Global Voices: A Game of Marbles to Prevent Deaths in Mexico's Street Population Indira Cornelio - Global Voices
go to original November 1, 2014

In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is coming and this sets into motion, as every year, the game #ChirasPelasCalacasFlacas, an initiative by organization El Caracol (The snail), that promotes reducing risks associated to deaths of people who are part of the street populations.

Street population in Mexico is affected by discrimination, that is reflected in the denial of health services, as told by Luis Enrique Hernández about Susana, who died due to labor complications, “because she was denied medical by staff of Women's Hospital and Gregorio Salas Hospital. She died at four in the morning, outside the latter”.

To talk about the risks of death and how to prevent them, promoters of Chiras Pelas Calacas Flacas visit groups of street population in Mexico City. They also document cases of deaths people might remember and write obituaries to put on the altars. In 2009, the campaign was awarded a honorable mention in UNICEF Awards 2009 for innovation and creativity in using Mexican traditions in promoting the right to life.

The organization invites everybody to join the campaign. You can download the obituary here. Print it with some of the names that appear and take it to your closest offering. Send a picture using #GritaMuerteCero (shout death zero).

Translated by Gabriela García Calderón

Read the original at Global Voices

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