May 2019 Happenings
for Hope House in Mexico
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Here is our monthly (más o menos) newsletter to keep our friends and family updated on what is happening with HHCR and Hope House in Mexico. The newsletter will provide updates on the boys - especially the new ones - a little insight into the staff, teams, vocational training, projects, and items of special interest. If you know of someone that would be interested in HHCR/Hope House, Mexico updates, they can subscribe here.
A copy of last month's newsletter can be found here. If you go to this website there is a link to all previous newsletters. |
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Hope House remains with a total of 18 boys. There are always more boys that the State would like to place with us. The challenge continues to be operational funds. This has given HHCR the opportunity to try and meet the monthly operational budget, which we have been able to do recently. Again, not knowing if or when another large donation might come in makes us hold back right now on committing further resources toward operations. Reaching (or exceeding) our monthly budget target through recurring donations is always our goal.
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Six of the younger boys were treated with a time at the malecon at the lake front. Times like this are special to the boys and, as you can see in the two photos below, they relish the treat.
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Just as boys in a normal family home have toys to entertain as well as simulate the mind, the boys at Hope house have the same opportunities. Below is Leonel working on Jenga. This is part of the family environment provided by the staff and supporters who provide the ability to make these games available. There is secuirty in the love that is shown to them..
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As most of you know, when the boys reach eighteen years of age, the government requires them to leave the facility. It is our goal to ensure that the boys are prepared for life after Hope House. This is manifest by the tutoring, school attendance and vocational training. The Transition House is part of the plan also; a place where the boys can learn to become independent while under the watchful eye of Hope House staff.
Ulises turned 18 this last month. So he is ready for the Transition House. However it is not completely ready for occupancy yet, although three you units are structurally complete, they need only water and electric hookup. The septic tank is already in place, thanks to the generosity of the local St. Andrews Episcopalian Church. Additional funds are required for the electric and water hookup. The three completed rooms to all need to be connected, which makes it a little more costly. Ulises was one of the three boys, thanks to the generosity of some of our donors, to complete the barber training school. As with all jobs. he will be required to gain experience to get a paying job.
Also, Ulises, with two other boys, are a first for Hope House in that they have completed "prepatorio" school, which is the equivalent of high school. Completing this level of school education may not seem to be significant, but for previously homeless boys that come to Hope House it is a major achievement.
The collage below are photos of Ulises celebrating his eighteenth birthday. Congratulations!!
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Part of the effort of giving the boys a home environment is to take care of health issues, including dental work. A large amount of the cost of dental work is taken care of by Ruthie, who runs a bakery in downtown Ajijic, and all profits from her shop are designated for this. If the boys were not at Hope House, they would not benefit from health care of this nature. The photo below is of Tadeo getting ready to have his teeth checked.
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Hope House is extremely grateful for the response received in providing scholarship funds for the boys' education. One of the strains on the daily budget is tutoring boys in their regular schooling. The tutoring program is very successful, and the boys in this program are performing significantly better in school as a result. A tutor in the morning works with the boys attending school in the afternoon, and a tutor in the afternoon helps the boys attending school in the morning. The cost is $75 USD per tutor per week, or $150 per week for all tutoring. If you would like to help with this, it makes a huge difference in giving the boys hope for the future. Donations can be made here.
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Just to remind you that Hope House has a program available for donors who would enjoy sponsoring a particular boy. In this program a specific boy would be assigned to you. More information on how this program works, and how you can be part of it can be obtained by contacting Karlee here.
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HHCR recurring donations have remained constant to get us to 80% of our goal of $2,000. We are sad when we see some donors go, but we are always happy when more join our family of donors who desire to give the boys security and safety now and hope for the future. Again, one-time donors, during the month of March, almost matched the amount given by our recurring donors. This means HHCR was able to have available almost twice the normal amount we give to Hope House each month, as donations were received for almost every category. Thank you so much!
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The goal of $2,000 a month in recurring donations that Hope House Children's Relief intends to raise represents less than 25% of the Hope House budget. This is a continuing significant need. We would like to see that percentage increase but feel it necessary to reach our $2,000 goal first. For that we need your help. Remember, we have the facilities and staff for more boys but not sufficient funds to feed more.
Hope House also still has an urgent special need goal of $2,000 monthly for health insurance for the employees, some of which has been offset by additional donations. It is not only a desirable benefit but it is mandated by the Mexican government.. You can read more on the need at this link.
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