TIJUANA SOCIAL JUSTICE TRIP

JULY 9-16, 2011Building homes for those in need

Mission Statement

We work to enable the poor of Tijuana to build grace-filled lives, help break the cycle of poverty and help them attain independence

Help them build safe homes Share our friendship, faith, hope, and love Create long-lasting bonds with the

community

Overview – St Julie’s Tijuana Ministry July 9-16, 2011

7th year for program First year with St. Simon Parish as a partner.

Looking for 10 – 20 participants from St. Simon Key programs

Housing Program Mothers Program Kids Program Social Justice and Education Enhancement to parish Outreach and Education

programs Teams: Building, Mothers, Kids,

Compound/Cook Stay on one or rotate and help

The Location – The Drive

Dome Lodging

HallChurch

•Tijuana, Mexico•Eastern suburbs

•One of poorest locales in North America•Melting pot of nationalities•Not a lot of government support

•480 miles from San Jose•About an 8 hour drive•Caravan with others

The Families for 2010

  “The Holy Spirit” - Lavida Padilla family is a widowed mom with 3 children, who has breast cancer. She is working to raise her youngest son Andreas 16-years old and 2 small nephews as well, Angel 7-yrs and Omar 4-yrs while she undergoes treatment. Andreas is very helpful to her and he also helps at church. Andreas is in school, but the younger nephews are not. She lives in a one room little house and a small abandoned camper shell. She has managed to purchase some cement blocks to help with retaining walls she needs before we can build.

The Families for 2010

  ”The Father” - Betty Gonzales is a single mom with 4 children: 5-yr old Maria, Manuel 9-yrs, Naomi 13-yrs and Vanessa 16-yrs.  She sells items at the local markets.  She needed a septic tank, so she dug the chest high pit herself and then wired the house for electricity.  She has no room for a kitchen in the house so has an outdoor kitchen under a plastic tarp.  She is struggling to find the money for her 16-yr old to go to school.  She only could afford to send the three younger ones to school.

The Families for 2010

 “The Son” - Saavedra Lara and Bertha Hernandez family have been married for 3 years and were given a plot of land as a wedding present, but haven't been able to afford to build on it.  They are raising 3 children, Sergio 8-yrs, Valentin 4-yrs and Evelyn 2-yrs. Their rental house has 18 inches of mud  built around it that slides down from the nearby hill during the rainy season. They had to dig out the front door to get in. They sell seasonal fruit in the local street markets.

The Surroundings

The Location - Where We Go and Stay

Dome Lodging

HallChurch

The Location - Where We Go and Stay

San Eugenio Church Grounds in La Morita with potential 2nd location based on participation.

Enclosed and gated for security

Men and women sleep separately in two story hall

Town is one of the poorest, transitory area

Housing Program

Building Three homes 16’x32’ Families are selected

by the St. Eugenio parish

Walls and trusses rebuilt and transported across border Walls being built by

students by Yerba Buena High School’s Construction Class

Trusses built by our communities (two Saturdays in June)

Housing Program

On site: roof, insulation, doors, windows, sheet rock, plumbing, paint, roof, electric

Construction Teams 11-18 people per

site; usually 1-3 experienced per site

Several volunteer, contractors plan, direct activities, and build

Floor Plan

A built home for our families!

