TIJUANA SOCIAL JUSTICE TRIP JULY 9 -16 2011

TIJUANA SOCIAL JUSTICE TRIP JULY 9 -16, 2011 Building 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 7 th 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 • 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 Church Hall SAN EUGENIO Dome Lodging GROUNDS

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 Church Hall SAN EUGENIO Dome Lodging GROUNDS

The Location - Where We Go and Stay San Eugenio Church Grounds in La Morita with potential 2 nd 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’x 32’ 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 Catechism 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 6 am – Cooks: Begin to cook breakfast 7 am – All Volunteers get ready 730 -9 am – Yummy breakfast 830 am – Cooks: Make Lunches 9 am – Load up and drive to sites 10 am – Construction Team: Begin tasks from foreman 1030 am – Kids Program: Meet with community children; play games 1030 am – Mother’s program: Discussion about health and nutrition 12 pm - Lunches delivered/Break

Typical Day Schedule in Tijuana 1 pm – 5 pm Construction: Continue building 1 pm – Kids program: Catechism 3 pm-6 pm Cooks: Prepare Dinner 5 pm – Construction: Return back to Church grounds; clean up for dinner 6 pm – Dinner with everyone on patio 8 pm – Dinner Clean Up 930 pm – Reflection 1030 pm – Ready for Bed 11 pm - 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, coworkers Facebook/Twitter/My. Space 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!

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

Logistics: Passport, Visa and Minors Everyone needs a current US passport – expires October 2011 or 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 6 AM Arrive Chula Vista 4 PM – 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 rent 1 cur and in. Finald e lete p ta Orientation ain Meeting 7 p com A is m rg. r ns. o nda 4 cale issio Trailers/ 8 Blessing for. tjm Participants Construction www at at Mass Equipment Pre-Loading Vehicles/Pa cking Day 9 10 All vehicles depart for Tijuana leave for TJ 11 Mass/Social Justice Visit to Casa Migrante 12 Construction Day #1 13 Construction Day #2 14 Construction Day #3 16 15 Construction Day #4 Depart for Day #4. 5 St. Julies in Present house keys AM to families ¡FIESTAAAA! 17

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