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With an estimated population of over 120 million people, Mexico is the 11th most populous country and the most populous Spanish-speaking country
in the world after Brazil. Although home to Latin America's second largest economy, World Bank estimates state around 33% of Mexico's population lives in moderate poverty and 9% lives in extreme poverty, which leads to 42% of the total population living below the national poverty line. With some 45 million children under the age of 18, there are around 700 public and private homes providing shelter to 30,000 children. The Latin American Foster Care Network estimates that there are roughly 400,000 children in Mexico without parental care, including 100,000 who live on the streets. |
Providing materials for more than a dozen life-changing homes
Since 2016, 14 homes have been built with all funding provided by The Michelle Chiou Foundation.The Mexico home build is located south of Tijuana in a undeveloped area named La Niña. The Michelle Chiou Foundation works with the Mariners Church who provides church volunteers to participate and build the homes from the foundation to the finish. They have a sister Church in Tijuana which selects the most needy family that will be given the new home.
Most families in La Nino do not have security of a permanent home. Most houses consist of possibly a corrugated metal roof with old garages doors strapped together on 3 sides with possibly a plastic tarp that serves as a front door. Typical living conditions mean no plumbing or running water, dirt floors, and either outhouses or a backhoe will be used to dig a hole where family members deposit and bury there feces.
The homes built are raw but a huge improvement over the living conditions of most residents of La Niña. Living on concrete foundations, with a shingled roof, insulated walls, sealed windows, lighting and a front door that locks provides a sense of security and pride for these families. Because of the urgent need to provide these homes the volunteers construct these homes in 3 days. The key ceremony where volunteers turn over the house keys is a most special and touching event as the new families our overwhelmed with gratitude with this life changing event.
Most families in La Nino do not have security of a permanent home. Most houses consist of possibly a corrugated metal roof with old garages doors strapped together on 3 sides with possibly a plastic tarp that serves as a front door. Typical living conditions mean no plumbing or running water, dirt floors, and either outhouses or a backhoe will be used to dig a hole where family members deposit and bury there feces.
The homes built are raw but a huge improvement over the living conditions of most residents of La Niña. Living on concrete foundations, with a shingled roof, insulated walls, sealed windows, lighting and a front door that locks provides a sense of security and pride for these families. Because of the urgent need to provide these homes the volunteers construct these homes in 3 days. The key ceremony where volunteers turn over the house keys is a most special and touching event as the new families our overwhelmed with gratitude with this life changing event.
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