Social Service Brigades, a Beacon of Hope for Communities

Enrique Soto

The support provided by students, teachers, and graduates of this educational institution to marginalized communities in Mexico represents a beacon of hope, emphasized the General Director of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Arturo Reyes Sandoval, as he flagged off the buses that transported 383 members of the Multidisciplinary Community Social Service Brigades for Summer 2023.

50 Years of Social Service Brigades

At the "Jaime Torres Bodet" Cultural Center, the head of the Politécnico expressed his joy that the Multidisciplinary Community Social Service Brigades have completed 50 years of providing supportive aid to families residing in the most remote areas of the country.

He announced that from July 13 to 19, the Multidisciplinary Community Social Service Brigades offered free health services and carried out urban reorganization plans, productive projects, and infrastructure initiatives in communities across Chiapas, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, and Veracruz.

Medicines, Glasses, and Books

Reyes Sandoval explained that to assist the communities, the brigade members carry children's antibiotics, medicines for hypertension, diabetes, and psychological treatments, as well as antiparasitic, antifungal, and ophthalmic drugs. He announced that they would also distribute 8,500 pre-graded glasses and a ton of books donated by Gandhi Bookstores.

The brigadistas also provided talks on addiction, family violence, bullying, and family planning. "It is important for our students to become familiar with places where there are significant needs, which will enable personal and professional growth," he added.

This time, the teams consisted of 321 brigadistas, 18 coordinators, 18 supervisors, and 26 operators. He urged the brigadistas to conduct themselves according to the principles of solidarity, respect, honesty, social responsibility, and excellence in order to honor their alma mater.

Social Service, Commitment to the Homeland

He affirmed that the Politécnico will continue to produce outstanding young individuals, but with a strong social commitment. "In some institutions, social service is considered a mere formality, but at the IPN, it goes beyond that and represents putting ´La Técnica al Servicio de la Patria´, he said.

Earlier, the Municipal President of San Francisco Ixhuatán, Oaxaca, Felipe López Matus—who is a graduate of the Escuela Superior de Comercio y Administración (ESCA), Santo Tomás Unit—assured that the brigadistas would address the communities at the heart of their needs.

He highlighted that the Governor of Oaxaca, Salomón Jara Cruz, and himself, as proud polytechnic graduates, make their greatest efforts to undertake projects that bring benefits to the Oaxacan society. He told the brigadistas, "You carry a great task in your knowledge and in your hands, for this is how the Homeland is built, and well-being is generated in our country."

The Secretary of Innovation and Social Integration of the IPN, Yessica Gasca Castillo, listed the municipalities the polytechnic brigades would visit: Palenque, Salto del Agua, and Sabanilla (Chiapas); Calnali, Huautla, and Tecozautla (Hidalgo); Reforma de Pineda, Santiago Tlazoyaltepec, San Lorenzo Cacaotepec, San Francisco Ixhuatlán, San Pedro Ixtlahuaca, and Soledad Etla (Oaxaca); Pahuatlán (Puebla); and Atzalan and Misantla (Veracruz).

Every Overcome Obstacle, a Step Towards a Fairer and More Equitable Future

"Your work goes beyond fulfilling an educational requirement; it is about establishing meaningful connections with the people we serve, listening to their stories, understanding their needs, and working together to find sustainable and innovative solutions. With every smile we manage to draw on the faces of the population, every obstacle we overcome together will be a step towards a fairer and more equitable future," emphasized Gasca Castillo.

Gaceta Politécnica #1738. (July 31st, 2023). IPN Imagen Institucional: Read the full magazine in Spanish here