Background
The Isla Mujeres Childrens Helmet Campaign was created to
address the need to raise awareness about the important of
wearing a helmet and to supply helmets to children.
Isla Mujeres has a law requiring all adults on mopeds/motorcycles
to wear helmets, but the law does not apply to children and often
times you'll see a parent wearing a helmet while the child is not.
The helmet campaign seeks to provide all elementary aged
children on Isla with helmets.
address the need to raise awareness about the important of
wearing a helmet and to supply helmets to children.
Isla Mujeres has a law requiring all adults on mopeds/motorcycles
to wear helmets, but the law does not apply to children and often
times you'll see a parent wearing a helmet while the child is not.
The helmet campaign seeks to provide all elementary aged
children on Isla with helmets.
But why should you donate to the campaign?
The minimum wage in Mexico is less than 80 pesos per day, and when someone has to choose between necessities like feeding their families or buying a helmet, the basic necessities come first. Most who have been to Isla have seen families of 3, 4, or even 5 people on a moped, while it may look crazy to some people, the moped is the equivalent of the family van for many families. The island is small and mopeds are affordable and practical, and because they are so prevalent we feel that the best way to address the lack of children wearing helmets is to 1. provide them with the helmet and 2. provide education and awareness of the importance of helmets.
The minimum wage in Mexico is less than 80 pesos per day, and when someone has to choose between necessities like feeding their families or buying a helmet, the basic necessities come first. Most who have been to Isla have seen families of 3, 4, or even 5 people on a moped, while it may look crazy to some people, the moped is the equivalent of the family van for many families. The island is small and mopeds are affordable and practical, and because they are so prevalent we feel that the best way to address the lack of children wearing helmets is to 1. provide them with the helmet and 2. provide education and awareness of the importance of helmets.
How It Works
The helmet campaign relies on donations made to be able to supply helmets. We collect not only physical helmets, but also monetary donations and every penny is used on the helmets themselves. Kristen Tywan, of Volunquest, passes out the helmets in the primary schools. When a child receives a helmet, they are asked to sign a Letter of Responsibility that they and their parents have to agree to, which states that they will always wear their helmet while riding on their mopeds/motorcycles. If they are caught without their helmet they get a warning, if they are caught a second time they will receive a fine.
Coloring book and stickers have also been created to help teach the children the importance of wearing a helmet, and to foster an interest in receiving and using one. |