AGUA PRIETA, Sonora �” A self-help project here in this Mexican border town is focusing on building communities, and thereby building a sense of cooperation and collaboration among poor people.

Photo by Jonathon Shacat A mural at DouglaPrieta Trabajan in Agua Prieta, Sonora.

The organization is called DouglaPrieta Trabajan. Its name combines parts of the words Douglas and Agua Prieta. It is supported and promoted by its U.S. partner, DouglaPrieta Works, which is headquartered in Douglas.

Marybeth Webster, secretary of DouglaPrieta Works, said she and Jose Ramirez founded the organization. It aims to help people become self-sufficient. She hopes the organization will become self-sustaining.

“We feel that the missionary give-aways are not respectful. They are building a culture of beggars. We think that self-respect and dignity are just as important as being able to make a living. We think they can go hand-in-hand with a cooperative model,” she said.

The organization’s main program is something known as “Permaculture,” which is short for “permanent agriculture.”

Others include sewing classes, computer training and cooking.

According to the organization’s brochure, the permaculture program teaches families how to raise healthy food. A sample garden features composting bins and a hen house for egg production and fertilizer.

“We want to extend the food sovereignty model from demonstration plot to household kitchen garden, and we have expanded permaculture outreach to other border organizations and institutions, including the Agua Prieta elementary school system,” it states.

Ramirez, who is director of DouglaPrieta Trabajan, said he would like to see people plant fruit trees, such as apples or peaches, along the streets in Agua Prieta. That way, a hungry child could simply pick a piece of fruit and eat it.

“We could have an environment that is rich �” at the reach of a hand,” he said, adding, “I want to motivate people. Alone, we can only do so much. But, with multiple people, we can do better.”

Ramirez said people can help the organization by giving cash and in-kind donations.

“We are developing our new community center building,” he said. “We need everything that pertains to materials for construction, and volunteers who want to participate in the work of constructing.”

Other items are needed by the organization, including tools and functional sewing and computer equipment.

Volunteers are also needed for other programs, said Webster.

“We would particularly like to have Serger sewing machines, and we would like them to be new or nearly new. We have found that we get donated stuff that doesn’t work and it is so frustrating for the students. We would rather have to share than to give them bad equipment,” she said.

“We have been given junk computers,” she added. “People think they are doing good, but they actually end up doing harm by donating that kind of thing. We may sound snooty, but we only want new or very good quality things because these people are going to use them for very heavy use.”

The new community center is under construction. It will house permaculture classes and other workshops and meetings, sewing classes for neighborhood women, a computer skills center, a woodworking shop and a kitchen for cooking classes and catering service, according to the brochure.

For information, visit www.douglaprietaworks.org. Contact the organization before sending material donations.

Make checks payable to DouglaPrieta Works and send them to 2916 East Loma Alta Drive, Douglas, AZ 85607.