Vamos a Oaxaca

We are the 2020 Vamos a Oaxaca student organization, a diverse group of 18 undergrad and graduate students from San Jose State University (SJSU), all studying different majors and backgrounds organized under the leadership of Dr. Kathleen Roe. Our organization is the result of 15 years of relationships based on mutual respect, wellness, and trust between two communities: the artisan families of the Ecoalebrijes Association of Arrazola in Oaxaca, Mexico and a group of enthusiastic SJSU students and faculty partners.

The result: success! After all these years, over 300 SJSU students have participated in Vamos a Oaxaca exchange, one of the most precious and enriching traditions of our school. During the “intercambio” (exchange) a group of students will live with host families in the pueblo of Arrazola and work with the local leaders of the community to promote health, sustainability, and wellness. This is an opportunity for us to spend our spring break intentionally involved in a week of learning, service, and cultural immersion. Previous travelers consistently say that their lives were transformed in just one week and, with your help, we will continue this tradition one more time!

With your support, we will be able to explore this host community; dialogue with peers; learn from the elders, adults, teens, and children in our host families; and engage in praxis (reflection-action-reflection) on issues of social justice and community change.

You can directly support us with a generous donation of any amount. Every dollar counts! The money collected will be used to cover the basic needs for the students such as meals, hotels, and transportation to health clinics, food banks, and women and children’s center to carry out our work. Just choose the giving level that works for you, become an advocate, and spread the word! The more you share this link, the more students will benefit from every single donation.

We thank you in advance for your support, your donation is greatly appreciated and will help make this dream possible for 18 enthusiastic students and the hard-working artisan community of Arrazola!