Each year Cyndie Zikmund leaves her San Jose, California home to devote her two-week vacation leading groups of underprivileged children in a series of delightful songs, dances and art and craft exercises, designed to help them learn about other cultures and to build their self-confidence.
In 2014, Zikmund created Camp Estrella for children in African villages. This year she combined a visit with her sister, Chapala resident Audrey Zikmund, and this year’s annual week-long camp projects in San Juan Cosala and Ajijic.
The Zikmund sisters and a talented team of Mexican and expat counselors teamed up to create an exciting week of cultural experiences for 30 underprivileged San Juan Cosala children and then moved the entourage to Ajijic.
At the end of the San Juan Cosala camp, Augustín Vazquez Calvario of Viva Mexico Tia Lupita Restaurant in that village hosted a recital and talent show that allowed the kids to demonstrate their newly learned cultural skills.
Flamenco dance is one of Cyndie Zikmund’s passions. Over the two weeks she taught campers some of the dance’s traditional steps. During the program at the end of each camp both she and the children performed flamenco, with the youngsters decked out in the colorful assortment of children’s costumes she transports from country to country. Members of the Club Ukulele de Laguna joined the fun to perform with the San Juan and Ajijic children and for the assembled audiences. Joining the campers’ program were some of the 157 children who are members of the town’s newly-formed children’s chorus and orchestra.
Area residents who would like to donate for next year’s camp, or who would like to carry this concept to other locations, can email Audrey Zikmund at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..