June, 2023

Dear Friends of Liga MAC

What’s happening at Liga MAC:



It would be fair to say that all of Liga MAC’s 300 Student Support Program students face adversity in their young lives whether it be financial, emotional, psychological or physical. Our profile this month will report on one of our students who has had to face the ultimate adversity in his quest to graduate from high school.

As our 2023 graduating class prepares for life after high school, another crop of eager student support program students is being interviewed for acceptance into the program.  Our Liga MAC staff, who are working from temporary office space, is also currently reviewing the files of the 250 existing students wishing to renew their contracts with Liga MAC.

The new home for Liga MAC’s administrative offices, program classrooms and resource centre is moving rapidly towards its completion this fall. Staff and volunteers are actively procuring furnishings for Liga MAC’s new Learning Centre. The Learning Centre Update relates how interest in the new building is growing.

Liga MAC volunteer and event activities have concluded for the summer, but will return this November with some exciting season openers!

Anyone who has met Jesus Cristanto is struck by his zest for life which is all the more incredulous when you realize that at age 11, he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. Jesus joined the Liga MAC student support program in 2018 and impressed Liga MAC staff with his positive attitude and eagerness to learn despite his health condition. Just prior to the pandemic, Jesus applied for extra English tutoring and was paired with volunteer tutor, Juan Carlos Cotamo. Juan Carlos wrote this about Jesus:

“Very few times in our lives have we had the chance to meet extraordinary people and meeting Jesus Cristanto was one of them. The very first time I met him I felt his enthusiasm and desire to learn and to be a better person. We met at Liga MAC one morning during my English classes at the centre. He needed some assistance with his homework and we worked together for a couple of hours. Seeing someone’s eager(ness) and willing(ness) to do whatever necessary to be successful was a welcomed surprise. And, he was very gentle, humble, well mannered and respectful. Most of all, and a trait he still possesses, is his love for the life. He embraces every opportunity with passion and enthusiasm. 

For a while we lost contact because of COVID, but we met again during a (Tacos and Tequila) celebration at Habaneros last November. What a wonderful surprise. He has grown up, and is now even taller than I… and his smile and radiant happiness are still there. He’s a proud example of the perseverance and effort it takes to be successful; the same trait he has shown throughout the years. Now we still keep in touch. He has mentioned that he loves to spend time with his family at their ranch. He is a very good photographer and enjoys nature and spending time with his animals. He really is a centered young man who truly reflects what Liga MAC is all about. Keep it up Jesus. The sky’s the limit!”

Despite having undergone several surgeries and multiple treatments, the prognosis is not good. However, his doctors are amazed by Jesus’s resilience. They chalk up his lack of significant side effects to his positive attitude.  Jesus’s mother Ana says that, beyond receiving help with despensa (food vouchers) and some medical expenses in addition to tuition fees and uniforms, Liga MAC means family. Moving forward, Jesus’s uncertain future will be monitored by Liga MAC and in Executive Director Elva Haro’s words, “Liga MAC will be there for Jesus after he graduates for whatever is in our hands to help”. 

Ninety potential Educational Support Program candidates gathered at Cecyte 04 (high school in San Jose del Cabo) on June 17 for an assessment opportunity. Volunteer Celia Villalobos with the help of teachers from Centro Pedagogico del Valle engaged the students in a series of sports activities. The objective was to monitor the students’ respect for others, teamwork, autonomy, neatness, enthusiasm and general attitude. Following their sports activities, the students completed a written test to assess their academic abilities.  Personal interviews will be conducted with the student candidates and their parents on June 24.

Meanwhile case by case interviews are proceeding with students who are at risk of being dropped from the student support program due to performance and attendance under achievement. As well, those students who have successfully completed their academic year and are moving on with Liga MAC have been submitting their contract renewals for review.

Grade 9 students’ grades in Spanish improved from unsatisfactory grades to passing grades, but their mathematics scores improved by only +5.7% overall while attending classes for 14 weeks, twice a week for 2 hours. There is work to be done in this area.

Results showed a slow and steady but not marked improvement. Director Gris del Valle noted that two systemic problems exist that must be addressed, namely: apathy and absenteeism. In order to combat these issues Director del Valle notes that “it is necessary to teach (the students) to think and change their mentality to move them from the philosophy of “least effort” to the philosophy of “never enough to know”.

Concrete and blocks continue to climb upwards on the site of the former Liga MAC Centro de Apoyo in Zacatal and are garnering much attention from passersby.

The 13th Annual Knick Nac Golf Tournament at Querencia will take place on November 30. The tournament raises funds for Liga MAC’s student support program and sells out every year. Entry fee includes a round of golf at the Tom Fazio designed private golf course, a buffet dinner, silent auction, and much more! For more information please contact Linda Myers at lindalgklas@aol.com.

Last year’s Tacos and Tequila event was such a success that chef and restauranteur Tadd Chapman is doing it again! Please mark Dec. 6 on your calendars and watch for more information in the coming months.

Normally this is due to prolonged exposure to high ambient temperatures or physical exertion in these same conditions. Children and the elderly are especially susceptible. 

The most serious type of heat injury is heat stroke, it occurs when your body temperature rises over 40 Celsius and is accompanied with a change in mental status such as confusion, delirium, combativeness, seizures, or loss of consciousness.

The signs of heat exhaustion include: 

•        tiredness

•        dizziness

•        headache

•        feeling sick or being sick

•        excessive sweating/ skin becoming pale/ clammy or getting a heat rash

•        cramps

•        fast breathing or heartbeat

•        a high temperature

•        being very thirsty

•        weakness

If you suspect that someone has heat exhaustion, follow these 4 steps:

1.  Move them to a cool place.

2.  Remove all unnecessary clothing.

3.  Get them to drink a rehydration drink, or cool water.

4     Cool their skin by spray it or sponge them with cool water and fan them.

They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes. If you suspect heat stroke please go to your nearest hospital. 

Prevention is key! Make sure to drink more cold drinks, especially if you're active or exercising. Wear light-coloured, loose clothing and avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm. Avoid excess alcohol and extreme exercise. Be safe and have a wonderful summer!

It is the time of year when graduates look ahead with anticipation, excitement and some trepidation to their futures. Some too will be looking back at the road they have traveled and the hurdles they have had to overcome in order to graduate. None more so than Jesus Cristanto. Jesus’s positive attitude towards what some would consider an unsurmountable obstacle, his desire to learn and inspirational perseverance is a lesson to us all.

With gratitude,

Maria Lindenberg, President

Liga MAC Board of Directors