Editorial

We would like to introduce you to the fourth edition of the Popular Migrant newspaper, a
publication created to give recognition to all the people in mobility and migrants that have
passed through our house and those who with their particularities and special abilities have
made La 72 a better place.

This edition had been specially dedicated to highlight all the achievements people have
obtained during and after their staying in the shelter. Also, to emphasise on the importance
of the social interactions between locals and the migrant community which we truly believe
are the pillars during the process of building an inclusive society in this border town of
Tenosique.

In This occasion the building up of the fourth edition was based on diverse people from
different nationalities narrating and sharing the experience of being part of different events
and how that participation has changed their lives and perspective about the world.
Additionally, personal growth and motivational stories where people share how important is
to get a job despite the difficulties of being a migrant. Finally, a section where the little and
not so little ones made a decision to give free rein to their imagination, to remember the
happy days, grandma’s recipes, happy moments with their families and on the whole all of
the cultural wealth that daily feeds our house.

We rest assured that this newspaper will inspire others, every single story written, and any
other expression of love and humanity embodied here will help people to never give up on
their dreams, to never stop believing. We truly believe in a peaceful life where people can
live in harmony, a world without borders where human transit is not a crime where justice
and dignity are paramount.

La 72 being part of Tenosique’s Carnival 2023

2023 will be in remembered as the year when La 72 participated once again after pandemic
in one of the most unusual carnivals of the world. For this occasion, the group of
unaccompanied minors after weeks of hard work, could make it and participate in the
decorated floats competition. Alex, who has participated in the play was expressing his
emotions not only for being part of the history but also because was his first experience; “it
was my first experience participating in a carnival and I have enjoyed it hugely, despite I
didn’t know what a carnival was, being part of it was amazing, got really excited”

Alex was fully aware already of what teamwork means due to his mornings of playing
football with his friends but was during the carnival where he felt it: “I was very excited, I
felt the support, we all were helping each other, giving encouragement to each other”. “The
prince” as per his friends know him as a result of the role he played, remembered with
special caring how the audience was cheering them up; “I think they loved it they were
clapping and yelling euphorically I can tell they really enjoyed the play, they supported us
very much… I was very happy I had always wanted to participate in activities full of people
where I can feel supported and seen. I will always remember that day it will be forever in my
heart, we the migrants also have the opportunity to participate in a theatre performance
and do positive things. Feel proud of myself.”

Finally, Alex believes that the participation in this kind of activities will help other migrant
teens to live positive experiences while help locals to understand better the multiculturality
where we live. I would love to tell other teens that if they have the chance to participate
take the most of it, you will have a beautiful memory of Mexico and can show others that in
La 72 we can also participate in local activities and do it full of pride.

Living fearless, 8M commemoration

Doña Mary as everyone knows her in the house, couldn’t help but feel upset every time she
remembers the inequality and discrimination that women suffer back in her country: “what
makes everything harder is to see how men think they have all the authority and all the
power, but clearly that is not true”; finishing the sentence with one of those smiles of a
strong and fully capable woman. Doña Mary, a woman who knows her rights, have clear
ideas and is aware of her position in this world says: despite being a foreigner living in
Mexico I can tell I have never been victim of discrimination, however in my country the
situation is quite different”. Her determination against this reality has helped her to become
the beacon and the reference to many women and girls in the shelter as per we could notice
it during the commemoration of the women’s day. “It was extremely important to raise
awareness and proclaim the message of equality among men. To attend the event had
made me feel I’m a valuable person, that I have a voice, that I count for the society.

“To know that there are women out there that have suffered the same experiences and
refuse to believe and to take action to change this reality make me feel sad. But I have faith,
I know they will not give up because we are women, we are brave, we have our rights and if
we have to shout it, we will shout it and if we have to cry, we will cry but nobody will deny
us our rights. We will fight for what we are, to raise our self-esteem and we will not let
anyone to make us feel less anymore because we know our worth and we worth
tremendously.”

Jaime
“we began the path questioning ourselves about what would be the reason why we are
constantly moving, what kind of strange force keep moving us despite all of those low
moments in our lives “
Jaime and his wife decided to participate in the Viacrucis migrante 2023. For them, that
strange force that made them move and participate was the desire to have a better life and
to not look back. Fully aware of what they would face during the viacrucis and full of that joy
and devotion to overcome obstacles both have decided to set in motion and walk for three
days. Jaime, joyful and spontaneous found and extra motivation when he realised, he would
have the chance to share with human rights defenders and with the leaders of the
communities located between El Pedregal and Tenosique.

After been talking with my wife and my son we have decided to do it and try to motivate
more and more people to do it as well in the future, to help Our fellow nationals to not fear
and likewise the communities will help more and more people that exactly like us had
walked this road. Once back at the shelter, physically exhausted but with their hearts full of
strength. Jaime and his wife remember the thrill of all what they lived, learnt and how
inspirinational was to share with people with a good heart. To see how motivated the
people were, was one of the highlights of the viacrucis, the support, the humanitarianism
the community has offered to us. During the path, I remembered that mysterious force and
what was keeping me motived along the way right after jumping on the car, completely
exhausted for about two kilometres my whole body was sore, but I said: no! I can do it and
keep walking until we all stop. Was very light-hearted to see how every single one of us
were working together and helping each other, doing our part.

Both, the communities and us have learned incredibly. For instance, thanks to the lawyer
now we know that it is not a crime to help our fellow migrants and I believe that will help
the communities to feel safer when they find people in need along the road. I really loved
that the communities understood that to migrate or being a migrant is not a crime, that no
one leaves their country without a good reason. Also, the communities came to the
realisation that those migrants they are helping, one day in the near future could be their
children or grandchildren.

