Working in education with orphaned and abandoned children.
PROGRAM IN BRIEF
Continent:
North America
Development areas:
Education
Youth
Child Development
Health
YCA Focused MDG:
Number 2; Education.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
Youth Challenge Australia (YCA) has been working in Mexico on community-identified development projects since 2007. One of the newest of YCA’s programs, the Mexico program provides the opportunity for regional and remote community development with the support of passionate and enthusiastic youth from around the world. At present, YCA’s Mexico program supports various projects working towards child and youth development goals in the well-established orphanage ‘Niño’s Feliz’, whose name means “Happy Kids” in Spanish.
The Mexico program is focused predominantly on meeting the needs of these orphaned and abandoned children whilst building the capacity of the orphanage staff and surrounding community around childhood educational needs, health, youth work and nutrition. Each project in Mexico is different and has its own individual goals, objectives and activities ranging from building the capacity of the community to meet educational objectives for children and youth, to building knowledge and skill in nutrition and maintaining the self-sufficiency of the orphanage through a community garden. The purpose of engaging with Mexican communities across this diverse and culturally rich country is to enhance the capacity of children and youth as well as the community, to engage in sustainable development for themselves.
In Mexico at present, there are approximately 10 million orphaned and abandoned children. Due to issues of unemployment etc. within Mexico itself, many of these orphaned and abandoned children have been left by parents seeking work to support families over the northern border into the United States of America with many never about to return. The Niño’s Feliz orphanage currently seeks to invest in a child’s development, whether that be socially, academically or personally. YCA continues to work in collaboration with Reto Juvenil International (RJI) to identify and support projects and communities in Mexico and work with these communities towards a sustainable future.
GET INVOLVED:
YCA aims to support community development in Mexico through education. By supporting Mexican community objectives and identified development project/ initiatives in Mexico, YCA can make a positive contribution to the lives of children. YCA seeks to support an environment where orphaned and abandoned children are able to live a well-balanced life full of health, education, safety, warmth and affection.
The Mexico program seeks to demonstrate the importance of a child’s development, whether that be socially, academically or personally. The Niño’s Feliz orphanage currently shelters children aged between 2 and 17 years of age. YCA has been working with Reto Juvenil Internacional in Latin America since 1992 and YCA programs continue to be supported in joint partnership with this local leading NGO.
Engagement on the Mexico program covers various aspects of orphanage life including; education workshops, planning events and lessons, infrastructure work, sports classes and fundraising. This program aims to ensure the children of Niño’s Feliz receive adequate attention, encouragement and help throughout their lives. YCA youth participants in the past have organising and presented craft and sports workshops, engaged in capacity building with community members around fundraising for the orphanage, conducted youth leadership and self-esteem seminars, as well as environmental work in a community garden, performed painting and also assisted with maintenance around the orphanage. Participating youth have also implemented a publicity campaign to raise awareness of the orphanage, culminating in a visit from the Australian Ambassador to Mexico in January 2010.
By getting involved you will be able to learn more and experience the lives of Mexican children and youth, families and communities. You will be able to support the orphanage staff and experience community life first hand in the Mexican culture. YCA conducts project in Mexico year round. We aim to make a small contribution to achieving Mexico’s long-term development goals with regards to education.
COUNTRY PROFILE:
Location:
Mexico is located in Central America, bordered by the United States to the north and Guatemala to the South.
Capital:
Mexico City
Population:
111.2 million.
Language/s:
Spanish
HDI:
53/182
Life Expectancy:
75.6 years
Infant Mortality:
22 in 1000 births
Adult Literacy Rate:
91.6%
Population living below the national poverty line:
17.6%
Climate:
As Mexico has such a vast land span, its climate varies from tropical to desert as the environment moves from its coasts lines to its rugged mountains and high plateaus.
Government:
Federal presidential republic
PAST MEXICO PROJECT
Year:
2009
Location:
Niño’s Feliz, San Joaquin, Mexico.
Project Length:
6 weeks
Project Goal:
To help with the coordination and daily activities within the orphanage by improving the development and life skills of the children.
Youth Participants:
6 participants
Direct Beneficiaries:
17 children at the Niño’s Feliz orphanage and the community of San Joaquin and 4 staff.
In-Direct Beneficiaries:
The community of San Joaquin, Mexico.
Project Summary:
The project assisted in the operation of the orphanage as well as the social development of the children. Capacity building exercises were conducted including workshops on self confidence and self-esteem, as well as activities based around sport, dance and language.
The YCA team also organised workshops to improve socialization and quality of life for the children in the orphanage, by promoting human rights and social values. Workshops focused on child development included youth leadership, relationships, and health with activities such as painting, drama, gardening, sport/fitness being used as a way of getting across these ideas.
The team also worked with the orphanage staff on humanitarian and charitable fundraising activities on behalf of the children. Fundraising activities were conducted and sponsorship sort to go towards the maintenance of the orphanage. Funds were collected and will be used for the ongoing to improvements in housing, as well as towards the children’s daily living costs.
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