Mexico: Solidarity in Action Fund
The long-term health of Mexico’s marine and terrestrial biodiversity and the enjoyment of its rich natural resources are threatened by unchecked development. The pressures of over-harvesting and over-fishing, deforestation, and aggressive development are making it more difficult for communities to continue making a living from the resources that they have depended upon for generations. Large-scale tourism development has especially affected coastal communities. At the same time, both internal and external migration has weakened the social fabric of communities, making them more dependent on remittances and less organized in their approaches to local problems. Yet across the country, small organizations and groups are succeeding in mobilizing community action.
The Fund for Solidarity in Action (Fondo de Accion Solidaria–FASOL) was established in 2007 by advisors of the Greengrants Mexico Advisory Board. It acts as an advisor for Global Greengrants Fund grants in Mexico. The mission of FASOL is to create a movement of healthy, sustainable, effective grassroots organizations that are working towards social and economic justice for the peoples of Mexico. FASOL began working in Northwest Mexico and is now expanding its support to other regions of the country. To learn more about FASOL, click here.
- Raise awareness about social and environmental action
- Strengthen local action for initiatives that are based on local knowledge and that build trust
- Build from local ideas, priorities, needs, projects, and organizations
- Meet challenges in underserved and poor areas
- Focus on processes and people, not on projects
- Link initiatives and processes in organizations with greater capacity to those with need of this capacity
Board Priorities
Water
Healthy eco-systems
Sustainable communities
Preserving biodiversity
Countries
Las Margaritas Isla del Conde
Grant #: 53-621
Amount: $3,962
Country: Mexico
Focus: Indigenous PeoplesLas Margaritas Isla del Conde works on sustainable, income-generating projects for women in its community. With this grant, the organization will develop and construct a community gym, which will offer employment opportunities and help improve community fitness and health.
Xepe Cooil
Grant #: 53-942
Amount: $2,202
Country: Mexico
Focus: Biodiversity and Indigenous PeoplesIn conjunction with its mission to develop a non-exploitative source of income for the area's communitiy, Xepe Cooil is working to develop an alternative tourism program that will protect marine resources and promote the sale of artisan products.
Artemisa Castro Félix
Coordinator
Artemisa is the Executive Director of FASOL and the point-person for the Greengrants Alliance Funds partnership. She has a Ph.D. in Marine Sciences and is the founder and Executive Director of Sistemas Naturales y Desarrollo (SINADES), a nonprofit undertaking socio-environmental projects in the states of Nayarit and Baja California Sur. SINADES combines research and action projects to bring reliable technical information to rural communities that undertake sustainable local development.
Juan Francisco Garcia
Independent Consultant
A longtime activist based in San Blas, in the State of Nayarit, Juan has worked with isolated fishing communities situated along the mangrove coast. He first began working on his own and later went on to create the Grupo Manglar, A.C. of which he is currently Director. The Grupo Manglar seeks to promote the protection of the region’s natural resources by promoting community organization with those whose livelihoods are dependant upon natural resources; especially fisherman and rural workers, women’s groups and youth. More recently the group has begun working with tourist operators. Juan spends much of his time working with young groups and supporting their initiatives. In his free time, Juan is owner and manager of a bakery in San Blas, Nayarit.
Eladio Gaxiola
Universidad Autonoma de Sinaloa
Through his work as a research at Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS), Eladio has become involved in issues and struggles facing marginalized communities living right along the Gulf of California coast. His current work is with the community of Boca de Camichín, in the State of Nayarit, and involves a project to promote the sustainable cultivation of oysters; involving researchers from the University of Hawaii, the University of Rhode Island, Louisiana State University, and Eco Coastas of Ecuador with funding form USAID.
Francisco Gomez
Musco Comunitario de la Ballene
Francisco is a sculptor and engraver who aims to promote a culture of environmental conservation and the sustainable development of communities and disadvantaged groups in society. Over the past 15 years, he has worked as a volunteer and partner with multiple NGOs and Civil Society Organizations. One highlight is his participation in the Mexican Institute of Underwater Activities. Francisco also operates the Community Environmental Education Center at the Whale Museum in Baja California Sur. As the executive director of this museum, Francisco works to increase awareness and promote whale conservation, research, and environmental studies.
Sandra Guido
Alianza Para la Sustenabilidad del Noroeste Costero Mexicana
Sandra works in Environmental Education at the Mazatlán Unit in Aquaculture and Environmental Management of the Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. She develops marine and coastal environmental education programs and curricula for primary schools. Sandra is the State Coordinator of the Sinaloa Environmental Educators Network, a non-governmental organization that works toward the creation of a sustainable society through education. She also heads the Environmental Education and Regional Sustainable Development Program of the Natural History Museum “Estero del Yugo”. She has a Master’s Degree in Oceanology with emphasis on Marine Ecology from Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior do Ensenada (CICESE).
Laura Martinez Del Rio
Pro Esteros, A.C.
Laura Martinez is a founding member and current Director of PRO Esteros, a nonprofit organization providing support to grassroots groups as well as serving on numerous NGO advisory boards in the State of Baja California Notre. PRO Esteros is highly regarded for its long term commitment to community organizing and conservation. Laura’s work focuses on promoting environmental education, particularly among high school students. She also provides important leadership to the ALCOSTA movement at both regional and national levels – an alliance that promotes the protection and conservation of coastal natural resources.
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