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Click here for "Ongoing Updates and Events"
- Updated 4/24/09
La Casa Indigenista
La Casa is a charity for homeless children and their
families in Tijuana that many of our Subud San Diego
members support by sending school supplies, used clothing
and food items such as rice, beans, chickens, etc.
over the border with one of our members, Mikail, who
works in Tijuana.
The
full name for La Casa is "Casa de Atencion Indigenista
Principe de Paz A.C." The founder, Martha is
a woman with a face full of love and light, who always
makes us feel very welcome. Her goal is to help the
homeless children of Tijuana and their families--mostly
indigenous families that migrate to Tijuana from the
economically depressed rural areas. They're unprepared
for urban life. La Casa is a kind of temporary crisis
center, providing food, helping them obtain the necessary
documents for the children to attend school and permits
for the families to sell items on the street, etc.
La Casa also provides some interim classes for the
children. These children are our close neighbors.
It takes about 20 minutes to drive from the Subud
hall to the border crossing, and then another 5 or
10 minutes to walk to La Casa.
During this past year, Subud obtained a community
grant from Deseret Industries Community Partnership,
a charity affiliated with the Church of Latter Day
Saints. Deseret has many programs but the grant enables
us to go to the Deseret thrift store in Chula Vista
to use coupons to get clothes and household goods
for La Casa families. Mikail works conscientiously
to get all our member donations and Deseret goods
to the families.
Subud
members try to attend some of the La Casa holiday
celebrations. One example is the Christmas celebration
which took place in the large plaza in front of the
La Casa quarters. There were hundreds of children
and their families attending. Games of all sorts were
organized but we especially enjoyed the piñata
games which brought great delight to all ages of children
and observers. Music was playing and presents were
given out to all ages of children. It was quite an
organizational wonder and volunteers served everyone
large bowls of delicious soup cooked in the small
kitchen to everyone. There was joy in the air and
we left feeling quite uplifted. A Christmas miracle
occurred when we all crossed the border in twenty
minutes.
La
Casa's quarters consist of two properties facing the
plaza only a couple blocks from the main tourist strip
of Tijuana. The facility resembles an extra-deep garage.
There are a sink and stove at the back, and a flushing
toilet behind a curtain. Children's drawings line
the walls. There are tables and chairs, signs of activity
all around.
We continue to support the children of La Casa. Please
continue to contribute school supplies, children's
clothing, warm blankets, non-perishible food (such
as beans and rice) and cash contributions. Checks
need to be mailed to:
Subud California at San Diego
3521 Adams Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116
Thank you!
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