In Santa Ana Necoxtla, All Hands & Hearts (AH&H) teams worked on a different kind of resilience than the bricks and concrete the local community had grown accustomed to seeing after months of rebuilding. We got together with dedicated partners and facilitators to provide special trainings for teachers and students, equipping the community with skills and insights that will last long after the school buildings are complete.
Trauma Workshops: Creating Safe Spaces for Students and Staff
Led by licensed psychotherapist Ana Bedwell, the trauma workshops explored how experiences of trauma and neglect can affect children’s behavior, their ability to learn, and their everyday, general well-being. Educators and caregivers learned how the albergue can be structured as a trauma-sensitive space where children feel seen, heard and validated.
The sessions also covered empathic fatigue, stress, burnout, and the importance of self-care and collective care. Participants learned about healing through personal reflection exercises and trauma-sensitive yoga, where they can continue to use these tools by creating new routines in their everyday lives.
While the focus was on supporting the children, the workshops also became a moment for teachers to reflect on their own experiences and connect more deeply with one another. The result was a more empathetic, supportive environment for both students and staff.
Menstrual Health Workshops: Promoting Dignity and Self-Reliance
In partnership with Concentrarte, a Mexican organization focused on social transformation through education and art, María Fernanda Cano led interactive menstrual health workshops that challenged taboos and provided essential knowledge to students and local women.
Participants learned about the menstrual cycle, how to track it, and how to choose and use menstrual hygiene products. A hands-on workshop introduced the making of reusable cloth pads, an act of self-reliance with lasting impact in resource-limited communities.
The workshops created an open, judgment-free space where many young participants felt comfortable discussing a topic that is often stigmatized. Students left feeling more informed and dignified in managing their menstrual health.
Emotional Wellness Workshop: Understanding and Expressing Emotions
The emotional wellness workshop helped students better understand their feelings and develop healthy coping strategies. Through small group activities and open discussions, participants explored how emotions show up in their bodies and lives, and how they can express or manage them.
The facilitators taught simple but effective emotional regulation tools, sparking questions and subsequent deeper conversations that continued long after the session ended. Many students showed increased confidence, particularly when speaking in front of peers, an encouraging hint at the workshop’s success.
