Feed the Children Vallarta

1998 - The Appalling Need

When "Feed the Children Vallarta" began, there were more than 80 families with 200 children living and working in the dump. Both the adults and the children picked through the garbage each day in order to find items of value that which they could sell. They had no water or electricity and were forced to move their flimsy shacks every few days as the garbage was bulldozed towards them. They survived day to day but at a very low level of existence. While the parents and older children worked, other children had to take care of the babies. Most important, the children did not attend school and without an education, were destined to repeat the cycle of poverty as their parents before them had.

1998 - A Kindergarten and Feeding Program is Established

A group of concerned residents talked to the mothers of these children to determine what it would take to get these children out of the dump and in school. After some discussions, the mothers were persuaded to send their small children to a local kindergarten. But it was soon discovered that these children came to school each morning without breakfast. The principal had noted that by 10 am the children would lose all concentration as they began listening to their empty stomachs instead of the teachers. It was then decided to also start providing a breakfast meal to these children every school day.

Other Groups Joined in to Help.

The results were quick and remarkable. Attendance increased, the children were able to concentrate better and their learning improved. A local Christian church, "Perdon y Amistad", heard of the startup program and offered to supply volunteers and vehicles to help expand the program. As a result, a partnership was born and now most of the volunteers are paid by the church to work for the "Children of the Dump". The breakfast feeding program was expanded to include another 300 students at the primary school across the street where most also came to school without a breakfast. Soon the principal was reporting the same results. Better attendance, better concentration, better behavior and better grades. The program then continued to expand to then include all of the primary and kindergarten school in the 5 barrios that surround the city dump.

Within two years of its inception, "Feed the Children Vallarta" was feeding over 1,500 children in 6 primary schools and 8 kindergartens schools surrounding the city dump. And because of the work done by organizations like "Feed the Children Vallarta" and with help from Puerto Vallarta's city government, there are no longer any families living in the dump. And most importantly there are also no more children working in this horrible place.

The initial goal of the "Feed the Children Vallarta" organization had been to get the children living in and near the dump into school and keep them there. But to accomplish this, and keep them in school, the emphasis had to expand to also feeding them a breakfast as they entered these school so they could concentrate and learn.

2000 - A year of Tragedy and Remembrance

Then in 2000, tragedy struck. An Alaska Airlines jet travelling from Puerto Vallarta crashed off the coast of California killing all 88 people aboard. Among those lost on that day were Joe and Linda Knight, a missionary couple who had become active with had been helping "Perdon y Amistad" and volunteering with “Feed the Children Vallarta."

2001 - "School of Champions" is Born

As a memorial to them, their son and friends started raising funds to build a community center by the dump. The result of his and the combined effort of many other people throughout Canada, the U.S. and Mexico was the construction of what is known today as the "School of Champions." This building, only two blocks from the entrance to the dump is where students from primary schools in the area are now taught Math, English and Computer skills in an after-school program.

The school has since expanded to include a morning session from 10 to 12, an afternoon session from 4 to 6, as well as an offsite program in a primary school where our teachers conduct English classes for grades 3 through 6 during the regular school hours. There are now over 300 students enrolled in the after school programs. A detailed curriculum has been added which is similar to the English programs used by the private bi-lingual schools in the city. Many of those teaching these English classes are volunteers and are asked to commit at least 6 month of continuous teaching in the school and preferably the entire school year.

2003 - New Funding brings New Challenges

In 2003, UNICEF and the Mexican government provided funding to build nine day care centers in the poor areas of Puerto Vallarta. Because of the record of service in these areas, "Feed the Children Vallarta" was chosen to operate these centers. Each has a capacity of 20 to 25 children ages 3 ½ months to 3 ½ years of age. Each day-care is open Monday through Friday and has a full-time cook and one teacher for each 5 or 6 children. There are currently about 120 children enrolled in this program, most of the children coming from single parent (mothers) families. This program is essential for these mothers to be able to work, knowing that their children are being cared for. Without this day care, one of the older children in the household would have to stay out of school in order to care for the younger children.

2007 - New Classrooms and New Challenges

With the help of volunteers who helped in the construction and completion of two new classrooms, new classes were set up to handle the waiting list of students including secondary students in grades 7 and 8. This was aimed at those students who have recently passed through several years of classes and programs at the "School of Champions" and want to continue their studies in Math, English and Computers. Since local primary and secondary schools do not provide classes in English or Computers, the main goal of this continuing education and programs is to give these children the English, Computer and Math skills along with the education in the regular public school through to Grade 9. So that they can get a good job in the one industry in town of Puerto Vallarta. That of tourism.

2008 - The Beginnings of Summers to Remember

In the summer of 2008, "Feed the Children Vallarta" began offering a free summer camp to the "School of Champions" students and children in the neighborhood of the dump; offering them a chance to see places in Puerto Vallarta they never would have a chance to otherwise. The camp included art, dance, music, English, computers and swimming. More than 130 children attend each year.

2009 - The Dump Closes but Creates a New Need

Finally in June 2009. the city dump closed. The grounds are now only used as a transfer point, loading the garbage into large semi trucks to be hauled to the new dump over 1 ½ hours inland. Before the dump closed, over 200 people worked in the dump scavenging for anything of value that they could sell. Now the transfer station offers less than 100 jobs. That coupled with the downturn of the local economy has many people out of work.

As a result of the dump closure, "Feed the Children Vallarta" has come to the assistance of these affected people as well. Every evening around 9pm, over 600 people are fed a meal of pan dulce, tacos, bread, juice and fortified milk. The food is aimed primarily at children but many adults and parents also are fed by this so-called "Fire Fly" program. It will be necessary continue this feeding of the poor families living around the now-closed dump for the foreseeable future or until the local economy picks up and these people can get back to work.

2010 - Looking Forward

Each year the reputation of the "School of Champions" and "Feed the Children - Vallarta" continues grow. And with the success of the school programs has caused a big increase in enrollment recent years. New students continue to enroll each month and unlike most schools, the "School of Champions" has practically no significant attrition in the number of its students. As a result, more teachers and volunteers are needed as well as funding for vehicles, food costs and other operating expenses.

But most importantly, the school needs more classroom space to handle the increased enrollment. Plans are to add more classrooms to the school in order to accommodate first a new grade 7 program followed a year or so later with classrooms to house the grade 8 and grade 9 in the following year. Once these new classrooms are built, Saturday programs can be added. These would be in computers, arts and crafts, English games, and add special programs introducing career opportunities with talks from successful local businessmen and professionals.

A Record of Achievements

Today, programs and services offered by "Feed the Children Vallarta" have shown significant result:

Unchanging Mission

The mission for "Feed the Children Vallarta" has remained unchanged since its inception. To help the children who live around the dump go to school, stay in school and learn. The staff and volunteers truly believe that every child deserves:

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