Migrants in Mexico learn to make crafts to survive and overcome the trauma of crime

Civil associations in Ciudad Juárez, on Mexico’s northern border, teach migrants to make crafts to survive, cope with the stress of delayed asylum appointments in the United States, and overcome the traumas caused by crime, such as kidnappings in Mexican territory.

Rosa Mani Arias, coordinator of Migrant Services for the Avara Juárez organization, told EFE on Thursday that they have been working on the ‘Huellas’ project, which she created herself, for four years.

“The intention is, first, occupational therapy, because working with our hands is definitely so powerful and helps us to be a little more empathetic with our neighbors, with whom we live,” he explained.

Irregular migration through Mexico rose 193% year-on-year in the first half of the year to exceed 712,000 people, a record, according to the government’s Migration Policy Unit .

In the main cities on Mexico’s northern border, such as Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez and Matamoros, social organizations have responded to the growing migratory flow by training migrants to make artisanal products, such as necklaces, knitwear and bracelets.

“At the end of the entire program, we hold a graduation ceremony where we remember all the topics we have seen because, in addition, we observe motivational topics, entrepreneurship, self-esteem, before starting to work with our hands,” said the activist.

Making crafts also helps migrants who have been victims of kidnappings by organized crime while they wait for their chance to cross the border, since through art they express in colors and shapes the situations they went through.

“Believe me, I went through a very difficult process. Here in Juarez I had to be kidnapped. And believe me, it is something I am already overcoming. And the green (of my creations) is the beautiful thing about knowing that God gave me a new opportunity in life,” said a woman from Honduras who identified herself as Stephanie, to protect her identity.

These episodes of violence are added to the slowness in the assignment of appointments through the ‘CBP One’ application of the United States Customs and Border Protection Office , which has increased the levels of stress and anxiety among migrants , who vent through these crafts.

“This (creation) represents when one is locked up and one goes outside. One sees clearly. Once one is kidnapped, one comes out from inside and feels, more or less, free,” said a Guatemalan who called himself Manuel to protect his safety.

At the site, migrants choose music to lighten the atmosphere and also receive financial support with an offering upon completion of the courses, depending on the classes they attend.