Fundación Don Sergio Mendez Arceo, an EPIC partner in Mexico, held its annual Human Rights School with both face-to-face and zoom sessions. This allowed for the participation of persons who live a great distance from the on-site location in Cuernavaca and also saved high transportation costs. Two participatory workshops took advantage of the physical presence this year of most participants, but were simultaneously on zoom for those at a distance. Local supporters provided hospitality for some participants from other Mexican states. Food was provided by the participants themselves and with funds from EPIC.

This is a program to train persons to be Human Rights Monitors. A socially conscience rural teacher from Chiapas, who had participated in last year’s training, shared his experience of using the skills he had learned. During the first months of 2022 he accompanied a local case of labor rights violations. He showed how he was able to put into practice the human rights tools that he had been provided the previous year.

An important activity of the Human Rights School is to provide the participants with the pedagogi- cal tools to be able to replicate the knowledge they are acquiring as Human Rights Monitors. This will enable them to incorporate into the team of workshop leaders of Fundación Don Sergio or to serve as facilitators in their own locations.

The teacher from Chiapas and participants from Guerrero have offered to participate as workshop leaders in the next Human Rights School. Fundación Don Sergio is hoping that by that time it will be possible to have all participants in person. Actual physical presence is best for the development of the participatory dynamics the program is teaching. Participation gives a better understanding of this type of content. However, the hybrid model allowed participation this year of some who could not otherwise have attended.