CHALLENGE 

Drug trafficking has turned cities into war zones and infiltrated every level of state and national politics.

SOLUTION 

Five community centers in Guadalajara’s poorest areas provide safe havens for our children. These centers house libraries, computers and toys to keep them learning, entertained and off the streets. The centers also serve as hubs for our child and youth activities, like Sport for Development, Social and Financial Education, Youth Council and more. These programs give children and youth the confidence to envision a better future for themselves and the tools to achieve it.

CHALLENGE 

Mexico is one of the most obese countries in the world (surpassing the U.S. in 2012).

SOLUTION 

Parents who never learned about nutrition don’t realize the unhealthy eating habits they’re teaching their children. Our programs are educating them with knowledge and hands-on help. Organic gardens are flourishing at our community centers, producing healthy vegetables that our staff uses to teach parents and kids about the fundamentals of nutrition. Our obesity program also enlists a physical trainer to provide nutritional counseling and exercise.

CHALLENGE 

According to the Report of Evaluation of the Social Development Policy 2018 — children are dying from causes that can be prevented. It stated in 2016, the death rate from diarrheal diseases was 7.1 for every 100,000 children under the age of 5, while in 2015, 12.4 % of infants suffered from chronic malnutrition.

SOLUTION 

Teaching healthy behaviors like handwashing helps prevent the transmission of diarrhea and pneumonia — two of the leading global causes of death in children. While ensuring safe water treatment and storage reduces the risk of malnutrition, diarrhea, malaria and other water-borne infectious diseases.

CHALLENGE 

Cavities and gingivitis are the most common medical issues among our children and youth in our programs.

SOLUTION 

We keep children smiling by teaching them about proper oral care, turning potentially boring lessons about oral health into fun games. We also prevent cavities and gingivitis by encouraging our sponsored children and youth to visit the dentist available to them at our community centers every year for fluoride applications, teeth cleanings and dental sealants.

CHALLENGE 

Mexico has one of the highest birth rates in the world among girls ages 15–19 — that’s 64 per 1,000 births.

SOLUTION 

Our programs teach about age-appropriate health and reproductive information through our Youth Health Corps. Youth learn about the consequences of risky behaviors and how to plan for a more positive future.

CHALLENGE 

The student-teacher ratios are too high in many poor communities, leading to educational shortcomings, children dropping out of school or being completely denied access to education. In 2016, 77.7% of children between 3 and 5 years old participated in the education system, while the remaining 22.3% had no educational possibilities other than those provided at home.

SOLUTION 

When children don’t get the attention they need in school, our tutoring programs fill the gaps; while our computer courses help level the playing field by providing valuable skills for today’s market.