Andrew Wainer
economic ground—and population. In 1979, the village had
more than 300 residents. But due to a long-term decline in
viable agriculture much of the village’s youth left.
Even with the remittances that flow to the region, the area
remains poor.37 Today, most of Avila Camacho’s residents
are women and older men. Most young people simply expect
to leave once they reach working age. A ruined elementary
school with rusted chairs and tables is a relic of the oncevibrant community. The few school-aged children remaining
travel eight miles to the nearest classroom along roads that
are sometimes blocked by overflowing rivers.
Avila Camacho and rural Mexico’s youth exodus were
shaped by a variety of factors, but the rate of migration became particularly intense starting in t