Feeding the Vallarta Children is a non-profit tax-exempt charity based in the city of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. Founded in 1998 as "Desayunos Para Los NiÃÆ'Â ° os de Vallarta A.C" ("Feeding Vallarta Kids" ") or therefore immediately known as" Children of Dump Vallarta ".
Since its founding in 1998, "Feed the Children Vallarta" has had more than twelve years of success in helping children living in the poor neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta, which surrounds the city's exile.
Video Feed the Children Vallarta
1998 - Horrible Needs
When "Feed the Children Vallarta" begins, there are more than 80 families with 200 children living and working in landfills. Both adults and children take daily garbage to find valuable items that they can sell. They have neither water nor electricity and are forced to move their fragile shack every few days because the rubbish is broken into them. They persist day by day but at a very low level of existence. While older people and older children work, other children have to take care of the babies. Most importantly, children are not in school and without education, destined to repeat the cycle of poverty just like their parents before them.
Maps Feed the Children Vallarta
1998 - Kindergarten and Feeding Program Established
A group of concerned citizens talked to the mothers of these children to determine what it takes to get these kids out of the bin and at school. After several discussions, the mothers were persuaded to send their little children to a local kindergarten. But it soon became known that these children came to school every morning without breakfast. The principal has noted that at 10 am the children will lose concentration when they start listening to their empty stomachs rather than the teachers. It was decided to also start providing breakfast for these children every school day.
Other Groups Join Help.
The results are fast and amazing. Attendance increases, children can concentrate better and their learning increases. A local Christian church, "Perdon y Amistad", heard about startup programs and offered to provide volunteers and vehicles to help expand the program. As a result, a partnership was born and now most volunteers are paid by the church to work for "Children of Dump". The breakfast program was expanded to include 300 other students in the elementary school across the street where most also came to school without breakfast. Immediately the principal reports the same results. Better attendance, better concentration, better behavior, and better grades. The program was expanded to include all the elementary schools and kindergartens in 5 barrios surrounding the city dump.
In the two years since it was founded, "Feed the Children Vallarta" feeds more than 1,500 children in 6 primary schools and 8 kindergarten schools around town garbage dumps. And because of work done by organizations such as "Feed the Children Vallarta" and with help from the city government of Puerto Vallarta, no more families are living in landfills. And most importantly no more children are working in this dreadful place.
The initial goal of the organization "Feed the Children Vallarta" is to get children to live in and near the landfill to school and store it there. But to achieve this, and keep them at school, the emphasis should be extended to also give them breakfast as they enter this school so they can concentrate and learn.
2000 - A Year of Tragedy and Remembrance
Then in 2000, the tragedy occurred. Jet Alaska Airlines traveling from Puerto Vallarta crashed off the coast of California killing all 88 people in it. Among those lost that day were Joe and Linda Knight, a couple of active missionaries who had helped "Perdon y Amistad" and volunteered "Feed the Children Vallarta."
2001 - "School of Champions" Born
As a warning to them, their son and friend start raising funds to build community centers with landfills. The result of its combined efforts and many others throughout Canada, the US and Mexico is what is known today as the "School of Champions." The building, just two blocks from the entrance to the garbage dump is where students from elementary schools in the area are now taught Mathematics, English and Computer skills in the after-school program.
Since then, the school has expanded to include morning sessions from 10 to 12, afternoon sessions from 4 to 6, as well as out of school programs in elementary schools where our teachers hold English classes for grades 3 through 6 during regular school hours. There are now over 300 students enrolled in the after-school program. A detailed curriculum has been added which is similar to the English program used by private bi-lingual schools in the city. Many of those who teach this English class are volunteers and are asked to do at least 6 months of continuous teaching in school and preferably throughout the school year.
2003 - New Funding Brings New Challenges
In 2003, UNICEF and the Mexican government provided funding to build nine child care centers in the poor area of ​​Puerto Vallarta. Because of service records in these areas, "Feed the Children Vallarta" was chosen to operate these centers. Each has a capacity of 20 to 25 children aged 3 ½ months to 3 ½ years. Every day care is open every Monday to Friday and has a full time cook and one teacher for every 5 or 6 children. Currently there are about 120 children enrolled in this program, most of the children come from single parent families (mothers). This program is very important for these mothers to work, knowing that their children are being treated. Without today's treatments, one of the older children in the household must stay out of school to look after younger children.
