As the pandemic began, Mexico faced an added challenge of ensuring that rural and indigenous communities could access accurate information about COVID-19, especially where the majority of people primarily speak indigenous languages. Local leaders in Chiapas and Oaxaca worked with The Hunger Project-Mexico and the World Health Organization to translate vital information into seven indigenous languages. And one woman took it a step further, recognizing a greater need and launching her own program to save lives.
Liliana Martinez, a local school teacher, quickly recognized that all of the critical information coming from the Mexican government and international organizations about the virus was written in Spanish, a language that many in her indigenous community do not speak, so Liliana helped create posters in her native language of Mazateca. Going even further, she knew that many in her community could not read, so Liliana also made audio recordings for her community to share on WhatsApp and other platforms to ensure the information could reach everyone. These recordings proved to be a vital resource for her community.
