Sayulita Life’s $5,000 Monthly Donation Goes To: SayuParke!

We at Sayulita Life are beyond excited to be donating this month to a very local cause- the town park! This incredible project came to life via the hard work of local individuals who care about our community’s youth, and has had a great impact on our small town. We caught up with one of the main people involved, Xochil Ilias, to talk about the park and how it came to life.

Hi! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came to Sayulita?
My mom has been coming to the Sayulita area for about 50 years now. She met my dad here, who is Huichol from Nayarit. I grew up living part-time in Santa Cruz (Nayarit) and Montreal for most of my childhood.

What makes Sayulita so special?
I think that Sayulita has kept its magic and authenticity despite its fast growth.

What inspired you to start this awesome project and how did it come about?
I wanted a fun environment where all the kids could play without worrying about the safety of the play structure. I teamed up with Forest Whitmore, who was already part of the previous committee, and we started a fundraiser to purchase Sayulita’s first industrial play structure.

You did a great job gathering the community. How did you do it and who were the people involved?
This project couldn’t have been possible without our community. It was a lot of work, and took it’s time (1.5 years to be exact), but despite the difficulty we got it done! Many people believed and supported our project, but a few local “expats” tried to boycott it because it looked too” American” in their eyes.
Even though this play structure was Hecho In Mexico, by Mexicans! But we kept on going thanks to our strong community and everyone involved: the previous Sayuparke committee, Erendira from Escondido bar & Lucy Suarez and many local mexican families and locals as well.

Why is SayuParke so essential to our community?

We often forget the kids from Sayulita, like the children of the street vendors, who don’t have anywhere to go during the day. This is the only happy place for them and for our own children.

How much does it cost to run a month and how are you getting that money?

It costs around 3500 pesos per month- including maintenance and a cleaner who opens and closes the park every day. We do some raffles to gather funds when ever we can, but could use much more support!

Sounds like you need donations! How can someone donate or volunteer?

Mexico has made it very complex to open a non-profit; we are taking cash donations only. We are 100% transparent with our expenses and anyone who wishes to look at our receipts is welcome! You can donate by messaging us at: https://www.facebook.com/sayuparke or email me directly at Xochillilas@gmail.com.

What will Sayulita Life’s donation money be used for?
Chayo’s salary! She helps keep the park clean.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you to Sayulita Life for their donation 🙂

Thank you so much!