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Welcome ¡Bienvenidos!

Amiguitos  (EIN # 26-3394832) is a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and was formed by people of various faith backgrounds in order to work together and help vulnerable children and families, especially in Southern Mexico. 

Veracruz, Mexico Update:
Here is Saúl's March 7, 2010  update from  Veracruz, Mexico

omar         Omar starts culinary school!!!   Here is his first cake.


         New Students this Week:

Luc  Libeth
Lucero  -  CCA         Lizbeth -  CCA

This week the activities have been normal although we did have a visit from s friend from the ECW women from the Diocese of Chicago and a visit from doctor Porfirio.

Porfi

Omar prepared his first bread and we got two new children in center. Also yesterday we used the 2 tables for the pre-school children. Also this week we have had problems with the water . The tube where the water comes out of broke and we needed to buy a tank to store for the the children to use. The treatment of the children on Friday started with the injections for Karla and Omar and they will finish next Wednesday. Saturday we had normal computer classes, and English from the center and the youth had classes in Goldi's house, the model and the plans of the new center came in and we like them a lot. This week a new program with the children is begun where they are reciting prayers every day.

Well wishes and much thanks for the new tables for the kids!

Click here to see more photos from our week

Saúl

Veracruz, Mexico Update:
Here is Saúl's February 28, 2010  update from  Veracruz, Mexico

This week the activities have been normal and the attendance Sunday through Friday was 64 children and Saturday there were 62, Saturday they had computation class and the parents had a workshop for, the title was "If You Love Your Child." The kids health is about the same and we are wishing it was Thursday so that they can see doctor Porfirio to give them treatment and improve their health. In this week the children had their exams in school.

Computer

Today we celebrated the birthdays of the children who were born in February (Muricio, Luis and Cristian) we sang the mañanitas to them and we shared a cake.

Thank you for all the support

Click here to see more photos from our week

Saúl

Veracruz, Mexico Update:
Here is Saúl's February 21, 2010  update from  Veracruz, Mexico

This week the weather has been bad and some of our children are sick: Suri, Raul, Maria Elena, Agustin estan, Erika, William, Mitchel, Victor Jose, Adriana, Kevin and Teresa. This week we had the celebration of ash Wednesday and as Goldi could not place the ashes, I helped Cesar with that part of the office. 

Computer

The rest of the time the activities have been normal although the attendance Thursday was 50 children since the very bad weather, the rest of the days the attendance was 64 children.  Saturday we had the classes in English and computers.   Greetings to everyone.

Click here to see more photos from our week

Saúl

Veracruz, Mexico Update:
Here is Saúl's February 14, 2010  update from  Veracruz, Mexico

New Students this Week:

Alberto  Esbeydi
Alberto - K2               Esbeiby - K2


Thank you for all your support !!
Click here to read the Thank You letter to 2009 donors

Pénjamo, Mexico Update:
Here is Maria Elena Montoya de Arredondo's February 11, 2010  update from  Pénjamo, Mexico

Hello Amiguitos Friends, we went to the orphanage this week and took some pictures of the place.  As can be seen in the photos, they need furniture to hold their things.  What they had were full of clean and dirty clothes.  My father donated a big container, but they will need more in order to help get things more organized.  As you can see in the pictures the children always have their backs to the camera.  It is the only way we can take pictures of them.  There are a total of 21 children in the orphanage now.

lluvia

 Lluvia (my daughter) is holding a nine-month old baby girl who was recently removed from her home with 4 more siblings.

When we arrived at the orphanage, they were eating lunch.  So I read to them while they were eating. They really enjoyed the reading. I also noticed that they need spoons, because staff were cleaning some of the spoons as children finished so that other children could begin eating.  In spite of all this, it was a fun visit, and we hope to go again and bring sponsors for the children who have suffered so much. They ask for so little, almost all of the little ones asked to be fed and to be held.  Ramiro (my son) got a little jealous.  He also asked to be held.

