Our Impact
There are many ways to define impact. One could say that Fr. Scott’s approach started by touching hearts and minds through La Clinica del Pueblo, Anna Seethaler, A.C.; established to provide affordable, quality, and compassionate care for low-income families with healthcare needs in Oaxaca, Mexico. During his more than two-decade-long journey, and made possible by the incredible generosity of his community, he was able to expand his giving to other committed grassroots organizations working with vulnerable populations in the city and the countryside.
Thanks to you, TASH has been able to provide funding with the following results:
201,000 patients have received medical care
30 nonprofit partners doing good work
20+ years of economic support in Oaxaca
Why Oaxaca?
Oaxaca is a state located in southern Mexico. It is a place of many contrasts. On the one hand, it is home to 40% of the indigenous languages spoken in the country. 58% of the people speak an indigenous language compared to the national average of 15%. Oaxaca possesses gorgeous mountains and coastline, plus world-renowned food and culture. The biodiversity in Oaxaca is the greatest in the entire country.
On the other hand, it is one of the most economically poor states in Mexico, thus this diversity is also co-existing with a lack of access to education, basic health services, and employment. It is often shocking to imagine a place that has so much potential, with a daily minimum wage of $4/ USD. Also, because of the rugged mountainous landscape and endemic corruption, there is a lack of basic infrastructure (roads, potable water) available to the 1000s of small villages.
It was in 1998 that Fr. Scott Seethaler first visited. He was immediately taken by the kindness and humility of the people of Oaxaca. But he also could not ignore the enormous need for basic and quality healthcare. It is from this visit, that La Clinica was born. In ongoing recognition of these challenges and opportunities of working in this unique context, TASH will continue to take a cautious approach to assure we respect the local traditions and customs. We will also strive to build trust with local leaders and organizations to assure that our community resources best meet those in need.