2007 - New Classroom and New Challenges
With the help of volunteers who assist in the construction and completion of two new classrooms, a new class is formed to handle student waiting lists including high school students in grades 7 and 8. This is aimed at students who have just passed several years of classes and programs in " School of Champions "and want to continue their studies in Mathematics, English and Computers. Because local primary and secondary schools do not provide classes in English or Computers, the main purpose of this education and sustainability program is to give these children English, Computers and Mathematics skills together with education in regular public schools up to Year 9. So they can get a good job in one industry in the city of Puerto Vallarta. It's about tourism.
2008 - Preliminary Summer to Remember
In the summer of 2008, "Feed the Children Vallarta" began offering free summer camps to "School of Champion" students and children in the dumping neighborhood; offering them a chance to see places in Puerto Vallarta they will never have a chance to otherwise. The camp includes art, dance, music, English, computers, and swimming. More than 130 children attend every year.
2009 - Dump Closes but Creates New Requirements
Finally in June 2009. the city dumps are closed. The land is now used only as a transfer point, loading garbage into large large trucks to be transported to new landfills for 1 ½ hours to land. Before the dump was closed, more than 200 people worked in landfills for something worthwhile that they could sell. Now the transfer station offers less than 100 jobs. That coupled with the local economic downturn has left many people out of work.
As a result of the closure of the dump, "Feed the Children Vallarta" has come to help the people affected as well. Every night around 9pm, over 600 people are fed pan dulce, tacos, bread, juice, and fortified milk. This food is primarily intended for children but many adults and parents are also fed by this "Fire Fly" program. This needs to be continuously done to feed poor families living around the dumps that are now closed for the foreseeable future or until the local economy picks up and these people can get back to work.
2010 - Viewing
Every year the reputation of "School of Champions" and "Feed the Children - Vallarta" continues to grow. And with the success of school programs has led to a huge increase in recent years. New students continue to register every month and unlike most schools, "School of Champions" practically does not have a significant reduction in the number of students. As a result, more teachers and volunteers are required as well as funding for vehicles, food costs, and other operational costs.
But most importantly, schools need more classrooms to handle increased enrollment. The plan will add more classrooms to the school to accommodate the first of the new 7th grade program that followed a year later with classrooms for the 8th and 9th graders in the following year. Once this new classroom is built, Saturday programs can be added. It will be in computers, arts and crafts, English games, and add special programs that introduce career opportunities with conversations from successful local entrepreneurs and professionals.
A Record of Achievements
Today, the programs and services offered by "Feed the Children Vallarta" have shown significant results:
- In 1998, 70% of these children living in the vicinity of landfills never graduated from grade 6.
- Today over 90% goes to class 7
- Enrollment in these schools has doubled and in some cases tripled over the past 10 years.
- No families live in landfills, and no more children work in landfills.
- There is a daycare center for caring for children from single mothers who want to work.
- There are after-school programs for children who want to learn English and computer skills.
- 1,800 meals are served every school day to students in 5 elementary schools and kindergartens that surround garbage dumps.
- About 1,500 hot meals are served each week to mothers and small children living in the area, with food from local restaurants and businesses, and the Children's Kitchen Dump.
- 150 children are now enrolled in the Feed the Children Vallarta Care Camp Center located in the impoverished area around the city's dump.
Missing Mission
The mission for "Feed the Children Vallarta" has remained unchanged from the beginning. To help children who live around the landfill go to school, stay in school and study. Staff and volunteers really believe that every child has the right:
- A healthy mind,
- A healthy body
- And an opportunity for a better life.
Media Articles
- Airport News: http://www.banderasnews.com/vallarta-living/children.htm
- Airport News :: http://www.banderasnews.com/0805/vl-cod10years.htm
- IGoUGo News: http://www.igougo.com/story-s1219268-Puerto_Vallarta-Children_of_the_Dump.html
- Virtual Vallarta News: http://www.virtualvallarta.com/puertovallarta/puertovallarta/localnews/the-children-of-the-dump-.shtml
- PV Scenes: http://www.pvscene.com/?p=879
- PR.Com: http://www.pr.com/press-release/92077
- Puerto Vallarta Business Directory: http://www.puertovallartabusiness.com/community-organizations.php
- FacebookÃ,: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Puerto-Vallarta-Mexico/Puerto-Vallarta-School-of-Champions/39882775044
External links
- Feedthechildrenvallarta.com: The new Feed the Children Vallarta Feed website
- ChildrenofthedumpVallarta.org: Official Children from the Dump Vallarta website - the original Feed the Children website, still operating .
- the UNICEF homepage
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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