In the United States, many 22-year-olds struggle to balance school work with employment to pay tuition, rent and bills.

But for 22-year-old Rosa L¢pez, it is a constant fight with the Mexican government for education, housing and human rights.

Through Josefina Castillo, an interpreter who helped organized the visit, Lopez and 36-year-old Gloria HernÊndez share their experiences of living in Chiapas, Mexico.

"We are eager for the people to know what is going on in Chiapas," HernÊndez said.

Chiapas, which borders Guatemala on the northwest, is one of the country's least developed states. It became a national point of focus after the Zapatista National Liberation Army revolted against the Mexican government beginning Jan. 1, 1994. They were demanding rights for indigenous people in Mexico.

The visit to Tucson marked the first trip out of Mexico for HernÊndez and L¢pez. An organization called "Mujeres Para el Dialogo," which means Women for Dialogue, brought them to tell Tucsonans about their lives in Chiapas.

The women told the approximately 50 people at their talk on campus Monday that in Chiapas, they and other indigenous people strive to recover native land relinquished when the Spaniards came to Mexico five centuries ago.

In San Crist¢bal, L¢pez, who learned Spanish a year ago, translates for some indigenous people who speak Tzeltal, her native language.

L¢pez said because of the poor quality of education and the prejudice against indigenous people, most of the people in the region are illiterate and speak no Spanish.

To help sustain a community of 250 families from five indigenous regions of southern Mexico, the women work together to provide staples such as meat, bread and vegetables, L¢pez said.

In addition, the community forms political coalitions to work toward liberty and equality, she said.

Although the men in the community work on similar projects, the women produce more, L¢pez said.

"We don't work for a profit, we work to help each other," she said.

L¢pez moved from Ocozingo, Mexico to San Cristobal de las Casas, where she has lived for four years, to help earn rights for the indigenous people.

But the Mexican government does not support their efforts, L¢pez said.

HernÊndez, who speaks Spanish and Tojolabal, another native language, said an ongoing strife exists between the military and those trying to earn rights in Chiapas.

The government-supported army wins sympathy from others in the city by providing food, health services and haircuts, she said.

Although many in these indigenous communities are poor, they do not want to become rich because they have a negative preconceived notion of the wealthy, HernÊndez said.

The people only long for education and land that once belonged to them, she said.

HernÊndez said that although there is no warfare now in Chiapas, the threat of the Mexican army that represses rebellion movements looms over the people.

HernÊndez has lived within the community for about 10 years.

"What we have shared with you is what we are living," HernÊndez said.

Castillo said UA sponsors made contributions toward the airfare and expenses for the women's week-long visit.

These included the American Indian Studies and Women's Studies programs, the Latin American Area Center, the Office of International Programs, the Commission on the Status of Women, the departments of Anthropology and Language, and Reading and Culture. L¢pez and HernÊndez also spoke at the Southside Presbyterian Church on West 23rd Street and at the Pima Community College West Campus.