Mexico Casa

The Casa de la Misericordia was developed in the mid-1980s by Nogales, Sonora, Mexico residents Jose and Hope Torres.  The initial purpose of the Casa was to create a large cafeteria space to cook and serve daily free hot lunches for hundreds of low income children from the surrounding neighborhood. In 1999, BorderLinks purchased the Casa de la Misercordia. Today, the Casa functions as a community resource center with programs centering on education, community action and direct service. The Casa also serves as the central office and dormitory facility for BorderLinks’ Delegations Program in Mexico. 

Children’s Food Security Program:

“Food Security exists when all people, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”

The Children’s Food Security Program is directed primarily to serve children of extreme poverty in the neighborhoods adjacent to the Casa community center. In providing what for many is the only nutritious, healthy, and hygienic meal they receive during the day over the course of the school year, this program serves as a crucial aspect in the children’s physical and intellectual development. In addition, this program also serves as a vehicle to bring children to the community center with the purpose of enrolling them in community programs such as educational camps and classes.
 

Program Goals

Service:  To provide healthy, hygienic, and nutritious food for the neediest children of the community.

Education:  To raise awareness among participating children, parents and volunteers about healthy and nutritious eating, and provide training in the development of an organic, sustainable garden program.

Action: To promote workshops on nutrition and food preparation, as well as prepare leaders for sustainable food cultivation.

Women’s Cooperative:
 

The Casa de la Misericordia Women’s Cooperative makes handmade pendants and earrings. The pendants bear the lettering “No Mas Muertes,” meaning No More Deaths. The earring sets each have homemade beads with the name and age of migrants found dead in the desert. Both pendants and earrings create awareness of the human suffering and death of migrants crossing the U.S./Mexico border.

           Co-op pendant and earrings

Approximately half the proceeds from Co-op jewelry sales are designated to the Casa’s educational programs, and the other half are divided amongst Co-op members. In the Co-op’s first year of operation, 2006-2007, $4,000 was contributed to the Casa. All pendants and earrings may be purchased directly from the Casa.
 

Community Educational Courses and Programs:
 

The community educational courses and programs offered at the Casa vary according to the community requests and needs. Examples include:

• Entrepreneurial and small business courses such as haircutting certification, cake decorating,
  accounting, and computer skills.

• English language and Spanish literature classes.

• Stress reduction and wellness classes such as aerobics, self-esteem, and folk dance.

• Primary and secondary adult education courses.

• Week-long educational kids’ camps with themes such as environment, health and the body,
  family violence, and drugs.