City of The Children

Their flight may begin as far south as Acapulco. As they group themselves with other maltreated and abandoned children, they begin their journey north to find a better life elsewhere.

Many orphans in Mexico have been found by the police living abandoned to fend for themselves. Still others make their way from families who can no longer care for them. Since there is no "public assistance" in Mexico, struggling single mothers end up abandoning their children to an orphanage out of necessity. Although it is terribly sad, it is done as an act of love. Poverty makes me sad. Homelessness makes me sad. Child abandonment makes me even sadder.

Approximately 2 million Mexican children are orphaned or abandoned.

Forty years ago, a young man named Josue Lopez was moved by the plight of the multitudes of homeless children foraging for survival in the streets of his city, Juarez, Mexico. Like the Good Samaritan, Josue could not just look away and go on about his business. He was determined to do something to help these children who had no one to love and care for them. Similar to a project Josue started in Juarez, here in Hermosillo, we connected with a project called "Ciudad de Los Niños" (City of the Children). This project started in 1982 with one small house (casita). Today there are 4 projects in the works and several others on the drawing board. Ciudad de Los Niños is designed as a village for children, whose ages range from 1 to 13 years of age. With a donation of 5 acres of land from the government, and with help from local volunteers and many community organizations, this village for children now has 22 casitas, a library, a medical clinic, a facility for children with special needs, a church and a mini police station!

Ciudad de Los Niños is run almost entirely by volunteers, and is the biggest project of its kind in the state of Sonora. Each casita houses 6 to 8 children and a house mother. Currently, there are a total of 56 children living there. These children come from abused, abandoned or homeless backgrounds. This village setting gives the children a chance to experience more of a normal life than they might have been able to than if they were in a more institutional setting. The children are healing, yet they still need lots of love, affection and of course, attention.

I really wanted to do something for these kids this holiday season, so, I volunteered to be part of a committee to help throw them a Christmas party and collect gifts. Vince was kind enough to make a donation on behalf of his company, and purchase their first ever, very own Christmas tree - with all the trimmings!

Upon our arrival at the orphanage (on Friday December 8^th), the children greeted us with much anticipation and love. They were eager to help decorate the tree and willing to wait patiently for the festivities to begin. There was music, arts & crafts and a trampoline. Seeing the excitement on their faces is a vision that will be embedded in my mind for a lifetime.

I did feel sad. Having my own child (and another one on the way) I can’t ever imagine abandoning or mistreating my babies. As I looked at the children there, I felt the pain they must feel when they wake up each morning, sleeping next to another child who has also been forgotten and left behind.

When the party was over, the coordinator at the orphanage was kind enough to take me inside one of the casitas where the children live. I walked into a quaint little living room with a set of couches, a TV, and adornments on the wall. The further in I went, the more visible it became. It was depressing. Everything was old and extremely worn. The bathroom door had a giant hole I could crawl through, the toilet seat was falling apart and the shower looked like it was outside. What I realized is, what matters most is the children are happy (on the outside anyway) and look like they are well cared for, considering the circumstances. With the conditions they must have lived in before, I am sure this is by far a safer haven than they could have ever imagined.

On my drive home I couldn’t help but think about my experience. I think we all need to take a step back once in a while and really evaluate our lives and value all that we have. And, I don’t just mean the ‘material’ part of it. What I mean is, we must value our families. We must value those around us and appreciate how lucky we are to be loved. Because, even if it’s only one person we can really…I MEAN REALLY…count on…..it’s one more person than these children had before they arrived to the orphanage.

‘Tis the season…..however, in reality, all year must be a time to remember the less fortunate - and help make a difference in their lives. All year must be a time to give thanks for what we have and be grateful for the loved ones around us…

Happy Holidays Everyone!