdeveloped area in the whole of Mexico. Its population is predominantly indigenous, consisting of various ethno-linguistical groups belonging to the Mayan people, among others. The organisation of Norma Inés and Carlos (named IDEAS AC) trains indigenous youngsters to teach the youth in their communities and schools about their options, choices, rights, sexual identity and future development. Being ordained OI members, Norma Inés and Carlos have furthermore inspired some of the talented young people they work with to explore mindfulness, and learn about what a mindful way of living can contribute to the self-development of young people.

Marilu, a young educator from the Tojolabals indigenous group of Chiapas, a young lady with an amazingly calm demeanor, shy yet very articulate when sharing, a wonderful and joyful presence who stood out in the group just by her very -indeed mindful- energy. This lady, Marilu, has a dream: receiving the teachings of our teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, in person. Something that would be life changing for her, and that would directly benefit so many of the indigenous youth of Chiapas she works with.

Unfortunately it was impossible for Marilu to obtain a U.S. visa to attend the Northern America Tour of 2013. Therefore, it is now Marilu's dream, and the wish, desire and hope of the Mexico City OI and (new) Wake Up Sanghas to support Marilu, to participate in the Wake Up Spain Tour 2014.

What Is Achieved & What Is Needed

• The organizing team of the Thich Nhat Hanh Spain Tour (http://tnhspain.org/) supports Marilu, offering her a 100% scholarship to attend all the events in which Thay will be teaching, including the Educators Retreat.
  
  
• The Mexican Sangha members and their friends, who know and are aware of the work of Marilu in Chiapas, have raised the money to purchase and donate the return flights from México to Madrid.
  

We need your support for:

• Accommodation and Food in Madrid and Barcelona on the non-retreat days 
  (15 days = approximately. 1650 US$
  
• Transportation from Madrid to Barcelona and Barcelona to Madrid. (100 US$)
  
• 3 tickets to various museums (60 US$)
  
• Other Expenses (190 US$)
  
• Indiegogo fees and shipping ( 200 US$)
  

The Impact

Marilu lives on $ 600 a month and helps her family. She devotes her life to working with children and adolescents. Last year, 563 children and teenagers participated in the workshops she offers to help them understand and defend their rights, understand and transform their emotions and taking care their  bodies. Marilu's work helps to transform the conditions of violence and lack of social justice in the indigenous communities of Chiapas (Las Margaritas). 

The teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh help strengthen Marilu´s good seeds.

With your help these seeds will flourish in many children and adolescents in the very near future in Chiapas!
 

Other Ways You Can Help

If you cannot contribute financially, this that doesn't mean you can't help!

• Please help by sharing Marilu's dream with your friends, your Sangha, other Sangha's, colleagues, and anyone else you know!
  Share this campaign on Facebook, Twitter, via Email, or in any other way!
                                        (See above)
  The short link is: igg.me/at/marilus-mindfulness-dream
  
  

Thank You a Thousand Times!

                  "Happy Educators Will Change the World" - Thich Nhat Hanh