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On the margins if Tijuana, one of the most serious problems is the lack of urban infrastructure.
This includes no access to water and sanitation services,
unpaved streets, unregulated electrical connections,
and inadequate housing.
In Tijuana, the enormous demand for labor attracts immigrants from the rest of Mexico who are in need of work.
In fact, approximately 75,000 people arrive in Tijuana each year.
Since the 1970s, Tijuana has doubled its population every decade.
Because of inadequate housing, families end up living in unhealthy and insecure conditions on the periphery of the city.
In response to these problems, and with the support of Esperanza International,
Fundacion Esperanza de Mexico was incorporated in 1990 as a non-profit organization without political or religious affiliation
by 1994, Fundacion Esperanza had created the community-driven housing program
based on utilizing community involvement to finance and build adequate housing.
Part of this program acts as a revolving fund. Each week participating families meet and contribute to a common fund earmarked
for housing. Besides attending meetings, participants promote the program among neighbors in their colonia.
Once the house is finished, the participating family gives back on a weekly basis the money lent from the savings group.
Esperanza's houses are made entirely from cement and rebar.
The construction technique requires 80% unskilled labor, and only 20% skilled labor.
Fundacion Esperanza provides the tools and the skilled labor to guide the construction process.
Usually, participating families need extra manpower to help with the house building.
Esperanza developed the volunteer building program to offer diverse groups of people the opportunity to work in solidarity with these families.
Volunteers offer their time and resources to work for a few days or a week with the families.
In addition to the community driven housing program, Esperanza builds classrooms, clinics, and dining halls.
Esperanza's main goal is to support community transformation by creating trust among neighbors, engendering community networks,
and building the skills among participants to manage money and institutional challenges.
In the past few years, the results have shown that Esperanza's community driven program works.
It is now the right time to roll out Esperanza's program, so more colonias may benefit.
In order to make this happen, the foundation requires the contribution from organizations to supply volunteer labor and economic resources.
Esperanza de Mexico represents an alternate solution to the lack of urban infrastructure and safe housing in Tijuana.
With every step we all go forward. With your help, imagine what we can achieve.
With every step we all go forward. With your help, imagine what we can achieve.