Foundation for Lake Chapala Charities

Ninos y Jovenes

The village known as Ninos y Jovenes cares for approximately 150 children who were orphaned with no known family; who were abandoned because their families can not afford to care for them; who are street children rejected by public schools; and who are native Indians who speak no Spanish and whose parents likewise can not care for them.

Ninos y Jovenes was established in 1972 to care for the abandoned children by giving them a place to sleep, providing them food and clothing through outside donations, and with an education through volunteer teachers.

The Catholic Priest who operates the children’s village regularly drives an old pickup through the streets of San Juan Cosala asking for food and old clothing donations.  They receive no government assistance.  The food received is generally in the form of fruits and vegetables that would generally be discarded by the fruit and vegetable vendors because the items being discarded have become old or spoiled, or are outside leaves removed to make the remaining products more attractive for sale.

Canadians and Americans living in or near San Juan Cosala have recognized the extreme needs of this children’s village and have started small caravan groups to collect donations to ensure the children eat.  At this point they can only provide staples (rice, beans, flour, oil, sugar, salt, etc.).  The children’s diets rarely contain any meat or fish.

Your contribution could help provide better nutrition to the 150 children supported by the children’s village.