Child sponsorship update from Tijuana, Mexico

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Tijuana, Mexico from Summer 2008.

Dearest sponsors and benefactors:

It is a great pleasure, as always, to address to you in order to proportionate a report of the development of our village. In a very special way, we also want to thank you for your invaluable support which makes possible the opportunity for children to grow in a family environment.

Nowadays our community has 64 boys, girls and youths. As in previous years, this 2008 has begun with a festive feeling from the community of the village; it begun in the holiday period. Children enjoyed their Christmas presents and they got a lot of fun. Unfortunately Laura and her family (the mother of whom we talk about in the last report; the mother that took in three more children) did not have peaceful and fun holidays like other years. One of her daughters was hospitalized few days before Christmas, because she was in a serious condition. She had peritonitis so she had an emergency surgery. After many nights of not sleeping and having lots of worries, Laura got the best gift of all: the rapid recovery of her little one, Patty. We also want to inform you that Laura’s house has not been redesigned yet because of other construction priorities of the village, but will keep you well informed.

Thanks to the creation of the 2008-annual plan of the village, the community of mothers and aunts has been compromised with the process of change in order to improve the quality of the results. They have chosen a Direction Committee in which four mothers and aunts participate. They also want to improve the quality of the attention they give to their families. In January, they took an experience course which was about self-care and adoption.

Events in Tijuana, Mexico

In February, they took a workshop called “the discipline that works”; and in March, they took a workshop about children rights. Besides, during all March, two aunts who are going to be in charge of new families went to the SOS Training Centre in Tehuacan, Puebla; they took a mother training course. Two of the SOS mothers are, at the moment, at the same centre, in an updating course.

Furthermore from the formal training, we consider very important the stimulus and recognition of a valuable labour. For this reason, on March the 8th, Woman International Day, a double celebration took place: in the morning, there was a conference and in the afternoon, there was a talk at the Village, directed by a psychologist who was specialised on the topic. She gave a great recognition to the roll of the SOS mothers.

On the last year report, we shared with you the intention of forming three new families before the end of the year 2007. Nevertheless, some difficulties have emerged on the process of training aunts. For that reason, we have had to postpone the consolidation of these three families. But as it has been mentioned above, aunts are being trained, so we hope to give you the good news very soon.

The lives of our girls and boys have lots of anecdotes and adventures. For example, Gerardo, 12 years old, who won a gold medal in the regional tournament of Greco-Roman rustling, and that very soon, will participate on the National Olympics. Another example is Fernando who recently fractured his arm and it makes him stay at home for one month.

Thanks for your unselfish and valuable contribution, because without we could not continue this beautiful labor. SO once again, thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

Luis Manuel Reza Maqueo
Director of the Village