Mexico - Sharing With Others - Past Projects of Zamani Productions

Show a man how to fish and you feed him for life!

Documenting sustainable, self-sufficient grassroots economic development in the low income colonias of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico.

Project Summary:

In the last three years Zamani Productions a branch of Zamani Refuge has produced five educational documentaries specific to Cochise County. All of our documentaries, eighteen to date, focus on minority issues and cross-cultural appreciation. The videos have been distributed locally as well as nationally. Zamani has scheduled 12 documentaries for broadcast on public access channels in Cochise County in conjunction with Arizona State University (South). Currently we are in the production phase for this, our most ambitious motion picture production to date.
Valeria and Rainer prepare to Shoot scene with Narcisco.



THE BACKDROP:

The illegal migration of Mexican and Central American economic refugees to the U.S. has a massive impact on the border communities. In Cochise county large numbers are regularly repatriated by the border patrol. In the repatriation process migrants are stripped of all their belongings leaving them destitute and trapped in the border communities. Agua Prieta, Sonora is one such border community with a burgeoning population of migrants.

Fernando and Blanca working on a shot.

Ricardo, Valeria and Coyito in her shop.

THE MODEL:

We will document this remarkable approach by showing it in action in the low-income colonias in Agua Prieta. The model is deceptively simple. Typically charitable handouts (unintentionally) degrade the recipients by creating dependencies on the source of the contributions. However, in this approach to self-sufficiency the donated items are a capital investment that promotes long-term self-sufficiency for those who actively pursue participating in the model. In this innovative model donated goods are the working capital for colonia entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur is required to use 50% of the proceeds from the sale of the charity items to purchase appropriate stock locally i.e. Mexican produced goods, thereby investing in the local economy. The other 50% of proceeds are contributed into "Compartiento con Otros" a community revitalization fund. The locally administered fund finances essential community needs e.g. creating jobs and building infrastructure.

In this one-hour long documentary we will show the model in action as it affects three families in the colonia. If implemented on a large scale the model could reduce the northward flow of migrants. After all, most migrants are honest decent folks who are unable to support their families in their native land. Given a reasonable economic alternative they would much rather stay in Mexico.

Yadira directing a scene.

AUDIENCE: The documentary will be shown to potential donors as an educational tool. The success of the project will be reflected in an increase of donations and an increased ability to reach more donors. It will be available to the Border Philanthropy Partnership to attract expanded grants for the dissemination and implementation of the self-sufficiency model. The expansion of cable television broadcasting has created a demand for documentary and educational programming. This video project brings to that market a new angle on the Border region migrant story.

Rainer and a building project.

Rainer and residents work on a building project.

Our ESL School