Mexico: an urgent school for the children of NPH

Dear friends.

For months now, NPH Mexico staff have worn face masks and transparent full-face plastic shields when working inside the homes. Other items such as thermometers and protective suits for the medical staff, supplies for virus contagion prevention such as sheets, mattresses, towels, etc., had to be purchased. As a result, more than US$16,000 has been spent that was not budgeted. To help prevent COVID-19 infections, NPH Mexico has made wearing a face mask mandatory for all children and adolescents inside the homes. So far, 420 reusable masks have been distributed in the home in Miacatlán and 200 in Cuernavaca, with each mask costing Mex$5.50 (US$0.30).

The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed NPH’s budget, due the increased price of food and supplies. The National Director of NPH Mexico, Rafael Bermúdez, says, “We have added the price of basic food and hygiene products and disinfectants which we are using in large amounts and which have risen considerably in cost. For example, the cost of eggs has risen approximately 20% in much of the country. As expected, people are buying medical and cleaning supplies, food, and other products in large quantities. Thus, we must be prepared, considering our large population, with over 400 children alone in Miacatlán.”

The current high COVID-19 infection rate in Morelos means that fight against it continues. To be able to face this challenge, NPH Mexico is requesting support to purchase the following items.

- Portable Oxygen concentrator machine - AIRSEP 10 L

- Respiratory Hygiene Station Boxes

- Hand-Free Sanitizer Dispensers

- PCR Tests for COVID-19

- Antibody Tests for COVID-19

- Three-ply Cloth Masks

- Goggles

- Boxes of Non-Sterile Gloves

- Wall-Mounted Infrared Forehead K3 Pro Thermometer with Stand

- Non-Contact Instant Reading Digital Temperature Detector

- Multivitamins (100 caplet bottles)

- Posters with information for COVID-19 prevention, size 50x35 inches

- Basic Vital Signs Digital Monitor

Preventing COVID-19 in the NPH homes is a challenge. Primary health care for this requires using rapid tests, personal protective equipment, monitoring equipment, disinfectant supplies, medication, vitamins, and careful monitoring of the patients and the high-risk groups. In addition, NPH Mexico promotes these preventive methods and safeguarding tips through discussions, murals, and banners placed throughout the homes. These can serve not only during the pandemic but also to prevent other conditions.

On another front, the Psychology Department monitors the children and adolescents to detect and treat any mental health issues due to being confined for over a year, a long time for a child or youth.

The Social Work Department has kept the children's families informed that the children are in good health and protected from the pandemic.

The effort to protect the children and youths must continue and strengthen every day, not only in the homes in the state of Morelos but also in the other two NPH homes in northern Mexico.

We would like to thank our donors and godparents for the love and support they have given the NPH Mexico family during this crisis. This is a difficult time for everybody, with many people having to make personal and financial sacrifices. Any help you can support us with right now is most appreciated.

Dear the World!

During this COVID-19, I have been feeling stressed and frustrated with online studies. I know that going to school is not the same as studying online because the topics I have learned are harder to understand in comparison to a teacher explaining and telling me if what I’m doing is correct or not. This has been a huge challenge for me, but I’m sure that when I attend university, it will be easier to handle, and also I’ll have a better comprehension of the topics I’ll study.

I’m also worried because I’m not able to do the same things I used to do, such as enjoy the companionship of my friends, walk to school with my friends, and talk about the things we see on the way to school. My family lives in the state of Guerrero; my grandparents are older and I don’t want them to be infected by this virus and not be able to see them again. I feel sad because I can’t talk to them. In the area where they live, there is no phone signal. Furthermore, due to the pandemic my little siblings haven’t been accepted to enter NPH yet. I hope this ends soon so they can come to the home and we can be together again.

I want to tell my family to keep calm because at home: we have had the necessary measures to avoid contagion at NPH Mexico. I also want to tell them to take this seriously because in my home town people have their own beliefs and don’t pay attention to what actually happens. Every day I’m praying for their safety and health.

During these uncertain times, I have learned that we should give more value to the people that surround us: our friends, our family, and my godparents that care for me. I have learned to enjoy my new NPH family and the incredible moments we have together. I’ve also learned the values that our Father William Wasson left us.

Thanks to what we are currently living through, I’m now assigned for being responsible for our library, which is a great opportunity because one of the things I love most is to read in my spare time. I love this new assignment. I know it is a huge responsibility because I have to control the books I lend out. I have proposed that children read books in the library, but there are too many and thus, I don’t know where to begin. I’m really thankful for this opportunity they have given me and I’m going to make the best of it.

After concluding my first year of high school, I am preparing for different activities such as origami, how to prepare fruit-flavored soft drinks, and how to make typical Mexican sweets, as well as how to save money and learn to create a successful business. My favorite activities are emotional sciences, typical Mexican sweets, and origami. I like them so much that I’m going to teach my siblings when they join me here. We have had sports activities like soccer, basketball, and volleyball; though my team hasn’t won, the most important part is to have fun and enjoy my friends’ company.

Regarding my godparents, donors, and caregivers, I just want to tell you that I’m really happy to have you near me, supporting me in the easiest and hardest moments. I want you to know you are always in my heart and I’ll never forget you. I hope you are well, and I pray for you so this pandemic doesn’t get to your homes and families. I thank you with my heart for all your efforts to keep this family moving on.

