Safe Spaces for Children

Over the past month, the situation in Juchitan has worsened. Our city made national news as our municipal president was arrested by federal forces for extortion, drug offenses, and bribery.  The violence in the streets had increased to the point of having at least 4-5 murders a week, in a town of one hundred thousand.  Our children are not safe on the streets.  Many as young as twelve are being recruited into the drug gangs to sell drugs at their schools.  In a neighboring town, a middle school teacher was killed after confronting a parent about his son selling drugs in the school.

Of course, the arrest has brought no peace or reduction in violence to the town.  We hope increased state and federal police will help, but that remains to be seen.  So the question is, what do we do in the meantime?  We can shut down and hide, as many people are doing, or we can open our doors and say welcome.  

This past August, during summer vacation, we started several week-long programs for ten to twelve students to support them in increasing their social-emotional capacity.  Our culture, especially for the boys, does not encourage talking about problems and looking for solutions.  But mostly the kids come in to be talked to and be heard.  It is so surprising and sad that kids just don't feel heard by anyone in their lives.

The summer programs focused on telling their stories, listening skills, self-regulation, and of course, most important of all, play.  Many children in middle school are forced to become co-parents in their homes or extra breadwinners to support a family that is just getting by.

CDC's Safe Spaces program gives the youngsters space to be young again and learn new coping skills for the trials in their lives.  We thank you for supporting our program.  Without your generous gifts, we would not be able to run our afternoon sessions for the school children.  Stay tuned next time for infomation on the school year program  “Nonviolent Communication,” geared to teach children to resolve conflicts in with family and friends.