Fuego San Ignacio

At about 5pm on August 1 a wild fire broke out during the annual Festival de San Ignacio. The fire raged out of control for about 6 hours before firefighters from the near by village of Mulege were able to contain the blaze.
The firefighters from near-by towns were delayed by both the suddenness of the inferno, poorly maintained roads and the remote location of San Ignacio itself. Flames shot into the night reaching towards the desert sky. The palm trees became matchsticks erupting into fireballs shooting up hundreds of feet towards the desert stars.

Casa Hogar Orphanage

Photographs By Dan Figueroa

Fifty-two children live at the Casa Hogar orphanage; and Casa Hogar is at full capacity. The majority of the children have been abandoned by their parents who have gone to work in the United States. They have literally left them behind. It is unknown whether or not they will come back from them. Many children have  been picked up from abuse shelters as well…

Norcal Dental Clinic in Ensenada, Mexico

Photographs by Dan Figueroa

March 2010- The 49er Rotary Club of Nevada City, Nevada and the Norcal Dental group hosted a dental care clinic for the indigenous peoples of Baja California.  Thanks to a team  ranging from professionals to students to local volunteers, The clinic managed to treat a record 62 patients in one day this year.

San Jose de la Zorra

Photographs by Dan Figueroa

In late march of 2010 the Rotary Club of San Jose North teamed up with Comunidad para Baja California to survey a site for a proposed medical clinic in Baja California. San Jose de la Zorra is a small village about one hour and a half northwest from the port city of Ensenadad, Mexico. Located in a valley known as Valle de Guadalupe, about 41 familes live in San Jose de la Zorra. The people of San Jose de la Zorra are known as the Kumeyaay (Kumiai in Spanish).

Comunidad para Baja California’s Health Fair 2009

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Photographs by Dan Figueroa

August 2009- Comunidad para Baja California (Comunidad) had its annual health hair in Ensenada, Mexico. Comunidad para Baja California is a Los Gatos based non-profit which brings health and educational services to the indigenous communities of Baja California Mexico.The government of Mexico only provides children with education up to the sixth grade. After that they are expected to continue their education privately. The vast majority cannot afford to pay for education so they go into work or become unemployed.

Comunidad para Baja California

 

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After returning from my six month assignment in South America, during the summer of 2009, I was approached with the opportunity to work with Comunidad para Baja California (Comunidad).

A Los Gatos, California based non-profit, Comunidad helps the indigenous tribes of Baja California, Mexico. These tribes are located roughly an hour or so in-land from Ensenadad, Mexico.