Learning, Culture, Community, Safety, Nature, Healthy Eating, Inclusion, Employment, Healthy Living, Alternative Medicine, Socializing, Sports. All these words related to health and wellness come up in conversations with people who visit the Swiss social center “Utopia”. Ixtapalapa, municipality of Mexico City.
“Before, there were very few opportunities here. Now there is a place for everyone, young and old,” said Marisela Hernández Valencia, who came to Meihualco Utopia with her son Giovanni. “We know each other better now, because before we would just say hello to each other, even if we were neighbors. Thanks to these activities, we are coming together.” added Luz María López Percastre, user of UTOPIA Libertad. “The environment is very nice and very accessible for her husband, who uses a wheelchair,” adds Jacqueline López Hernández.
Marisela Hernández Valencia and her son Giovanni go to Meihualco Utopia.
Marisela, Luz and Jacqueline are part of the Ixtapalapa community that will benefit from the UTOPIAS project, which focuses on promoting equity and social cohesion.
Health does not depend solely on medical services. A broader approach is needed, involving all sectors of policy. “Social cohesion is the theme of Wellness Week 2024, because promoting social cohesion creates greater equity, well-being and health,” says Pilar, Regional Advisor for Health Promotion at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)・Mr. Campos explains. The slogan for this year’s Wellness Week is “Improving Social Cohesion, Improving Health.”
With a population of over 1.8 million people, Ixtapalapa is Mexico City’s most populous municipality. The name UTOPIAS is derived from the Spanish acronym that stands for Space for Social Change and Organization for Inclusion and Social Harmony. These community spaces are operated by local governments and promote social change centered on parks and cultural and sports centers. His first Utopia opened in 2019 and now he has 14 locations throughout Ixtapalapa.
