
The Milky Way arches over the sky of an arid land. On occasion, the dangerous Tecate-Tijuana Libre highway beeps or rumbles with 18-wheelers. Coyotes can be heard in the distance, and bats dart up and down under the starlight. Around the crackling of a small fire, somewhere in these big-boulder-mountains, laughter lights the night. Families have gathered to discuss the idea of having a community center. In the warm light, the young faces of Adan, Perla, Abi and Mariana appear wide-eyed and listening. At that time they were no less than 6 and no more than 10 years of age. They could not have known that they would be among the first children to step into the Manos Community Center, and among first to participate in Manos Programs.
Today, these children are the very first members of Manos’ VIT Program (Volunteers In Training).
The night described above is one of many in our first visits to Mexico. Between Tijuana and Tecate is a 50km stretch of dry hills and big boulders strewn with people and families settling here or just passing through from all over Mexico and south of the border in search of a better life. They are living here now in the poor makeshift-tarp-covered homes that too often define the outskirts of these border towns. In those quiet star-filled nights, we realized that in this stretch of land, lives families and children in poverty. They live near the most dangerous places in these times of drug violence. They do not have a street address, nor a neighborhood park. They make a living bricklaying and by selling any recyclables they may find in the landfill they have built their homes next to. This is the way of life facing the children we serve in Mexico. It is here, in this small community of about 200 people, that the only Community Center has been standing since 2002, built neighboring the very landfill through which they scavenge and built next to the very same makeshift homes dotting across the area. Our programs bring the world to these children, and in that, you and all our volunteers and supporters, are bringing them the inspiration to learn and progress. We are changing lives.
These are our Volunteers In Training today. Not only are they giving back to their community as teachers in Manos English classes and Cultural Education, but they are young people with goals to succeed...
The night described above is one of many in our first visits to Mexico. Between Tijuana and Tecate is a 50km stretch of dry hills and big boulders strewn with people and families settling here or just passing through from all over Mexico and south of the border in search of a better life. They are living here now in the poor makeshift-tarp-covered homes that too often define the outskirts of these border towns. In those quiet star-filled nights, we realized that in this stretch of land, lives families and children in poverty. They live near the most dangerous places in these times of drug violence. They do not have a street address, nor a neighborhood park. They make a living bricklaying and by selling any recyclables they may find in the landfill they have built their homes next to. This is the way of life facing the children we serve in Mexico. It is here, in this small community of about 200 people, that the only Community Center has been standing since 2002, built neighboring the very landfill through which they scavenge and built next to the very same makeshift homes dotting across the area. Our programs bring the world to these children, and in that, you and all our volunteers and supporters, are bringing them the inspiration to learn and progress. We are changing lives.
These are our Volunteers In Training today. Not only are they giving back to their community as teachers in Manos English classes and Cultural Education, but they are young people with goals to succeed...
FEBRUARY 2011