4239 W. Ina Road Ste. 101
Tucson, Arizona 85741
Ph: 520.744.9595
Fax: 520.744.2127

PYP's Community Service Projects

Youth design, implement, complete, and evaluate their quarterly community service projects. Through community service, young people see themselves as helpers rather than those to be helped.

In 2003-2004, over 175 youth and adults participated in community service projects in Ajo, Catalina, rural Marana, Old and New Pascua, and on the Tohono O’odham Nation including:

• Planning and planting a community garden.

• Creating anti-drug murals.

• Making puppets and selling them for charity.

• Cleaning up the community.

• Decorating for parties for senior citizens.

• Building and staffing game booths.

• Hosting a Youth Social Night

• Assisting elderly with yard maintenance.

• Packaging and delivering food donations to needy community members.

2002-2003 Community Service Projects
[ Pollinator Garden in Ajo ] [ Portable Mural in Marana ]
[ Alley Clean Up in Old Pascua ] [ Community Garden in Pisinemo ]

Map of the United States in Catalina, Arizona

Youth decided to re-paint the 10'x 20' map of the United States in the courtyard of the Coronado K-8 School as a community service project. The overall project took several weeks to outline, color code, and paint. The youth went to ACE Hardware to request the donation of paint, which they received. The map is used by the elementary school teachers to teach the younger children geography.

Pollinator (Butterfly) Garden at Curley School in Ajo, AZ

For their community service project, youth in Ajo's Youth Advisory Council (YAC) chose to plant a pollinator garden.

With help from the from the International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA), the youth researched possible plants in the books provided by ISDA for color, size, care, and watering needs.

Before planting anything, youth cleaned the area and built a fence to keep the animals out.

Since the plants vary in size, the youth needed to map them out well in order to get the most out of the garden.

ISDA provided the tools needed to break ground and the youth began to dig; not an easy task in Ajo because there has been little or no rain and the dirt is hard!

Youth finalized the two-day project by planting their plants, making identification signs with information about each plant, and making a map of what was planted. Youth that have completed the project have continued to do research with ISDA, both to make signs for each plant and to maintain the garden.

Portable Mural Project in Marana

During the summer of 2002, members of the ERASE -- Erase Racism and Sexism Everywhere -- Club initiated work on its mural project. The youth and advisors, explored different design elements until a consensus on the final design was reached. The group worked closely with Enrique Aviles, formerly PYP's Community Development Director in Marana, to build the six 4' x 5' panels, secure and prepare the canvas, and draw and paint the design.

The mural was completed in March 2003 and unveiled during the Ethnic Festival on March 21st. The mural was on display at the Marana High School for the entire week of the festival. It has also been displayed at the Care Fair in August 2003. The group will be moving the mural to different locations throughout the community as well as setting it up for display at various community events.

The mural depicts imagery of the Statue of Liberty, the symbol for peace, a male and female figure holding hands over the word “Unity”, and the Earth. There are also quotes and illustrations of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. under the protective wings of an eagle.

Alley Cleanup in Old Pascua

In October 2003, youth decided to clean up an alley adjacent to their school.

Adult residents of the area were recruited through fliers and community presentations about the project. The Alley Cleanup was held on a Saturday, from 9am to 12pm. In all, 25 people attended

The youth were overseen by the adult residents, who made sure they were safely handling anything that might be dangerous.

	Working together, they finished the cleanup in 2 hours! Talk about cooperation and unity!

This is the cleaned-up alley. It still looks great!

Because of the success in cleaning the alley, the adult residents expressed their desire to see a continuation of the effort with other community youth groups, through a Clean Up Committee. This Committee will broaden the range and collaborations to the greater Pascua Yaqui Reservation and the City of Tucson. How exciting!

Community Garden in Pisinemo

In 2002, youth, adults, and elders began working on the Community Garden, a 15,000 square foot piece of land near the Elders' Center in the Village of Pisinemo. Youth, ages 7-15, learned O'odham words while learning traditional gardening. This project gave youth an opportunity to participate in a volunteer service to the elders in their community and was a major step toward a larger goal to revive and preserve O'odham traditional ways through a holistic approach.

In 2003, the Elders' Garden project was expanded to include an irrigation system. Again youth and elders came together to work on the project.

Crops started to grow in September. The O'odham squash, devils claw, melons and pumpkins grew real well. According to the elders it is tradition to give away your first crops. The garden yielded 36 O'odham squash and 5 water melons at the first harvest of the crops which the youth, elders and PYP staff went door to door in the villages on October 30 giving the elders the produce from the garden. We are still harvesting pumpkins and devil's claw. The devil's claw that has been picked is in the garden, covered with ashes to prepare it for basket making. The pumpkin will be used to show the youth how to make fresh pumpkin pies and other foods.

	In all, over 25 youth, adults, and elders participated in the garden project. They continue their committment to this garden by returning to weed and harvest throughout the year.

Pima YOUTH Partnership (PYP) was incorporated in 1990 by a group of concerned citizens that wanted to connect rural communities with the same programs, services, and activities available to youth and families living in the metropolitan Tucson area.

As a prevention agency, PYP works with youth and families in rural and Native American communities to reach its mission, "In partnership with communities, develop resources to promote the positive growth of their children." Since 1990, PYP has grown from its original three (3) communities of Ajo, rural Marana, and Sahuarita, to include Catalina, Flowing Wells, New Pascua Yaqui Reservation, and the Tohono O'odham Nation.