The People We Serve
On the outskirts of La Paz on a barren windswept hill, lies a small community,
a colonia as it's called in Spanish, named Vista Hermosa. The first family
arrived in 1999 and the colonia was later founded in 2001. Approximately
200 families (1000 people) reside there. Many of the people have come
from the interior of Mexico with a hope for a better future. They came
to La Paz for a higher standard of living. However, for those who lack
an education, only poorly paid menial jobs are available.
Mexicans with few resources live in the poorest and most marginalized
colonias. The families that live in Vista Hermosa have no access to
piped-in water, basic sanitation and sewage, and little access to
medical care or well-paid jobs. Many live in one-room shacks made
of tin and cardboard. Some have dirt floors on which they sleep.
Others cook outdoors on an open fire due to the costly propane.
Few can afford the electricity that was recently installed. Imagine
living in conditions with no refrigerator to store your food or
running water in your home. For us, basic comforts such as flush
toilets are an everyday expectation.
Mexico has no welfare system as we know it. There is scant assistance
from the federal government in the way of a small stipend for those few
families that qualify and monthly basic food items from the municipal
government. Caritas, a Catholic relief service, also provides financially
disadvantaged families with basic food items once a month and some
free prescription medicines. Basically, if people don't work, they
and their families will go hungry.
The average daily wage for those who work is about $5.00-$7.00 USD.
After buying food and bus fare, families have little left over at the
end of the day. The children often go hungry. Alcohol and drugs as well
as teenage pregnancies and domestic violence are common problems
in the colonia.
Thirteen women in the colonia are in formation assisted by the Daughters
of Mary Help, Sisters of the Salesian order, in order to teach catechism
to the many Catholics who live in the colonia. On a small parcel of
land at the colonia, Father Tonino, the parish priest of Vista Hermosa,
is beginning to solicit funds to build a chapel.
The people of the colonia were born without the same choices and privileges
you and I enjoy. Imagine dying from an easily treatable illness or not having
the money to feed your kids. If given the option, we all would wish for a better
life. Those living in Vista Hermosa are no different. Working closely with the
people of the colonia and the Catholic Church, Care for Kids La Paz is about
promoting hope and opportunity, dignity and independence.
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