Help Us Complete the Community Center in Oaxaca
Posted on 03/05/2026 @ 06:24 PM
👉 Click here to donate and support the San Francisco Cozoaltepec construction project.
In the Zapotec community of San Francisco Cozoaltepec, Oaxaca, women are building a future rooted in dignity, culture, and economic independence. With the support of the Missionaries of the Eucharist, a community center is being built to support local cooperatives, traditional medicine initiatives, and gatherings that strengthen the life of the community.
The first phase of construction is nearly complete. Now we need your help to finish the second phase and bring this project fully to life.
Three community groups meet each week to strengthen families, support women, and care for those most in need.
They have the vision.
They have the commitment.
They do not yet have adequate space.
The second phase of construction will complete the project and create a space that will serve several important needs in the community, including:
• the women’s embroidery cooperative Mujeres Bordando Sueños
• the traditional medicine group Mi Corazón Vive
• the community savings group Caja de Ahorro San Francisco de AsÃs
• parish events and community gatherings
• a private space where the sisters can meet with community members and offer spiritual accompaniment
These spaces will allow the groups to meet regularly, strengthen their initiatives, and continue building a more stable and hopeful future for their community.
An important part of this project is that it is being built by the community itself. The land for the center was donated locally, and many members of the community have contributed equipment, construction materials, and their own labor to help make this project possible.
The women involved in the cooperatives are also organizing fundraising events and creating goods to sell to support the construction. Their efforts reflect the deep commitment of the community to create a space that will serve families for many years to come.
The community has already taken the first steps by donating land, materials, and countless hours of work. Your contribution helps complete what they have begun.
Why This Matters
For more than six years, these cooperatives have met in borrowed spaces. The embroidery cooperative recently registered their clothing brand Puntadas Mágicas, an important step toward economic independence. However, they still do not have a permanent place to work, meet, store materials, or sell their blouses.
The traditional medicine group prepares natural remedies that serve families who cannot afford commercial pharmaceuticals. They are currently renting a small space to continue their work. With a permanent location, they will be able to grow medicinal plants, prepare remedies, and serve more people in the community without the burden of paying rent.
The community savings group teaches children and adults how to save money, plan for the future, and respond to emergencies without falling into high-interest debt. Like the other groups, they do not yet have a dedicated place to meet.
For many years, these groups have gathered wherever space was available, often in temporary or shared locations. Having a dedicated place to meet will allow them to work consistently, strengthen their initiatives, and expand the support they provide to families in the community.
This center will be more than a building. It will be a place where women can work together, where traditional knowledge is preserved, where families find support, and where the community can gather in dignity.
Your support helps create the stable space these groups need to continue their work and serve the community.
The Financial Need
According to the official construction budget, the total cost to complete the second phase of the project is $65,000 USD.
This amount covers the materials and labor needed to finish the building, including electrical installation, windows and doors, water systems, bathrooms, and the essential infrastructure for three dedicated rooms and supporting facilities.
It is a significant investment, but it will create a permanent space where education, health initiatives, and economic opportunities can continue to grow for many years to come.
What Your Support Makes Possible
• A secure workspace for women artisans, where members of Mujeres Bordando Sueños can create their embroidered clothing, store materials, and continue growing their brand.
• A stable location for traditional medicine, where natural remedies can be prepared and medicinal plants cultivated to serve families who cannot afford commercial pharmaceuticals.
• A permanent meeting space for the community savings group, where children and adults learn to save, plan for emergencies, and build financial stability.
• A welcoming place for parish events and community gatherings, allowing families to come together for workshops, celebrations, and shared activities.
• A private space where the sisters can meet with community members, offering pastoral support and spiritual accompaniment when people are facing difficult moments.
• Basic infrastructure such as bathrooms and water access, making it possible to host gatherings and workshops in a safe and dignified environment.
• A lasting community center that will support education, health initiatives, and economic opportunity for many years to come.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, all donations are tax-deductible.
How You Can Help
We invite you to prayerfully consider supporting the second phase of construction.
Every gift, large or small, helps move this project closer to completion. or small — moves this project forward.
👉 Click here to donate and support the San Francisco Cozoaltepec construction project.
Together, we can help create a place where families gather, women strengthen their livelihoods, and the community continues building a future rooted in dignity and hope.