Summaries

Synopsis

The "Patronas" are a group wash and cook. In the kitchen theyof women known for throwing food and water to migrants traveling on thetrain as it passes through their small community named "La Patrona", municipality of Amatlan, Veracruz. Their dedication and teamworkhas led them to form a new form of organization without political ties and a sense of socialization and solidarity that is premised humanity and that today is indispensable in our society.In the kitchen of "The Patronas" everything is routine. They clean, have a blackboard with the role of weekly activities; who has to go for bread, who will go to the market and who cooks. The kitchen is the space where these women dialogue. In the kitchen they talk about everything: their sons, husbands, problems of the people. Every day, they prepare about a hundred meals for migrants with donations they get themselves. The kitchen has also become a political space, they have learned to discuss about Mexico's problems, poverty, migration, human rights, and their rights as women.19 years ago a group of rural women realized that people were "free riding" on the top of the train that crosses their community, "La Patrona". They did not know who they were, why the travelling like that. Ms. Leo daughters, leader of the family, went to buy milk and bread. On their way back home the train was passing by and one of the young men on the train shout: "Mother, feed me, I am hungry." She gave them all what she had.The group of "Las Patronas" and a sense of community, solidarity are recognized for their work with migrants, which they started twenty years ago. In 1995 they began to feed thousands of Central American migrants travelling on the roof of the trains to the United States. This simple action has created awareness in the society about the terrible conditions of the Central American migration and has led the women to receive national awards such as the National Human Rights Award in 2014. Recently Norma Romero, coordinator of the group, was invited to England and Italy, where she shared with students at Oxford University and the Pontifical Gregorian University. During her visit she shared their experience describing how their work has grown and they have transformed. How they went from their work on the side of the railways all the way to international spaces denouncing violations of migrants human rights. Their motivations and concerns impel them to continue transforming along side migrants, to keep on growing in their processes as peasant women, mothers, and human rights advocates."The Patronas" are a new form of organization without political ties and often innocent. They have moved from compassion to solidarity, from charity to development.Two important changes in their understanding. Their fundamental premise is humanity. They have rejected political and government posts. They raise awareness in the community of the consequences of this tragedy caused by the modern system. Their way of organizing isa fresh and inspiring proposal for a society that is urgently demanding accountability from their political actors and new ways to rebuild its communities. "The Patronas" form an important social movement, full of energy, absolute independence and autonomy. Their goals are not related to achieve power or profit.Mexico is a country of migrants. Because of its geographical location is one of the obliged ways into the United States for many international migrants.The women of "La Patrona" have introduced to the political agenda one of the most important rights: the right to migrate andthe right to food. They also have discussed about the right to education and to work.