A few little updates about Hogar Nueva Vida
School ends in June which means 2 girls Monserrat (Monse) and Alfa will not be able to return. Only up through grade 6 are girls allowed to participate at Nueva Vida; this is due to schooling needs and issues.
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Reesa reports that the internet at Nueva Vida is up and running. And that she often accesses the wi-fi there for teaching materials and fun songs that help the girls to learn English during her weekly visits. She thinks it is a great learning tool for the girls, and resource for the tutors. Thank you so much to the Cheryl Cowen for the generous donation of the year of connectivity.
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Purpura Plastika (PPK) began teaching art to the girls, and the girls loved the classes.
Unfortunately they had to put the project on hold because they did not receive some grant funds they were hoping for to be able to buy the supplies and in some cases to hire people to help.
They continue to look for opportunities to raise funds.
I am in discussion with Alberto, the founder of PPK, and as soon as I know what we can do to help I will let you know!
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The Merida Men's Club is once again helping out with much needed repairs; currently they are trying to clean, scrape, repair, and seal the roofs, do some painting, and install a tinaco.
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| a freshly painted dormitory |
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| an exterior makeover |
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| Roberta seated, with Theresa admiring the lovely jewelry Roberta makes. Roberta so generously created and donated a necklace, complete with special carrybag for each of the girls. These were presented to the girls on 30 April, which was Día del Niño. just look at these happy girls!    |
In addition to the gifts the girls got to go to the swimming pool
This article in today's Diario, and translated here - shows that there is awareness and that there are groups inplace that offer similar support and assistance as Nueva Vida. Unfortunately, as in all government programs they can't reach all the children in need. I am so proud and thankful for the work of Nueva Vida, and in our (IWC) support. - Thank you each for your involvement. - DebiK
http://yucatan.com.mx/merida/peligroso-entorno-infantil
Dangerous childhood environment
- Mérida South Children living in high poverty stricken households
- A DIF work detects serious problems
Part of the child population of Merida lives in an environment not suitable for healthy development in physical and psychological aspects, and one reason for this is the material poverty of their families and ignorance that brings.
In work done with the DIF marginalized families south of this capital city shows that there are children who grow up in homes hit by unemployment, the omission of care, violence, alcoholism, malnutrition and lack of discipline and development of values in children, among other obstacles.
The director of that institution, Gabriela González Prieto said that these problems are controlled through various programs. One is on pensions that are delivered each month to families of 1,611 children.
Another is called Building Families and is for households with children in precarious and vulnerable position.
The latter program benefits 354 children and adolescents. Some of these are members of five families "of the streets", ie that children have a supplier role in the economy of the family.
Minors of the remaining families are as companions to their parents in informal jobs (masonry, electrical, carpentry, housekeeping support, focus on market stalls, etc).
As an example of the picture they see in the South, detailed the case of the San Jose Tecoh, which found that unemployment and lack of permanent job affects 70% of the families involved in the program said.
Family violence is present in 50% of them and the same percentage is observed with the problem of alcoholism and malnutrition and underweight children. - Hansel Vargas Aguilar
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