Click here to see more photos from our week

Until next time,
Maria Elena Montoya



Spotlight Amiguitos Teen - February 2010

Spotlight_Jessinia
                    Omar ( and his friend Maria Elena)
Click here for more background
and photos of Omar and friends


Veracruz, Mexico Update:
Here is Saul's  February 7, 2010 update and photos from Veracruz

Adriana Kevin
Lluva Victor C 

Adriana (Infant), Kevin (K1),
Lluvia (K1), and Victor S (Infant)
join the Amiguitos Laguna School as new students



Reflections on Veracruz, Mexico

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

Myra Kingsley - Peace and Justice Center, Phoenix Arizona


Myra

                                Myra Kingsley 

Click here for Myra's Reflection

Spotlight Amiguitos Child - December 2009

Spotlight_Jessinia
                    Jessinia
Click here for more background
and photos of Jessinia and friends


Pénjamo, Mexico Update:
Here is Maria Elena Montoya de Arredondo's February 1, 2010  update from  Pénjamo, Mexico





The fourth Amiguitos work team has completed its work trip in Veracruz for 4 medical clinics in December 2009 and began construction of a strong retaining wall to prepare the permanent site for the Laguna Amiguitos center/school in Veracruz, Mexico.   Click here to read our BLOG of all the brief updates  from the team during the work trip.   Please scroll to the bottom to see the latest updates!  Thank you for all your support.

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The third Amiguitos work team has completed its work trip in Veracruz for 8 medical clinics and one medical clinic in Penjamo in June 2009.   Click here to read our BLOG of all the brief updates  from the team during the work trip.   Please scroll to the bottom to see the latest updates!  Thank you for all your support.

Curtis



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Click on the video below to see a short  presentation about the work in Veracruz, Mexico.

For those new to our website:  Amiguitos is building a network of partners.  I ask you to visit the websites of our growing circle of friends.  See our "Links to Partners" on the Newletter and Resources  page.   Groups from Pheonix are helping to make the community centers in Veracruz expand with new land, water systems, scholarships and medicine.  Friends in Castle Rock are looking to expand their outreach activities and are looking at Amiguitos for opportunities for more hands-on work.   Congregations in Boulder  and Thornton are supportive also.  People in Glen Rose Texas and Leadville Colorado  have made significant contributions for medicine, transportation and building materials.  The people of South East Mexico are working hand in hand with Amiguitos to make the vulnerable communities of Vericruz stronger.

Amiguitos is a diverse group of individuals from various faith communities working together to assist children and families in struggling neighborhoods of Veracruz, Mexico.   Amiguitos organizes trips to Veracruz to conduct medical missions, construction projects and educational programs (next trip is in December 2009 and planning is starting for our June 2010 trip). Amiguitos provides funding for community centers which are providing infant care (to allow single parents to work), feeding programs for schoolchildren (who have no nutrition), formation of neighborhood schools (opening pre-school Fall 2008 ) and basic medical supplies (see Programs for more details).  These centers under the direction of Goldi Santana Mera are key to enhancing the health, education and welfare of neighborhood children and families. 

new_center
Amiguitos moved to a new location for its Community Center in Laguna (starting September 2009)

The first center is in the neighborhood of Laguna (lakes) was established in the front yard of a resident in 2006.   Then another resident loaned a house to the center for two years.  And starting September 2009  the center has moved to a new location where the kids have access to the whole property and building.  In December 2009 we began construction on a permanent center/school in Laguna and hope to move to a very simple center in 2010.

Efforts are underway to continue construction of a permanent community center  on our land purchased in June 2009 which will eventually house a school, kitchen & feeding program, water purification system, and health clinic. A water purification system will be installed as soon as possible.

Our teams  visited Pénjamo Mexico in June 2009 and started another community center there and are excited by the programs started there by our new director, Maria Elena Arredondo.  We hope to continue expanding centers in vulnerable areas.

Amiguitos is based in the United States of America,  promoting hands-on participation in support of the community centers which Goldi, Maria Elena and others are creating. Trips are planned for each June and December (in one week segments).  In addition to becoming good friends (amiguitos), participants find their lives changed as they experience the joy and perseverance of vulnerable children and families living in Mexico.  All are welcome to participate. 

We highly encourage you to bring your children or grandchildren on trips with Amiguitos as it can be a profound experience that shapes their perspective on life and can be a great bonding experience.  Children who have participated in Amiguitos trips have had very positive experiences and have coped well with being in new environments.  I invite you to learn more about Amiguitos. Please read our  Newletter and Resources, look at our Photos, see  How to Help , come to one of our events (see Calendar for more details) or invite us to come talk to your organization.  I especially invite you to come to Mexico on our next trip. 

Thank you for your interest in this important work.

Curtis Wait
Executive Director, Amiguitos

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