Love,

Celinda

NPH Mexico fully comprehends that donors and sponsors are concerned about the children during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Johns Hopkins University and Medicine, over 700,000 people in Mexico have contracted the virus, resulting in over 70,000 deaths. Such news can provoke worry amongst members of the NPH family, near or far.

Fortunately, the children are well, with health and care staff following the prevention measures established by the World Health Organization and local authorities in the country in order to keep the COVID-19 virus out of the NPH Mexico homes.

However, the staff have had to face new challenges, especially as the children have a lot of energy to burn caused by the anxieties of the quarantine. Therefore, caregivers had had to be creative in finding activities to keep them occupied with recreational activities, by organizing soccer matches and board games, amongst other activities. One of the activities children have most enjoyed has been through artistic pursuits, some of which have involved creating images using natural resources and materials, such as tree leaves, to help the children release the stress caused by the pandemic.

The children are aware of the impact of the pandemic in other countries and worry for the health of their godparents and their families, praying to God to ensure their safety. The children also know that with your help it has been possible to continue fighting against COVID-19, receiving healthy food, face masks, antibacterial gel, and all the necessary preventive measures to face this pandemic. 

NPH Mexico sincerely hopes that you are all well and the children send you greetings and a virtual hug

Hi everybody, 

I am Rafael Bermudez, national director NPH Mexico since 2004, which means 16 years of serving with passion and love to almost 700 pequenos and pequenas.

At NPH Mexico we have five houses in three different Mexican states. In all the five houses we have prepared a disinfected area for possible asymptomatic patients developing the three symptoms,  like having breathing problems before doing the coronavirus official test. We have two doctors and four nurses that are attending the three houses in the state of Morelos for possible asymptomatic patients. At the end of April the health Mexicans authorities declared that we are now in phase three which means most people will get the Coronavirus at a large scale.

In our main house in Miacatlan, casa San Salvador, we have completely locked ourselves. Nobody enters and nobody leaves. Out of 140 employees only 24 decided voluntarily to  stay with us with their own families. With 67 acres of land we have our farm, field , three green houses, kitchen, bakery and tortilleria and we are rotating our 24 employees to provide everyday for about 400 children that live here. 

It is a challenge, but we are all contributing so that we can all comprehend that our house can continue to run with 24 employees, 2 volunteers that stay and about 60 pequenos giving their service.

Our home in Cuernavaca, casa Juan señor, home to our technical high school students has also been locked up since Tuesday March 17th. We are operating without any employees and about 160 pequnos. 

We are following the recommendations that NPH medical services is sending and every NPH house has bought supplies in advance.  We have medical materials for possible asymptomatic pequenos, so that our medical stuff is protected in case there is the first case of positive coronavirus in one of our five houses.

We have in our storage room the basic food to operate until beginning of June since we decided to buy it in advance before there was nothing left in the market, because the Mexican government is taking supplies at a large scale.

The school continues either by internet platform or the teacher sending it physically or we, the tios, in Miacatlan making copies to continue with the expertise in the three levels of school. 

I see the children at NPH- Mexico mentally fine, since they have different activities every day and we have decided now to ask again what activity they would like to do today instead of the tio always assigning the activities for the everyday. Another activity that we are doing is walks around our 67 acres and we discovered that it takes us about two hours and a half to walk all of it.

At last, everyday, we pray for all of you, sponsors and benefactors and for our family outside and for the medical staff that is saving and taking care of many sick people in the world. 

God bless you, 

Rafa 

We are happy to let you know that the kindergarten children, the young girls and the middle school boys are are enjoying their new houses at Casa San Salvador in Miacatlàn. It's a great endeavour, and and endless joy, for the whole NPH family.

Family is a strong bond at NPH, as Rafaèl Bermudez, National Director of NPH Mexico, has recently declared.

Rafael  was a small child when he arrived to NPH accompanied by five of his older siblings. He has inspired the children and youths of NPH Mexico during the past thirteen years.

For “Rafa”, as everybody calls him, NPH is a real family. “When children arrive, we give them safety; it´s a second chance in life which was originally denied to them due to many reasons or circumstances within their own families. Once they are with us, they receive all the love and values of a true family,” he comments. For more than 50 years Father William Wasson dedicated his life to watch over the children’s well-being, instilling in them values such as love, responsibility, work and above all, faith and service to others.

The values and traditions transmitted by Father Wasson have not changed since he is no longer with us. Rafa says that the environment and family activities are the same, and we try to continuously implement more programs so that biological siblings can enjoy more time together and thus generate better relationships. Family integration is achieved by spending time together, and that happens every day at NPH.

We are a family integrated by more than 700 pequeños, thus we have many celebrations throughout the year like “Quinceañeras” (celebration for youth on their 15th birthdays), Godparents’ Day, Children’s Day, among others.

Rafa’s favorite celebration is Graduation Day because it reflects all the collaborators’ hard work, and above all, the support and love of benefactors and godparents.

"We know that we are doing things well, because each child has a defined life project. In the end, when they leave NPH, they reproduce everything they learned in the community where they are assimilated," Rafa concludes.

After all, our family is like any other. We prepare our children giving them the necessary tools so that when the time comes for them to be independent, they know how to lead their own strong life.

Thank you for supporting the NPH Mexico Family!