ABOUT THIS BLOG

This blog records the difficulties, travails, and small victories of a 22-year old indigenous woman.  Her name is FRANCISCA GONZÁLEZ GALINDO, and she is 22 years old (born September 13, 1990).  She was born in a remote village, called San Pedro Cuyaltepec, in the Cañada region, known as Cuicatlan, in the northern part of Oaxaca State in Mexico.  Fran belongs to the Cuicateco indigenous group and only learned to speak Spanish two years ago.  Before that, she spoke only her indigenous language.

Her ambition to get an education has been a struggle of epic proportions.  Pursuing a high school degree meant that she had to move away from her family to another village that had a high school for her to attend.  Then she taught children in a one-room school house for 2 years in a government program.   Finally she came down from the mountains to Oaxaca City to find her way and pursue a university degree.  All of this has required that she live apart from her family for the last 7 years, and it has also required a great deal of courage to face mounting obstacles.

Recently her situation has drawn the attention and sympathy of visiting citizens from the U.S. who are trying to raise money for her education by telling her story and monitoring her progress.  This blog will aim to do that.  

The author of this blog is me, a retired woman living in Oaxaca and helping to coordinate efforts on Fran's behalf.  Welcome to the small community that is working to make sure that Fran achieves her goal of obtaining a 4-year university degree.