International Friends of Puerto Escondido

"a group of helping hands"

Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
Email: IFOPE2002@yahoo.com

We developed an Emergency Response Team comprised of fifteen volunteers from various countries who speak Spanish (plus other languages) to respond in case of any emergency involving any foreigner who comes to Puerto.

Our Emergency Response Team interfaces with the city hall, local police, the Red Cross, hotels and medical clinics and is notified of any foreigner needing and asking for assistance. The members of the Emergency Response Team then offers whatever assistance is necessary in terms of translating and dispersing information to make what could be a possibly scary or uncomfortable situation as comfortable as it could be given the circumstances. Also as part of the Emergency Response Program, we ask members to voluntarily complete confidential medical forms containing basic information such as blood types, allergies, medications currently taking, emergency phone contacts and other general information that a doctor should be aware of in case of any emergency and the person is unable to respond. We are not part of an Embassy or have any legal power nor do we charge for our services or loan money - we're just a group of helping hands.

Another important aspect of our group has been a strong community involvement. In these past two years, we have raised funds for our local orphanage, built bookcases and purchased books for our local library, purchased roofing materials to repair houses after this past earthquake of October, 1999 and purchased an oxygen tank for the Red Cross ambulance. The city government quite often invites us to participate in local events such as this year's Mardi Gras parade, attending dances and fiestas in surrounding communities, hosting the annual Sandsculpting Contest during the "Fiestas de Noviembre" and helping distribute eye glasses whenever the eye doctors from various foreign organizations need translating help.

And we do have fun!! We host social gatherings and day excursions so our members can have a chance to get to know other foreigners living in Puerto. Some of our projects for this coming year include the opening of our IFOPE lending library, development of a blood donor list, Adopt-A-Highway Clean-Up program and more community assistance projects.

If the group interests you, we meet at the Fiesta Mexicana the second Saturday of every month at 5pm April - October, then 4pm the rest of the year (daylight savings times). There you will find quite a lively and varied group of people attending our meetings which generally last for an hour - mas o menos - and afterwards, if anyone is so inclined, we find a local restaurant and have dinner together.