Keri Gerheart

Casa San Eugenio Dispensario
(San Eugenio Home)

Mission: To assist the poor with spiritual, medical, educational and psychological needs, to promote better living conditions for the families in the community.

Number Served: 52 thousand locals annually from 14 surrounding Colonias.

Parish Director: Sister Rosa Alba Mendia

Location: Colonia La Morita II, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

SHI Partnership Began: 2000

Project Overview: In 1996 Fr. Robert Callahan of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate founded the San Eugenio de Mazenod Mission (a.k.a Parroquia San Eugenio de Mazenod) on the outskirts of Tijuana in an area known as La Morita. Casa San Eugenio Dispensario was established in 2000, and is adjacent to the Parroquia San Eugenio de Mazenod in the heart of La Morita II. The facility is managed by Sister Rosa Alba Mendia of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Order.
The clinic in partnership with SHI, Rotary International, and other local civic groups, has grown from a small temporary structure to a three story facility which now provides social, medical, psychological, educational, and spiritual services to more than 52 thousand locals annually from the surrounding 14 Colonias.  Community members are charged for medical services on a sliding scale.
The community center is dedicated to improving the physical and mental condition of the surrounding community by promoting, encouraging, directing, and co-sponsoring activities that will promote social, sports, educational and cultural development. The center provides classes in computers, sewing, cosmetology, nutrition, and English.  These labs will help community members learn new skills to improve their job marketability and help create a sustainable local environment. To learn more about this program, please visit them at Casa San Eugenio.

Of Note: Casa San Eugenio was recently featured in the Frontera newspaper as having surpassed their 2010 service projections by 12 thousand for the rural area of La Morita where the clinic is located.

For information on how you can help this project please contact Sister Marta Cruz (664) 901-8487 or email casaneugeniodis@yahoo.com.mx
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Carita de Dios
(Face of God)

Mission: We are an association committed, with love and respect for children and youth with disabilities and special needs, work in equipped our enthusiasm and faith in God, they are our inspiration that gives each child an opportunity to be normal.

Number Served: 38 kids weekly.

Director: Adalid Murgia

Location: Calle de las Rocosas esquina con calle de los Volcanes  s/n fracc. Urbi Villa del Prado la Mesa  2da secc.Tijuana, BC, Mexico

SHI Partnership Began: 2012

Project Overview: In this partnership we offer a unique service and quality in which we offer:
Formal education, educational psychology, physical therapy (swimming), workshop of computation, and food balanced and nutritious with an extended hours giving mothers and these families be able to fulfill its commitment and labor that it may be possible to meet most basic needs..

Current Needs: Food, shoes

For information on how you can help this project please contact Carita de Dios  representative Adalid Murgia (664) 380-35-29 cell (664) 158-94-06  or  email caritadediosac@gmail.com

CANOA
(Center for Care of Children with Other Capabilities)

Mission: Providing physical, language, speech, nutrition, and communication therapy.

Number Served: Children ranging from 3 to 23 years of age.

Director: Father Jaime Hagan

Location: Fracc. Tecolote, San Antonio de los Buenos, Tijuana, BC, Mexico

SHI Partnership Began: 2007

Project Overview: C.A.N.O.A. is a project initiated in 2004 by Father James Hagan and the local community, and stands for Centro de Atencion a Niños de Otros Aptitudes. The Center was created because Father Hagan new that “healthcare for the poor in Mexico is often unobtainable” and C.A.N.O.A. would fill that void by providing medical assistance, counseling, recreational and education service programs for severely handicapped children and youth.
With the help of SHI, and other NGO’s, C.A.N.O.A. has constructed an assembly hall and a diagnostic and therapy center in the southern hills of Tijuana for special needs children afflicted with cerebral palsy, mental retardation and other disabling conditions. Services provided emphasize on physical, psychological, communication, nutritional and occupational therapies. Both children and parents learn basic skills that help them develop their potential and lead to their optimum levels of independence. The center is staffed by volunteers and experienced, and dedicated, professionals in the fields of medicine, physical therapy and psychology. Center volunteer groups serving the needy in Mexico include Centro Juvenil, De Colores Foundation and MANO.

Of Note: According to a recent article in Baja Times, an English newspaper of Baja California news and events, the facility is still struggling financially but will continue to welcome children in need as well as volunteers. “Padre Jaime invites anyone to…volunteer their time. People who come here get to interact with our wonderful people and our children. We never throw in the towel for any of our children. It is an encouraging and uplifting experience.”

Current Needs: The center opens each day “from prayers and goodness of people.” Although money is always a concern, electricity is their main necessity right now.  Volunteers are also always welcomed, and needed, to keep the program afloat. Right now the program is in need of a volunteer bus driver as well as others to help work with the clients.

For information on how you can help this project please contact CANOA representatives Leticia (664) 636-1695, Dra. Rosa (664) 660-5044 or email decoloresfoundation@hotmail.com
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