
Timely Health Checks in Mexico
Local Compassion staff in Mexico knew children living in poverty would be among the most vulnerable during COVID-19, especially if they had a medical emergency. Read more open_in_new
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closeThe impact of COVID-19 in Mexico has been devastating. The total case numbers and death toll are very high despite school closures and curfew restrictions being implemented in most Mexican states. Lockdown guidelines have varied from state to state, and our local church partners are working hard to continue serving children during the pandemic.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Compassion Mexico has distributed more than 695,700 food packs and 304,884 hygiene kits to children and families in poverty.
Many child development centres in Mexico are meeting with children in smaller groups or through home visits to slow the spread of COVID-19. A small number of centres have resumed normal activities.
Most letters from sponsored children in Mexico have been significantly delayed. To abide by government restrictions and to protect the health of local workers, this process was temporarily paused in some areas of the country. This is because our partners in Mexico heavily rely on public transport and volunteer couriers to deliver and send letters. Additionally, letters are printed and translated at the National Office and local staff have only been able to return to the office in limited numbers.
Letters are so valuable for both children and their sponsors. We are hopeful that within the next three to six months, communications between sponsored children in Mexico and their sponsors will be more regular.
Watch the video update below to learn more about the current situation in Mexico.
READ MOREkeyboard_arrow_down READ LESSkeyboard_arrow_upThank you for praying for children and families in Mexico who have been impacted by COVID-19—and the local staff and churches who continue to serve them in difficult circumstances.
Local Compassion staff in Mexico knew children living in poverty would be among the most vulnerable during COVID-19, especially if they had a medical emergency. Read more open_in_new
Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.
Compassion assisted children in Mexico typically attend program activities at their local child development centre before or after school and on Saturdays. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in Mexico.
Devotional time - Children learn to pray.
Spiritual lessons - Children sing songs and learn Bible stories.
Break time - Children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships.
Social-emotional lessons - Children learn conflict resolution skills and how to develop healthy self-esteem. Children often come from challenging home environments and are taught social and personal skills.
Lunch and social time - When children come to the centre for more than four hours, they generally receive a meal. When they attend for less than four hours, they are usually given a snack. The meals typically consist of meat, chicken or soy cooked with vegetables, fruit and fresh water. If they are served a morning meal, it will generally be ham, eggs and fried beans. A snack is usually fruit or a nutritious dessert.
Health lessons - Children learn practical health and hygiene tips.
Letter writing and career planning - Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests and set goals for their future.
Children also learn leadership development skills and are invited to join in vocational training classes, such as carpentry, painting, cooking, computer classes, English, hammock making, silk screening, embroidery, hair styling and fish farming, according to their interests and circumstances.
Parents and caregivers are offered health education and parenting classes.
mothers die from pregnancy related causes per 100,000 births
of people live below the poverty line
of rural households lack access to basic sanitation
Deep economic disparity and social exclusion remain in Mexico. Millions of Mexicans live in poverty, and drug-related violence claims thousands of lives every year.
Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. It has a young population and historically, many people, driven by poverty, have migrated to the neighbouring United States to find employment.
In recent years, the Mexico-US border has become a focal point of international tension, with US President Trump declaring he would build a wall to keep migrants out. In late 2018, a caravan of thousands of migrants from Central American nations travelled through Mexico en route to the US and fetched up at the border, where they were denied entry and driven back with teargas. Many said they were fleeing gang violence and grinding poverty—two issues that also affect many Mexican communities. More than 50 million Mexicans live in poverty, with 11.5 million in extreme poverty (on less than US$1.90 per day). Rural areas are often neglected and huge shanty towns surround the cities.
After former President Calderon declared war on Mexico’s powerful drug-trafficking organisations, in 2006, violence spiralled out of control, resulting in more than 200,000 deaths and one of the highest rates of kidnappings in the world. In July 2018, Andrew Manuel Lopez Obrador was elected President; his campaign focused on ending political corruption and drug-related murders. His success or otherwise will be measured in human lives.
Mexico is a large and diverse country, and there are many areas which do not experience high levels of crime. Yet stabilising the nation to find a long-lasting and widespread peace has proved elusive and now, with the added complications of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems a distant prospect.
READ MOREkeyboard_arrow_down READ LESSkeyboard_arrow_upIt can be disappointing if your sponsored child hasn’t responded to your questions or even mentioned the letter you sent them. Here’s why this could be happening, plus handy tips to prevent it. .. Read more
Most classroom in Australia look fairly similar. Although they might be decorated differently, you can pretty much expect to see the same things—some desks, a board, and maybe some computers. But what about the classrooms of children in Compassion’s programs? We all know education varies across the world, but so do the classrooms! .. Read more
Nearly one in every nine children live in a conflict zone. So why does Compassion only choose to work in stable communities?.. Read more