The municipal program of León, Ayúdante Ayudando, has allocated more than 11 million pesos to assist around 3,000 León citizens to date. The main beneficiaries of this plan are single mothers and unemployed individuals who not only receive a payment for their work but also gain learning and tools to create opportunities for self-employment.
In addition to cleaning public areas and lots, participants have been trained in various trades such as cell phone repair, shoe and textile garment repair, so they can generate their own income in the future. A beneficiary of the program commented: "The money stays in our community; it helps us buy food and, often, other neighbors use it for educational purposes."
The fundamental purpose of Ayúdante Ayudando is to carry out actions that improve the environment of neighborhoods, rural communities, and informal settlements, promoting social participation with a vision of shared responsibility among participants. So far, more than 3,000 people have been part of the program.
To achieve these goals, IMUVI divided the project into two phases: the first phase benefited 1,704 citizens with an investment of 6 million 816 thousand pesos, and in the second phase, 1,293 people have received support with an allocation of 5 million 172 thousand pesos.
The focus of Ayúdante Ayudando is on low-income individuals, single mothers, and unemployed people seeking a temporary source of income, as well as skills to enter the labor market or engage in self-employment. The activities carried out included cleaning lots, public areas, and streams, as well as painting school walls and community areas. Additionally, training was provided in cell phone repair, textile garments and shoes, leather goods, appliance repair, and screen printing.
The desired impact of Ayúdante Ayudando encompasses not only the physical improvement of communities but also social cohesion. Through joint work, participants have strengthened neighborhood ties and a sense of belonging to their neighborhoods.
