A Game of Marbles to Prevent Homeless Deaths  · Global Voices
Indira Cornelio

Image from El Caracol profile on Facebook
In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is coming and this sets into motion, as every year, the game #ChirasPelasCalacasFlacas, that involves playing with marbles, an initiative by the organization El Caracol (the snail) that works to reduce the risks that lead to deaths of the homeless.
The homeless population in Mexico is affected by discrimination, that is reflected in the denial of health services, as in te case told by Luis Enrique Hernández about Susana, who died due to labor complications, “because she was denied medical by staff of Women's Hospital and Gregorio Salas Hospital. She died at four in the morning, outside the hospital.”
To talk about the risks of death and how to prevent them, promoters of Chiras Pelas Calacas Flacas visit groups of homeless people in Mexico City. They also documented cases of deaths people might remember and write obituaries about them to put on church altars. In 2009, the campaign was awarded a honorable mention at the UNICEF Awards 2009 for innovation and creativity in using Mexican traditions in promoting the right to life.
Game of marbles, data registry and reflections about death risks. Photo from El Caracol's profile on Facebook.
The organization invites everybody to join the campaign. You can download the obituary from http://bit.ly/1qYge7J. Print it with some of the names that appear and take it to your closest offering. Send a picture using #GritaMuerteCero (shout death zero).