Day Two Project Visitations

After our orientation, we had the opportunity to visit some of the projects proposed and also some past successful ones.  Here are some photos taken from a proposed project.  It is one of many.  We hope to post others soon. But for now, look at these photos. They are from the Centro De Atencion y Desarrollo Infantil, a project of the Club Rotario Xalisco.  This program provides pre-school services for children aged 1-5 years.  The program serves children of unwed self employed mothers while the mother is working. The government does not provide preschool or daycare. If the mothers can not take their children to work and can not afford services, those children would otherwise be left at home unattended.

A few years ago, 3 children died in a home fire while their mother was away.

The environment was clean, well organized and wholesome. There was a visible difference in the health and abilities of the children who were new to the program and those who had the benefit of having been served for awhile. Those first few years are so critical to the adult these youngsters will become, this is a compelling program.

Here we are in the new section of the building discussing the funds necessary to complete the building.  It would allow the program to expand from the current 95 child capacity to 250!.  Construction is not something we can use Rotary Foundation funds for.  But once the building is completed we could equip it with matching grants. The current request is to find money inside or outside of Rotary clubs to match what the Rotarians here are doing.  If we can secure, $25,000,  they will do the same. This club has been very resourceful in securing local support. Their work allows mothers to work, children to be safe, and starts children off on an even playing field with others.