Save the Children is a non-governmental organization (NGO), founded in 1919 in England by Eglantyne Jebb to help the millions of refugee and displaced children scattered from Europe after the First World War. Today, the International Alliance Save the Children is present in 120 countries, developing programs relating to health, nutrition, emergency assistance, violence, education quality, child labor exploitation, and HIV/AIDS, among others. It was the first independent NGO dedeicated to infancy.Save the Children Mexico began in 1973 through the integration of a non-profit, non-partisan, non-religious organization. Currently, Save the Children Mexico has coverage in 17 states, helping more than 140,000 boys and girls in rural, urban, and suburban communities in vulnerable conditions.
In 2002, Save the Children began its work in Yucatán, in the municipality of Tixcacalcupul, helping indigenous Maya girls, boys, and parents, who are among the most vulnerable in the Yucatán region. The programs developed in the child community centers in the 5 communities of Tixcacalcupul have achieved the generation of a lifestyle in which there is more care for health and dietary care; as well as respect and solidarity among members of the community, which has favored the prevention of family violence and child abuse. These programs are based on the preservation of the Maya cultural identity and the recognition and respect for the rights of children; providing direct attention to 364 girls, boys, and adolescents, as well as 200 mothers and fathers and 9 organizers.
The organization also works in the south of Mérida. The child community development center El Centro de Desarrollo Infantil Comunitario San Marcos Nocoh is a Save the Children project where they work directly with children to improve their lives, and give the children the right to participation and development. Over its five years, the Centro has grown into an daycare-style educational space, with high-quality care; where girls and boys between 1 and 4 years of age, children of working mothers who don’t have social security, strengthen their autonomy, self-esteem, recognition and control of emotions, while acquiring good hygiene, health care, and dietary habits.
Not everyone on the team works directly with the communities. From the directors, administration, data systems, and strategic alliances personnel in the office, all work together for the survival of the organization. As well, the volunteers have a very important role in save the Children, and we are always looking for more people to join our team. If you are interested in being a volunteer or have a question for the Save the Children team, you can contact us at [email protected]
www.savethechildrenyucatan.com
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I just returned from Zinacantan, Chiapas where for the past 6 weeks I taught both paper mache and collage to indigenous children aged 4-10 at a summer program. I live here in Merida full time and escape to colder weather in the summer in Guatemala and Chiapas.
I am interested in volunteering as an art teacher in these two media with your program. I currently teach ESL at CIS on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and am available on the other four days. As your office is close by to my school, I will shortly drop in to say hi.