Support our Centre for Disable Children in Mexico

Dear Supporters, 

December was the last month we worked with our partners in Playa del Carmen, we made sure we step out leaving better conditions to children and their work centres.

For 6 years GVI in Mexico has worked with Save the Children at the ludoteca in Playa del Carmen, and for 2 years has supported Fundacion Contando con un Amigo school, but before we step out we made sure they received all The GVI and the GVI Trust support.

On November GVI in Mexico had the opportunity to work with children at the Save the Children Ludoteca in Playa del Carmen in an amazing project leaded by experts in their field, real scientist, Glenda Chandler and Expert in Medical Biology Barry Chandler joined our Health project in Playa del Carmen, as part of their job they had to plan and present a workshop health,but instead, by suggestion of Save the Children admin staff, they were asked to promote science and healthy lifestyle to prevent diabetes.

First Glenda prepared a variety of experiments to work with Children, the experiments were very variated, from making celery change colour to make volcano model to erupt, the Children and the staff were very interested and participative in these experiments, definitely Children were inspired by Glenda and the science.

Then Barry prepared a lesson to be presented at Save the children Ludoteca and Fundacion Contando con un Amigo school, Mexico has a high number of people with obesity and vulnerable to get diabetes, by understanding the importance of a healthy lifestyle and eating students can prevent these life-threatening conditions in the future.    

On December, the Ohio State University Athletes sent a group of 15 students and 3 teachers to Playa del Carmen to work with Children in Sports and to help with the renovation of both the ludoteca and school we work with.

First preparing for renovations, the GVI volunteers and family members of children that attend to ludoteca helped cleaning and scratching the walls to be painted, then, 20 participants painted all the walls on the ludoteca, for 8 hours and using the equivalent of 6 (20 litres) paint buckets the facilities were looking better.

Contando con un Amigo school had their facilities improved too, the wooden classrooms were covered with special lack that helps the protection of the wood of termites, rain and sun exposure, other classrooms and trees were painted too.

The OSU Athletes had 3 days of workshops for the children at the school, some participants teaching them American football and cheerleading, while others practicing yoga, football (soccer) and running, it was certainly fun for everyone.    

We may have left Playa del Carmen but we still work closely with our partners in Playa del Carmen and now in Puerto Morelos, the Fundacion Contando con un Amigo school still needs important equipment like a stove to keep providing food for the students and solar panels to use fridge, fans and equipment without interruption, and we are working with Save the Children ludoteca in Puerto Morelos, as we haven’t work with them in the past they haven’t receive all the teaching equipment required for more interactive classes, like a projector, speakers, computer, camera and some construction for expansion of the facilities which at the moment are small for the number of children that attend.

Lets make a real difference! 

With Gratitude, 

Mexico Childcare

Dear Supporters, 

We have a big commitment with Children in Playa del Carmen, the donations given this quarter to our partners in field and the support of the volunteers delivering lessons made a huge difference for many Children in this part of the world.

During the months of August and October the donations to the local organizations have given a great chance to increase the support The GVI Trust has in Mexico, The GVI Trust donated EFR (Emergency First Response) materials to Save the Children staff these donations included, EFR Instructor Manual in Spanish, EFR Primary and Secondary Care / Care for Children Participant Manuals in Spanish, Infant, Child and Adult CPR mannequins as follow up of the previous EFRI certifications their staff got.

This is a great achievement as now the Save the Children Staff is taking over their own staff training in these courses, in the past GVI staff was certifying the Save the Children staff, but their staff turnover makes it hard to keep everyone certified, now they can add this training as their induction training for new staff and refresh their skills when required.

Contando con un Amigo students received as well 60 new Uniforms this will provide an extra top from the one or two they have, living in this rural area without electricity and running water makes it difficult for them to have their uniforms clean every day and they sometimes go with their uniforms in really bad conditions as they wear it every day in Caribbean temperatures, and the activities they perform at school includes physical education, with this donation students will have an extra top to use while the other is being washed, maintaining better healthy conditions for them and show off that they are prod students of the school.

GVI participation as increased after summer course, as we have now 5 days when we provide English lessons, Environmental workshops Physical education and Health awareness workshops at the school and ludoteca. volunteers plan activities and presentations that can be very beneficial to the environment, health and community.

During this quarter our volunteers supported the activities at the 16^th Turtle Festival in the communities of Xcacel-Xcacelito, Akumal and Tulum, making fun activities and painting faces of the attendants with sea turtles and other marine creatures, with the participation of other organizations like Flora Fauna y Cultura de Mexico, the Tulum Municipality, Centro Ecologico Akumal among others, we are closer to more environmentally aware children.

There are still ways we can support the Children in Mexico and in GVI with the joint efforts of all kind donors, volunteers and the GVI Trust.

With love and gratitude, 

GVI Akumal