 | | Care for orphaned and abandoned children in Mexico | | | | | The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The nation had been making an impressive recovery until the global financial crisis hit in late 2008. In Mexico, Youth Challenge Australia is working with Reto Juvenil Internacional (Youth Challenge Costa Rica) and has been for 17 years. Reto Juvenil has an on-going relationship with many different communities and organisations all across Central America and is well respected in the region. Reto identifies projects and communities which they feel are important for the region and seek volunteer assistance to make the change we all want to see in the world. YCA volunteers in Mexico support Ninos Feliz, a well-established orphanage whose name means 'Happy Kids' in Spanish. In 1990, Father Jose Luis founded this institution with a very clear goal: that those children who arrive at their new home receive the love that they've lost, live in a balanced environment full of warmth and affection and enjoy life; that they show enthusiasm and enjoy the security of a home in order to provide them with the necessary background to so that they can establish constructive relationships with other people in the future, succeed academically, find a chosen career and become productive and joyful members of Mexican society who have the ability to adapt to changes. The Home currently shelters 17 children, aged between three and eighteen, and is located in the city of San Joaquin, on the road to Veracruz.
|  | | | | By volunteering in Mexico with YCA, you can help create a positive long-term social impact in a country with approximately 10 million orphaned children, learn Spanish and have the opportunity to teach English in a positive and life-changing learning environment. YCA volunteers will be assisting in the day-to-day activities of the orphanage, helping children develop their self-confidence, respect and creativity in harmony. Areas such as capacity-building workshops, teaching and education, sports, craft and infrastructure work will be focused on. Some specific activities volunteers will be involved in during their project may include: | - Organising workshops to discuss youth leadership and self-esteem;
- Holding workshops as part of the cleanliness and hygiene program;
- Taking part in infrastructure work including painting, rebuilding and gardening;
- Initiating humanitarian and charitable activities including planning special events (Variety Shows, drama performances) to help raise funds;
- Implementing a publicity campaign to raise awareness of the orphanage including creating and designing brochures; and
- Conducting local research with regard to resources, possible support and food for the orphanage.
| | During a typical day, volunteers will: | - Help younger kids prepare for school;
- Run workshops on various topics such as language, culture, self esteem, careers and life skills;
- Plan for special classes & events such as dance lessons, meditation, cooking class and handicraft lessons;
- Infrastructure – painting/ repairing the orphanage etc; and
- Campaign work.
All volunteer are more than welcome to prepare workshops/ programs in consultation with the Group Leaders and orphanage staff, depending on your own experience and knowledge. If you have other talents which you wish to share, bring some resources or ideas ready for those, the sky is the limit! | | Country Overview - Location: Mexico is the largest country in Central America, bordered by the United States to the north and Guatemala to the south.
- Capital: Mexico City (federal districo).
- Population: 109,955, 400 million 2007(EST.).
- Religion: Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census).
- Languages: The official language is Spanish with 92.6% of the population converse in Spanish. There are still several indigenous languages spoken including various Mayan and Nahuatl languages.
- Climate: As Mexico has such a vast land span its climate varies from tropical to desert as the environment moves from its coats lines to its rugged mountains and High plateaus.
- Government: Federal republic, current president is Felipe de Jesus Calerdon, elected on the 1st of December 2006.
- Currency: The Mexican Peso.
| | | | Development statistics - Adult literacy rate: (over 15 years) 91.6% (male and females)
- Government spending on education: 5.4% in 2005
- Life expectancy: 75.6 years
- Infant Mortality Rate: 1970- 79 in 1000 births 2005- 22 in 1000 births
- Human development Index (HDI): 0.829, ranked 52th out of 177 developed and developing countries, listed as highly developed in terms of human development
- Gross Domestic Product: (GDP) – 893.4 billion (2007)
- Economy: Mexico has a free market mixed economy and is firmly established as an upper middle- income country. Mexico has recovered well from the economic crash of 1994; however, income distribution remains highly unequal. Oil is Mexico’s largest source of foreign income and has recently surpassed the USA and Canada in the auto-motive industry. Tourism is very important to Mexico’s economy. Mexico’s beautiful coast lines and Meso-American Ruins are both big draw cards for tourist world wide.
- Gender Equality: Gender equality is still an issue within Mexico with a recent rise in domestic violence and murders of women in the northern town of Ciudad Juarez. Several governments have attempted to strengthen domestic violence legislation to combat the problem. Women also have low employment opportunities and therefore often are forced to look for work in other countries which is often low paid.
- Population living below the national poverty line: 17.6% (2004)
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