In 2006, the Families at the Dump mission was formed with the objective:

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By:Patrizia Ryan

In 2006, the mission discovered that whole families were living and working in the city dump overlooking the resort of Puerto Vallarta, in Mexico. They knew of no other way of life as some families had been living there for many generations. Their children were not registered and were not able to obtain birth certificates as they had no official address, so the children could not go to school. Their futures were bleak.

The mission named the road at the base of the dump "Hope Road" and numbered each shanty to create an address for each of the children so they could register for their birth certificates. The mission then introduced the school sponsorship program in August of 2007, thirty children were sponsored into the public school system and started school, many for the first time.

The mission deliver 175-200 grocery bags that consist of much needed food items every Friday. This Food Bag consists of beans, rice, potatoes, tuna, and a variety of other items which are changed regularly for variety. The mission also deliver sandwiches, fruit and water to all recyclers and their families on Wednesday mornings. The mission also distribute bottled water to all recyclers 5 days a week.

The mission project distribute donated clothing, shoes, and school supplies to the registered recyclers' families and families from the surrounding communities.

The mission works directly with 225 registered recyclers and their families who live at the base of the city dump and in the village of Majesterio. The mission developed strong personal relationships with the registered recyclers and their families as well as with the committee governing the registered recyclers. This committee was also instrumental in helping the mission provide programs and services. Their input was essential so that we respected the traditional and cultural differences of their people.These relationships provided the mission with an intimate and unique insight to assist the families and recyclers at the city dump. Home visits and family assessments were an integral part of this program.

The mission also established a communications system with the regional hospital together with the community health programming to arrange for vaccinations for all children and also tetanus shots for all the recyclers. This working relationship with the local health program has been very beneficial for the families as we have seen by the changes in the children's health.
A co-op store has been introduced here the mission buys articles to resell to the families at cost to teach them to manage their own money. Our Food Bank dispenses basic nutritious necessities for sustenance, whereas most of the articles in the store are non-essentials, such as cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, sweet treats which encourages them to make their own money in order to afford these extras.

The mission has also introduced incentives for the children and parents that excellent attendance and performance in the public school system. A scholarship fun has been established for secondary school and university students. This allows the mission to move the families towards total self-sufficiency and independence in the future and also to prepare them to move into the new housing development that is currently in the final planning stages. The families are now living at the base of the dump along Hope Road, no longer in the dump itself, but we still have more work to do so that they have clean, modern, sanitary homes to live in.

Our mission is funded solely by the generous donations of individuals and businesses. Without your support the mission would be unable to fund these programs. Without our help, the children and young adults would never have the opportunity to pursue their education and their dreams.

Please consider donating today. You can designate your donation amount to a specific program, for a scholarship, school sponsorship, or the mission will designate donated funds to where the greatest need is currently.