Agros Blog

Nueva Palestina, Mexico, was established as an Agros Village in 2007. Here is a story of two community leaders whose initiative has helped an entire community break free from the cycle of poverty.

Sebastián and Margarita have lived in Nueva Palestina, Mexico, for the last thirteen years. Like so many other families in the Chiapas region, they were forced to flee from their home in 1989 due to religious persecution. They lived the next six years as internal refugees, struggling to support their family on day-laborer wages.

As indigenous people without land or a community in which to settle, Sebastián and Margarita suffered from discrimination and marginalization until 1996, when the Mexican government offered land. During this time, Sebastián and Margarita tried to break free from the grip of poverty but the dream of a better life proved elusive.

In 2005, Sebastián heard about Agros from a friend in a neighboring Agros community, San Pedrito, and for two years Sebastián worked with his own community to form a partnership with Agros. Their hard work paid off and now Sebastián and Margarita are serving as leaders in Nueva Palestina, encouraging all to participate in the organizational and development process.

“I’m happy to have helped my community,” says Sebastián, modestly referring to his faithful leadership as the President of the Ejido Commission, a collective of land owners in Mexico. In order for another community member to take on a more significant leadership role, Sebastián has recently stepped aside as president of the Commission. “I am helping my brothers and sisters so that together we can get ahead,” Sebastián says.

Margarita, just as modest as her husband, has also made a major impact on her community’s development. Just a few short months ago no one in Nueva Palestina knew how to embroider the elaborate clothing that is traditional to their heritage. Margarita has led a passionate, organized group to receive sewing workshops from Agros staff, obtain enterprise loans, and to purchase two sewing machines!

The women are currently producing beautiful clothing, eager to learn new designs and improve relationships with new markets.

Margaria and Sebastián both are true servant leaders.