What comes to mind when you think of Mexico? If it’s sombreros, mariachi music and tequila — you can thank Jalisco for that. The western state is the birthplace to many Mexican icons. It’s also one of the most economically unequal states in Mexico.

Nearly 40% of people in Jalisco live in poverty. That’s why our agency and all five of our community centers are located there, in its capital city of Guadalajara.

The urban setting is both a blessing and a curse for our sponsored families. The majority of our sponsored families’ homes have electricity and toilets and access to public transportation. But the saturated job market in Guadalajara makes it difficult for uneducated adults to find stable employment. The work they do find is often low-paying and physically demanding — such as construction and brickmaking.

Through our community centers, though, needy kids are getting the help they need to overcome their many barriers and finally break the cycle of generational poverty.

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