The Jewish Agency for Israel will open a Tikkun Olam center this June in Oaxaca, Mexico. It will be The Agency’s fourth Tikkun Empowerment Network (Project TEN) site. Currently, The Agency operates Project TEN sites in Gondar, Ethiopia; Hyderabad, India; and Kiryat Shmona, Israel.

Since the Project TEN program launched last year, young Jews from Israel, United States, Canada, France, Great Britain and South Africa have lived and worked together at the three overseas TEN sites to teach English and computers, run day camps, help local farmers and communities with sustainable agriculture and local infrastructure projects, assist seniors, and comfort the terminally ill.

The local community in Oaxaca has suffered several natural disasters that have hurt residents economically and made them even more vulnerable to future disasters. The Jewish Agency’s Project TEN volunteers will live on a coffee and cocoa plantation and work in full partnership with CADENA, Mexico’s Committee for Natural Disasters and Emergencies. Together they will train young community leaders, help local farmers market their products, and promote ecosystem regeneration through water recovery. In addition, the TEN volunteers will open a kitchen where local children can share meals and receive English and math tutoring.