El Limón, Mexico

The Need:

Since 1958, Casa Hogar Mamá Paulita A.C. has been dedicated to sheltering children and teens between the ages of 4 and 16 who are in vulnerable situations. It provides comprehensive care aimed at preparing them for a better future and enabling them to go out and positively impact their communities as honest, responsible, and productive individuals. Since its establishment, around 900 children have passed through its doors, with their lives transformed. In 1968, it was formally established as a Civil Association. It is located near the ejido (communal land used for agriculture) of El Limón, Tamaulipas, Mexico, north of Ciudad Mante.

The History:

One day in 1958, Mrs. Matilde Osuna de Ruiz was approached by a little girl desperately asking for help. Moved by her situation, Mrs. Osuna decided to protect her. Soon, more girls came seeking help, so another woman, Mrs. Celia Osuna de Hernández, lent a small house she owned to provide them with refuge and protection; another woman, Miss Inés Contreras, kindly offered to care for them. Recognizing the need also to shelter the brothers of the girls arriving at the house, two bedrooms with bathrooms, a playroom, and an apartment for the directors were built. In 1982, with the support of the association Caring Action for Children, a school was built. Named “Escuela Profesor y General Gregorio Osuna Hinojosa,” it opened its doors to welcome children and teens from the community. Today, classes are offered for kindergarten, primary, secondary, and high school. In the afternoons, extracurricular music classes are provided. The school also serves as a community shelter during floods, as it is equipped with bathrooms and a full kitchen. This work continues thanks to the donations of generous people and institutions who share the vision of transforming the lives of these children and teens. Above all, the mission is to tirelessly elevate the quality of life of the children by providing proper food, clothing, medical care, academic education, as well as emotional and spiritual support—all within a home-like environment—thus allowing them to become good men and women who can positively impact the community in the future. The monthly donation for each child is $200. The approach of this children’s home is different from that of other organizations that work with the Bridges Program.


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