CAMPO CHRISTO

A semi-fosterhome SPACE HOME in the San Felipe, San Mateos area

by Loralie Cecotti

HELP! HELP! HELP!

Located at Valle Trinidad, 2 hours from San Felipe, is Campo Christo, a local home for needy children. If you are so inclined, load up spare linens, clothing, school and craft supplies. Tuck in left-over building materials from your casa and head for the hills. Catch Highway 3 toward Ensenada (immediately past the military checkpoint north of town), and go meet the kids. All will appreciate your visit. A number of our local snowbirds make this a regular stop on their annual trip down, some staying for a week or two. They visit with the young people and cheerfully shoulder badly needed chores and labor, regular staff is unable to find time or talent for.

Youngsters are placed in this foster care facility by their parents or by government intervention. Some are short term, some here until maturity. Currently there are about thirty residents who range in age from four to sixteen. Boys who enter during preteen years are sent on to San Canteen as they mature. There, a special Boy's School will continue to manage individual needs as they stride toward adulthood.

All ages are schooled through grade six by the two teachers on staff who are the only paid employees. They appear to be doing a fine job. Last year two of their students were chosen for the "Conafe program" as Best Area Students of the Year. Their reward was a trip to Mexico City where they met President Fox, played at Six Flags, and toured the Capital City. Their enthused report of these activities has given great encouragement and challenge to their peers. Residents ready for grades 7 through 9 are bussed to Valle Trinidad schools.

Although there is some government funding, sixty percent of monies received for Campo Cristo needs come from church contributions. Donations from concerned persons as well as volunteers on both sides of the border are always needed and appreciated.

Edie Peters came from Winnipeg this year for a one-year commitment. She tells us many teenagers come to help but rarely stay more than half a year because the remoteness of the facility results in a limited lifestyle for most. Nevertheless they forge a strong connection with youths they meet here and encourage them by sharing dreams and lessons of their own. Older workers find they have more time to give with less interference and often stay for two or three years. The current director has been serving for 22 years, without pay. Regardless of age or length of stay, Campo Chisto is grateful for all help.

For "highway helpers", those of us who find time to make the drive, there are RV hookups or dorm style rooms with kitchen. There is also a guesthouse, which can be reserved by emailing: LUIS@newdoors.internets.com. November is the busiest month, as snowbirds stop on their way south bringing supplies and Christmas gifts. Edie expresses a need for volunteers all through the year and confesses there are some months when help is badly needed and nobody there to lend a hand. Currently they have need for someone with electrical abilities to help rewire the entire camp, which presently operates only with 110 power. It would also help if skilled workers in the area would be willing to be on call for problems in their field of expertise. At this time, one or two persons to handle general maintenance could be a real boon to the program.

What supplies are needed? Everything you have on your property would be just as necessary/useful on theirs. Building leftovers, even a few, can be combined with other contributions to become added rooms or cabins. Brick, wood, cement or glass can all be useful. Campo Cristo relies heavily on volunteers to paint, build, repair, plumb, sew, cook or tutor. The good news is they don't ask that you be an expert. They only ask that you might be concerned. See their website at www.newdoors.internets.com.

Any help will be so greatfully appreciated.