Español
August 18, 2024
by Bobbi Palmer
Volunteering unites a lot of people here in San Miguel, both expats and Mexicans. Helping the indigent, teaching children art, and aiding animals in need are just some of the causes embraced by good people from all walks of life: hotel and retail workers, ex-CEOs, travel and real estate agents, retired folks... These generous souls, all here for their own reasons, are joined together by their passion to help others. Gigi Alexander is one of them.
Gigi is a world-renowned writer with works published in anthologies, the BBC, Lonely Planet, National Geographic. She is the recipient of four Solas awards. She is the former editor-in-chief of Panorama North American edition.
Gigi had lived a service-directed life before moving to San Miguel. In between solo, epic walking journeys across Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and New Zealand, she devoted herself to volunteering. She lived long-term in a Mother Teresa orphanage in India, rehabilitated wildlife including leopards, planted orchids in remote regions, and aided impoverished women. She lived with and wrote about the Ngabe of Panama. She has spent her entire adult life making life better whenever she could.
When San Miguel when the pandemic hit, Gigi's plans to continue traveling were quashed. She observed that there were many street dogs in need of loving care. Some were injured or starving. All lacked shelter.
It started with a little bear-like dog, wandering the streets, cold and hungry, whom she took home, nursed and named Osito (little bear). Subsequent walks resulted in more dogs being brought home (and to the vet). Soon it was necessary to find a larger space and Angelitos Sanctuario was born.
A shelter, and there are some good ones here serving cats and dogs, provides a temporary home to animals while workers find adopters and a new home for them. A sanctuary provides care, love and a home for both adoptable and unadoptable animals: the injured, maimed, blind, paralyzed animals who otherwise would perish.
Gigi established Angelitos Sanctuario, a new location for the dogs and cats she had in her care, out in the countryside. She established a board to assist with decision making and fundraising. She got 501c3 status in the US.
At one-point Angelitos Sanctuario housed an injured and recuperating bird of prey. A pack of eight burros also came to call the Sanctuario home before two were adopted. In a few short years, they have helped thousands of animals, adopted out many to well-vetted homes, and provided sanctuary to those animals who would never have survived or been able to live a full, happy life.
Life has thrown several curves in the path of Angelitos. In March their landlord gave them 90 days in which to find a new location and move all the animals and supplies. Like so often happens in San Miguel when people and animals are in need, an army of supporters came together with boxes and cars to assist in the movement of all the items and animals. Funds were gratefully given to help in the purchase of land for a permanent off-grid home for the Sanctuary.
Of course, the Sanctuary still needs support. Expenses like vet bills, food, water, medication, and staffing are ongoing. And the actual build of Angelitos has not yet been completed.
