When people think of the Yucatán Peninsula, the Riviera Maya or the Mexican Caribbean, we often picture the pristine beaches of Tulum and Isla Holbox, the majestic and mysterious ruins of Chichén Itzá, or the bustling tourist resorts of Cancún and Playa del Carmen. Unfortunately, the fame and appeal of these picturesque destinations can hide the realities of life in many of the region’s less well-known Maya communities. Here at Na’atik we have dedicated ourselves to providing educational support to people in Felipe Carrillo Puerto and the surrounding area, known as the Zona Maya. We are, however, just one of the projects working to support local and Indigenous people in the region in their efforts to build their own prosperous futures. One of the more interesting nearby programs is taking place in the Maya community of Tabi. 

Around 30 kilometres from Carrillo, Tabi, a community of around 350 people, is nestled in the dense jungle which covers most of the region. Traditionally the people of Tabi work in the cornfields, or milpas, or cutting trees in the selva to sell the wood.  The low incomes of the people in the village have them almost completely reliant on locally grown maize and beans. This limited diet and the poor water quality, as well as the lack of any medical facilities or nutritional training, has resulted in widespread poor health, with diabetes and digestive parasites in particular becoming prevalent and chronic. Access to medical treatment requires a journey to Carrillo, which is both expensive and time consuming, as only one combi (public service van) serves Tabi, with just one round trip a day. Tabi has also been impacted by the growth of the region’s tourist resorts, with young people often drawn away from the village by the promise of work. In reality many end up working long hours for low pay away from their families, and even have to spend as much as 6 hours a day on expensive travel to and from the resorts, as the cost of living in the tourist areas is prohibitive. 

The Tabi and Friends, a registered US nonprofit organization, is a collaborative endeavour between the local community and US-based supporters, working to improve the quality of life and opportunities for the people of Tabi.  The initiative has its origins in a chance meeting between Nehemias, a Tabi local who was working in Tulum, and John McCarey, a US citizen and philanthropist (and former Spanish student and current major supporter of Na’atik) who was visiting the area. Despite not sharing a language, and having only a few words in common, the two began communicating at a restaurant where Nehemias was working. After recognizing they could learn a lot from each other about their respective languages and cultures, they decided to keep in touch. As they began to be able to discuss more complex subjects, John learned about the challenges Nehemias and the people of his home faced on a daily basis, but also about their rich traditions, culture and community spirit. Both Nehemias and John saw the possibility that their friendship could help create a local, community-driven initiative, that with the support of those with experience and access to medicine and other necessities, could take on Tabi’s challenges without diluting or harming its traditions and culture.

Having had previous involvement with a church-backed community-led project in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala, John had the right connections, which along with Nehemias’ local knowledge and familiar face, enabled the program to find both support in the US and the commitment of the community in Tabi. The Guatemala project was also able to offer advice and guidance on the best way to assess and prioritize Tabi’s healthcare needs. The community leaders agreed to a community-wide health survey conducted by trained locals, and supported the subsequent roll out of medication to combat the digestive parasites which were causing many daily discomfort, with Tabi and Friends providing regular doses of this vital treatment. The training of community members to act as the first point of contact for health issues is a key part of the program, with the medical staff at the Guatemala project providing weekly education and support.  The three volunteer health promoters are focused on both treatment and prevention, taking an active role in educating the community on how to minimize the health risks prevalent in the village environment, from nutritional and oral hygiene advice through to diabetes and hypertension management. They also distribute medication and vitamin supplements to the community. 

In collaboration with Living Waters for the World, as well as other groups, donors and volunteers, the program has been able to complete the installation of a drinking water purification plant in Tabi, ensuring access to low cost clean water. As with all of Tabi and Friend’s projects, a focus on sustainability and local maintenance allows for a very real community ownership of the created infrastructure. Another example of this is the community garden, where a variety of fresh vegetables are grown to add much needed vitamins and micronutrients to a diet often restricted to tortillas, beans and rice. Meanwhile the program is also tackling the lack of indoor stoves in many houses, making the preparation of a nutritious and economical diet easier for families. There is also a community clinic project in progress, which will see Tabi’s first dedicated space for the provision of dignified healthcare. Affordable basic healthcare without the need to travel long distances will have a huge impact on health outcomes in the village.

The Tabi and Friends project also extends beyond healthcare. While schooling is available in the village, access to further education is limited, and Tabi is in need of people able to gain and bring back vital skills to the community. By providing scholarships to driven individuals, the program is able to help secure the sustainability of the various projects taking place. Nehemias himself is being supported through a teaching degree at the University of Quintana Roo, with the aim of teaching in the community, to help other villagers to access similar opportunities. Another community member being supported in their education is Victor, who is attending classes at Na’atik in Carrillo once a week. The plan is he will then bring his knowledge back to Tabi and teach others. There are many in the community who have the talent and the drive to succeed and Tabi and Friends are always looking for ways to help them reach their potential.

Tabi and Friends, like Na’atik, is able to help local and Indigenous people make their own futures, thanks to the support of generous people and organizations from all over the world. The passion and hard work of their team and the local community of Tabi is inspiring, and is a reminder of what we can do when we work together across cultures and borders. The Tabi and Friends website has more information about these projects and others that the program is currently working on. 

Na’atik would like to extend a personal thank you to Nehemias and John for taking the time to talk with our team about Tabi and Friends and for sponsoring Victor to study English with us. We look forward to working with both in the future and to seeing more of the inspiring work taking place in Tabi.