Mexico Earthquake Relief
March 2018 – December 2024
Last updated: April 2024
All Hands and Hearts has been rebuilding disaster-resilient schools in Mexico since 2018. Our work began in response to two devastating earthquakes that shook the country in September 2017, damaging over 5,000 schools. Its effects were intensified by Hurricane Agatha in 2022 and even further during Hurricane Otis in 2023. In July 2024, we will begin work on our 30th school rebuild in the country, restoring access to education in the community of San Bartolo, Teontepec.
Our Work
In July 2024, AHAH begins its ninth program in Mexico, rebuilding disaster-resilient schools within Mexico’s CONAFE system in Puebla. This system addresses educational needs in rural and marginalized communities. Working on two schools within the San Bartolo community, our work will include rebuilding two disaster-resilient classrooms, WASH infrastructure (including four rainwater harvesting systems), a playground and other community initiatives to ensure sustainable practices endure beyond AHAH’s involvement.
Disaster Profile
On September 7, 2017, one of the most destructive earthquakes in Mexico’s history hit close to the southern state of Chiapas with a devastating magnitude of 8.2. Just 12 days later and a few hundred miles away, a 7.1 magnitude quake rocked central Mexico, toppling buildings, breaking gas mains, knocking out electricity and sparking fires across the city and other towns in central Mexico. Damage was widespread throughout the central and southern parts of the country. AHAH has worked in Oaxaca for the last six programs, where the disaster impacted over 4,000 schools.
Further compounding the long-term impacts of the earthquakes was Hurricane Agatha, which struck the central Oaxacan coast as a Category 2 storm in May 2022. Agatha brought significant storm surges and debris flows to coastal regions before moving inland over the state, where winds, mudslides and water damaged or destroyed more homes and schools.