Why am I going to Tijuana?
I first attended a Tijuana trip when I was 13 years old. While I could talk about injustice in the abstract, I couldn't tell you what it looked like. But hearing the stories behind the statistics of migrants who had been deported, arrested, beaten, harrassed, and oppressed--I could no longer unsee injustice. I felt called to continue helping, and I have not looked back since. While I do not by any means intend to superimpose my voice or solve largescale social issues on my own, I know that Christ lives in community--and communtiy means some members have a duty to amplify the voices of others. I hope to do this by engaging the two feet of love in action by using my gifts to ampify the voices of our brothers & sisters accross the border. This year will be my fifth (?) going, and I am more than honored & excited to see my family & friends in Tijuana again.
Overview
Week 1: July 6 - July 13 (construction plus Mother's, Children's and Teen's programs)
Week 2: July 13 - July 20 (construction only)
- Apply to volunteer in Tijuana or for more info, click here.
- Video
- Other videos on our Tijuana Ministry Youtube Channel
Our immersion trips provide volunteers opportunities to build the framework for community in one of the poorest areas of Tijuana. Volunteers go on a week long mission to build homes and learn about the struggles of the local poverty.
Construction
For 15 years, we've built over 40 homes in the Tijuana neighborhood of Terrazas. This year, the Tijuana construction projects include 5 house structures for families in desperate need.
While participants pay for their travel and lodging, we are fundraising for construction material costs. To give you an idea of how much we need to fundraise to build a home:
- $25 can go toward half a Window
- $50 - A 3ft x2ft Slider Window - Need 3 windows
- $100 - An Exterior Door with Hardware & Keys - Need 2 Doors
- $200 - A 8ft x 8ft Exterior Wall - Studs, Wood siding, Paint - Need 12 walls
- $500 - Electricity - Wiring, Panel, Lights, Outlets
- $1000 - 32ft x 16ft Concrete Slab Foundation
- $2,500 - Roof with 17 prefabricated wood trusses
- $6,500 - Entire New Home for a Family in Desparate Need
Mother's Program
The mother’s program is aimed at building relationships and community. Many of the families in this Tijuana community are from diverse places, and may not know each other well. The mother’s program was developed to help build a sense of community among the mothers. In addition to craft projects, the mother’s program also provided some lessons on hygiene, nutrition, finance, and relationships. Donations will go toward care packages for local mothers in Tijuana. In the past these have included food items, hygienic products like toothbrushes, shampoo, crafting tools, and household items.
Children's Program
The children’s program in centered on providing children in the area with safe, fun activities, as well as some educational content and catechism. We also provided the children with a snack each day, and some donated toys at the end of the week. Over 200 children attended last year's week long camp. Donations will go toward 200 brown bag lunches for 200 local Tijuana children. This item includes 200 PB&J sandwiches (some variants) 200 Capri Suns, 200 chocolate chip cookies, and 200 apples. We provide lunches for the local children 4 days of the week.
Teen's Program
This program is provided for local teens who spend much of their day tending to their younger siblings as their parents work. We provide activities and teach craft ideas that the families can sell at the local outdoor markets. Donations will go toward arts and crafts for 200 local youths of Tijuana. Volunteers organize a children's program for them twice a day for 4 days.
Social Justice
We learn about local conditions and interact and gain understanding of the local residents. As part of this, we visited various sites like the memorial at the US/Mexican Border; and Casa del Migrante, a homeless shelter for migrants and recently deported men; an AIDS hospice; and a school for special needs children that we help finish so they could open; and the local clinic. We also attend hosted discussions with local families.
Thank you in advanced for your generous support for our program! Your donation will make a difference!
