IPN Brigades to Support 17 Municipalities Nationwide

Reporter: Enrique Soto / Photographer: Javier González

A total of 377 members of the IPN community will put “La Técnica al Servicio de la Patria” into action in highly marginalized communities

Authorities from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) officially launched a group of 377 students and faculty members from various academic units who will take part in the Spring 2026 Multidisciplinary Community Service Brigades. Their work will include healthcare services, engineering projects, and basic infrastructure rehabilitation in highly marginalized communities across 17 municipalities in six states.

At the Centro Cultural “Jaime Torres Bodet,” and on behalf of IPN Director General Arturo Reyes Sandoval, Secretary of Innovation and Social Integration Yessica Gasca Castillo highlighted that, for more than 50 years, the Polytechnic has carried out these multidisciplinary brigades, whose actions have transformed the lives of those most in need.

She reported that, in this edition, brigades will operate in Chiapas (Sabanilla, Tila, and Tumbalá); Hidalgo (Atlapexco, Mineral del Monte, Huichapan, and Tlahuiltepa); Estado de México (Nezahualcóyotl); Oaxaca (San Francisco Ixhuatán); Puebla (Atzala, Chietla, Epatlán, San Gabriel Chilac, and Zoquitlán); and Veracruz (Calcahualco, Chalma, and Platón Sánchez).

“These brigades represent a renewed commitment to social service, where the talent, vocation, and knowledge of IPN are placed at the service of marginalized communities. Today, we reaffirm that ‘La Técnica al Servicio de la Patria’ comes to life in every brigade, every community, and every action that transforms lives,” she emphasized.

Accompanied by IPN Academic Secretary María Isabel Rojas Ruiz, Gasca Castillo noted that the brigades not only provide healthcare services—including medicine, dentistry, nutrition, optometry, psychology, nursing, and social work—but also promote engineering and community development projects that help transform local realities.

Within the framework of IPN’s 90th anniversary, she added, these brigades take on even greater significance, representing the continuity of a historic mission: bringing education, science, and technology to serve the people of Mexico. “Brigade members, carry the name of the Polytechnic with pride; act with ethics, sensitivity, and commitment,” she stated.

In her remarks, the Mayor of Tumbalá, Chiapas, Griselda de Jesús Méndez, expressed her gratitude to IPN, noting that her municipality has benefited from the brigades on three occasions. “We are witnessing a deeply human mission—bringing health, hope, and dignity to those who need it most,” she said.

Similarly, the Mayor of Epatlán, Puebla, Raúl Merino Badillo, recognized the students for their strong sense of service. “These types of partnerships demonstrate that when education and public service work together, meaningful results can be achieved,” he concluded.