On October 25, 2023, "Otis," a Category 5 hurricane, hit the city of Acapulco in Mexico. Its impact is still visible almost six months later. The government estimates that 250,000 people lost their homes. Acapulco is a tourism-driven region that has been grappling with increasing violence from drug gangs for years. The economic situation had already deteriorated since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the destruction caused by the hurricane further worsened the situation.

In March, a team of ten emergency pedagogues from Mexico, supported by three colleagues from the international network – including Fiona Bay, head of the Emergency Pedagogy Department of Friends of Waldorf Education – was on-site. The team worked in several schools. In addition to activities like art and movement exercises with the children, they also worked with parents and teachers. Parents and adults still had tears in their eyes when talking about the disaster even six months after the hurricane. In one of the two elementary schools, most parents work in the tourism industry, which has significantly declined – many have no reliable income. "Many houses, especially in the remote villages around Acapulco, are still destroyed," reported Alicia D'Urso, coordinator of the Mexican team. "The tension is palpable among parents and teachers. They repeatedly emphasize that they have been living under difficult conditions not just since the last hurricane. They have been facing violence and poverty for years and feel left alone. They often come to us asking how to cope with the stress and be there for their children better."

A teacher reported from her class that the children are worried because the rainy season is approaching. Many still get scared when they hear strong winds. Earthquakes and shootings are also common in the area, which worries the children. Several teachers shared how they had to learn over the past months to understand how children react differently to their experiences.

In addition to psycho-educational and self-care sessions; practical workshops are offered to parents and teachers, providing them with ideas for working with the children. They also receive a chance to experience a moment of calm and serenity.

Pablo (name changed) is 9 years old. In an art workshop, he painted a dragon and said that during the storm, a dragon like a devil appeared in the sky. At the end of the session, he told Cristina Guijarro Vargas, an emergency pedagogue from Spain, that he would paint a rainbow to chase away the dragon.

Seventeen-year-old Gabriela (name changed) reflected with great insight on her participation in the emergency pedagogical effort. She attended a movement and an art workshop daily and thanked the Spanish emergency pedagogue Cristina on the last day:

"I felt very comfortable. School often causes me stress and worries, but thanks to your work, I feel much better and more relaxed. My mind has been cleared of the many heavy and dark thoughts I had before. I enjoyed the conversations very much because, even though we continue to grow up, we should not forget that we were once children and that we were very happy. Why shouldn't we do that now, as adults? I thank you and the whole team from the bottom of my heart, take good care of yourself!"