Our fearless leaders: Monica and Bob

Costs – Estimated For 2010 Trip

Mothers Program

Bring local moms together Often moms/families

don’t know each other very well

Teach the value of community, working together – empower them

Group discussions on nutrition, finance management, hygiene, catechism

Kids Program

Fun activities Coloring

books Reading Physical

activity Catechis

m Free

lunches

Social Justice and Reflection

Mass with community

Visits to Casa del Migrante – Men’s shelter for recently deported from US

The Border Fence – La Frontera

Evening visits with community

Reflections

Typical Day Schedule in Tijuana

6am – Cooks: Begin to cook breakfast

7am – All Volunteers get ready

730-9am – Yummy breakfast

830am – Cooks: Make Lunches

9am – Load up and drive to sites

10am – Construction Team: Begin tasks from foreman

1030am – Kids Program: Meet with community children; play games

1030am – Mother’s program: Discussion about health and nutrition

12pm - Lunches delivered/Break

Typical Day Schedule in Tijuana

1pm – 5pm Construction: Continue building

1pm – Kids program: Catechism

3pm-6pm Cooks: Prepare Dinner

5pm – Construction: Return back to Church grounds; clean up for dinner

6pm – Dinner with everyone on patio

8pm – Dinner Clean Up

930pm – Reflection

1030pm – Ready for Bed

11pm - Quiet Zone for Much needed rest

Participation and Fundraising

Everyone invited to volunteer– not limited to Parishioners

Teens Entering high school – 13 or older Approved by Organizing team

Adults Must get background checks/fingerprinting/Lifescan

Individual Fundraising Ask everyone, friends, family, relatives, neighbors,

teachers, co-workers Facebook/Twitter/MySpace Direct them to website for credit card payments Find donors for flea market Match dollar-for-dollar donations Ask employer if they have donation programs Ask your favorite place of business JUST ASK ASK ASK!

Skills and Cost

Skills Willing to jump in and work On-site training Contractor: building, electrical, painting Bi-lingual Building rapport with others and kids Fund raising, organizing, packing, shopping Cooking

$275 total to attend $75 upon reservation – this locks you in. Due June 1st

Scholarships available Pays for travel, food and lodging for 7 days

Logistics:Passport, Visa and Minors

Everyone needs a current US passport – expires October 2011or later Can use Certified* Birth Certificate Visa not required if US Citizen Some resident aliens must apply for visas

as soon as possible* Special requirements needed for minors

without accompanying parents

Logistics:Lodging and Food

Lodging: Fenced in compound 2 story dormitory at St

Eugenio Church Women on second story – 4

showers, toilets Men (and tools) on bottom

floor – 4 showers, toilets Mattress Pads provided,

bring sleeping bags/linens Food

Team purchases food here, brings it, and prepares meals

Please let us know of special diet restrictions

Logistics:Transportation and Health

Transportation Car pool – 3-5

people/vehicle Leave Saturday 6AM Arrive Chula Vista 4PM –

eat, gas up for the border Caravan over border – Otay

Mesa Need Mexican Auto

Insurance – St Julie’s will coordinate

Health Insurance – Everyone

required to have it Health forms are filled out Drivers have copies of

everyone’s health and emergency records

Logistics:Safety Adults

Must get back ground check (we work with teens) Schedule through St Julie’s Office

No one leaves compound without permission Each site has local, parish leader Everyone: stay hydrated with liquids Communication between sites, compound,

Monica/Bob Job site

Work boots, long pants, long sleeves, hats, gloves At least one person first aid trained Ask if unsure of tools, method, stability of structure,

roof

Ways to Participate

Join the trip Join a team

Plan and prepare for the trip Many logistics

Recruit Fund raise

Participate

Thank you

Register for the trip at

www.tjmissions.com

Q&A

Thank you for coming!

Dates/Calendar

Final Orientation Meeting 7p

Blessing for Participants at Mass

Mass/Social JusticeVisit to Casa Migrante

Trailers/ ConstructionEquipment leave for TJ

Pre-Loading Vehicles/Packing Day

All vehicles depart for Tijuana

Construction Day #1

Construction Day #2

Construction Day #3

Construction Day #4

Construction Day #4.5Present house keys to families¡FIESTAAAA!

Depart for St. Julies in AM

1

10

11

4

12

13

14

15

16

17

98

A complete and

current calendar is

maintained at

www.tjmissions.org

.

Hand Outs – coming at orientation meetings Forms and handouts Personal items Tools Donations for the three families Donations for the community

Contacts

Bobby Dartez 590-9594 (English) or

Alma Gamez 679-4109 (Spanish)

Bob Malone 408-640-0206 (bob.malone@gmailcom)

Martin Thurmann 408-972-1155