The initial pilot began as a direct service community training of 5 days for more than 60 Mexican youth leaders and community activists from across the country. As a result of the program, youth leaders were able to, for the first time, understand the connection between communication and mental health, and communication and behavioral change. Many shared their stories and perspectives about how migration, natural disasters, gender based violence, and gang violence are impacting their lives.
Many of the 60 Mexican youth leaders from the 2018 pilot—such as #MeWeMexico leaders Coral and Ale—-went on to lead their own #MeWeMexico community sessions for children, university students, and survivors of domestic violence, reaching more than 300 people in their own communities, peer to peer in 2018.
Similar to #MeWeHonduras, the impacts from the #MeWeMexico direct service pilots in 2018 have carried over into today. Since 2019, #MeWeIntl continues to engage local partners and train new groups of Honduran trainers with the #MeWeIntl methodology and tools. As of 2021, more than 8 Mexican community trainers are now leading #MeWeMexico virtually and in-person to hundreds of more youth and caregivers in Teotihucan and Tlaxcala, thanks to funding from Community Arts Labs and Quiet.
#MeWeIntl is honored to continue the growth and innovation of the program with partner Tejiendo un Sueno AC, led by Sandra Ruiz, and are grateful to local women leaders Coral and Ale for keeping #MeWeMexico moving within the community since 2018.
#MeWeIntl continues cultivating its partnerships with the goal of transitioning #MeWeMexico to community ownership by 2023 with its youth leaders.