Brayan
The engine that pushes me through is my family; my wife, my son they are always with me,
supporting me, helping me, loving me and that is the reason why we are here: for a better
life, said Brayan with his chest full of pride. They had just a few hours away from their
country, but Brayan was able to notice the love in the eyes of the people next to him.

Hence, between incredulity and surprise Brayan was noticing that only the catholic church
can create such a strong bond among people and spread that huge desire of helping other
people in need. I wish I could get such an incredible treatment since I left my home, it would
motivate more people to come, ‘there are very good people here”, Brayan was
contemplating while sharing his experience. “I remember when we were doing the activity
when we had to introduce ourselves, I am a very shy person, I must admit it, but the other
people made us feel special, we were part of the group, all the same, without distinctions,
could feel the warmth, they really made us feel happy.

It was palpable by the way Brayan was talking and expressing himself that the lovely father
we all met at the El Pedregal was touched by the love and hospitality that all the
communities offered us. The whole experience made me change my mind about Mexican
people. We met friendly people that allowed us to cross by their properties, they met us,
and I am sure they’ve changed their perspective about us, the migrants. I am happy about
the idea that we will not be the last migrant the communities will help and with the way
they look at us now: like people that just want to be happy and have a better life.

rolando
The youngsters at la 72 have also decided to participate in the Via crucis Migrante 2023.
Rolando pushed by curiosity that fits young minds and hearts, decided to participate.
“People move from one place to another because they want to feel good in other places”.
Rolando was amused by the unity among people from the migrant community and recalled
that was the main reason why he decided to join the Via Crucis. “It was good, there are
people with the disposition to help migrants and that is very rare and hard to find, but…:
“what are those people doing there? They have no need to be there, helping us might be
moving by love” Rolando concludes right after a silence. After being a witness of the good
actions of those with no hidden intentions, Rolando had the opportunity to ponder about
the whole experience and how much the communities have helped him and the group he
was walking with. “To live this experience has helped me to live what other lived already.
People received us kindly, they gave us food, water and shelter.” Rolando was greatly
moved by the experience that decided to invite people to next years Viacrucis: “You have to
be bold, you have to do it, the viacrucis will help you to understand more about migrants
needs; it’s not easy but now we have people who have decided and are prepared to help us.

Merlin
The viacrucis experience was incredible, quite different than the first time I walk on my own.
It was very kind to receive a glass of pozol or water. There are a lot of good people with a
beautiful heart as many people that reject us but I want to believe there are more good
than bad people out there.

Denia

La 72 was part of a roud-table where NGO’s and local institutions representatives were
addressing the situation of thousands of hundreds of people in mobility and their terrible
situation in Mexico. We could not have thought about a better person to represent the
community than Denia. She is an innate human rights activist with a sense of humanity
highly developed; always ready to lend a hand. “it was the first time I could express my
opinion, the first time I felt listened”, Denia was sharing. Excited, she was telling how she
found inspiration and courage to participate in the roundtable with a profound speech by
thinking about all of those experiences she heard inside the shelter. “The most important
task there was to raise awareness regarding the condition we, all the migrants are living
here in Mexico and to demand improvements. Despite that from my experience I cannot
say I’ve been a victim of any violation of my rights I do can tell many of my friends and
family have been abused and been victims of the Mexican government negligence”.
However, after the activity ends Denia’s face was full of joy. “I felt marvellous, I felt I was a
super important person, I had completely forgotten about I was a migrant, I felt listened.
This opportunity had a huge impact on Denia’s life to such a great degree that she is now
reorganising her life: “I feel know the strength to keep fighting for what I want in my life I
want to start the university I want to get a good job. I would love to be part of more
activities like this; debates, workshops, round tables or any event where I can shed some
light on the problematics that harsh migration policies like the one we have in Mexico are
causing to the migrant community and bring back hope to all of those that ran out of it,
inspire and help other to find their path as I already have done”.

Reynaldo

Reynaldo is part of the many other people living in la 72 that could get a job. “one work to
survive, to save money In case of an emergency like a terrible disease or an accident”. He
was sharing his experience as a worker, the good and the not so good of the job offers that
are available for the migrant community. “There are lots of people who take advantage of
our labour and that creates difficulties, some of us don’t get paid after long hours of work.
Unfortunately, we cannot do much because we have no documents, scared to dead every
time we see a migration officer, we are on hold; waiting for our residence and have much
more freedom”.

Despite the difficulties to get a job that Reynaldo had found here in Mexico, when he thinks
about his hometown, he cannot express with words how peaceful he is right now. “One get
adapted to any situation, any job, regardless of being or not professional one have the
ability to shape up in any circumstance. “However, there are bosses that just want to exploit
you, force you to talk like a Mexican, but also there are good people that can spot you as a
good worker and want always to help you and make you feel that you belong”

Reynaldo is aware of the risk and dangers in Mexico, the lack of job offers, discrimination
humiliations the injustice and neglectfulness of the migration institutions and the huge
impact it causes on the regularization process hence the access to formal jobs, and basic
services; regardless, his faith is intact as much as his positivity. “We came to Mexico to be
better selves, we just want to live in peace, we want to get our legal documents so we can
get all the benefits a Mexican citizen have access to, a proper salary, and a fair treatment.
We just want freedom.
Maynor

I have been living in Mexico for six months, I feel really good when I’m at work because I do
my job properly, feel fulfilled when I am working. To have a job is really important thing in
my life, but as a migrant there are lots of difficulties specially when it comes to find a job, we
are the object of humiliations and discrimination and at some jobs they ask for extra
paperwork, that’s why I want to advice all the new people coming to Mexico to appreciate
the opportunity and give extra value once you get a job.