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Build a Home in Mexico Challenge
Youth Helping Youth
Who
In this community, there are many impoverished migrant workers, mostly from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca (pronounced Wuhawka). The ranch owners promised the Oaxacans work on the farms, persuading them to leave their homes. The Oaxacans traveled to Vicente Guerrero hoping to provide a better life for their children. Instead they found income to be very sporadic. It is extremely difficult for these families to find any sense of financial stability. They work in the fields making $10.00 a day when work is available - without knowing anything different than a need to survive. They often lack access to clean water, a stable food supply, and adequate housing (most homes are constructed of tin, cardboard, and tarpaulins). They often don’t have birth certificates. denying them access to available schooling or other employment opportunities. Their access to conventions is also limited because of language barriers (they speak Oaxacan) and poor education. To get a birth certificate is very cumbersome. They must return to Oaxaca and have 3 witnesses identify them… very unreasonable considering the circumstances of life down there.
They cannot afford to return to their home and have no way to warn their families and friends of the situation.
Here is an average family situation provided by Charles Roberts from Absolute Leadership:
Teresita Martinez Sanchez is 33. Her husband Luis Osario Rosales is 35. They have 3 little girls Elizabeth 12, Jazmin 8 and Marisol 4. None of the girls are able to attend school. They are a very humble family that we came to know as we built a house for the next door neighbor. We noticed that Teresita was gone most of the days and that Luis was around the house more. We found out that Luis has both hearing and sight problems and does not work steady and Teresita is the bread winner of the family.
When it was decided to build this house, we came to tell the family as Teresita was just arriving home from the fields. As we greeted her, she was embarrassed to shake our hands as her hands were stained green from the plants that she was planting all day. They are working hard and doing their best and it is an honor to give them a hand up.
When Kim and her family returned the following year, they found the home they had built for Teresita was lovingly cared for and the family now had a little garden and a chicken.
They cannot afford to return to their home and have no way to warn their families and friends of the situation.
Here is an average family situation provided by Charles Roberts from Absolute Leadership:
Teresita Martinez Sanchez is 33. Her husband Luis Osario Rosales is 35. They have 3 little girls Elizabeth 12, Jazmin 8 and Marisol 4. None of the girls are able to attend school. They are a very humble family that we came to know as we built a house for the next door neighbor. We noticed that Teresita was gone most of the days and that Luis was around the house more. We found out that Luis has both hearing and sight problems and does not work steady and Teresita is the bread winner of the family.
When it was decided to build this house, we came to tell the family as Teresita was just arriving home from the fields. As we greeted her, she was embarrassed to shake our hands as her hands were stained green from the plants that she was planting all day. They are working hard and doing their best and it is an honor to give them a hand up.
When Kim and her family returned the following year, they found the home they had built for Teresita was lovingly cared for and the family now had a little garden and a chicken.
Pictures of Current Homes
Where
*Vicente Guerrero is a rural agricultural town located four and a half hours south of San Diego, along the Pacific shoreline.
What
Each house is a simple 20' X 22' wood structure with no electricity or running water, as there is very rarely access to either one. When needed, a baño (outhouse) is provided for the family and occasionally an outside shower as well. The inside of the houses are usually divided into two or three bedrooms, with a larger open kitchen area with a simple kitchen counter and some shelving in each bedroom. is an application process for a house. One criterion is that the applicant must own their own property at a cost of $2,500.00. This is no small feat as the average wage in Mexico is $10 / day and often only seasonal work is available. The families are then selected based on the needs and situation of the family.
Often the receiving family also works alongside of the participants, helping to build their house with their own hands and effort.
Often the receiving family also works alongside of the participants, helping to build their house with their own hands and effort.
Pictures of the Build
