According to Matraca’s website, there are an estimated 120 homeless children in Xalapa and another 3000 working on the streets. Matraca was created as a response to these children who are in need of education, support and viable options.

Matraca “promotes the respect for the dignity of the working children and homeless children with the conviction that they are capable of organizing themselves for work, play, and education.” Matraca currently has four programs in place to reach to this goal. These programs are:

- Program for the Homeless
This program provides homeless children with housing options, nutrition, clothing, and education.

- Program for Working Children
This program “promotes respect for the children in their places of recreation, as well as their organization for a collective solution to their problems.”

- Programs for Families and Community Prevention
This program was created to help children “who have broken apart from their families to reintegrate with their families under favorable conditions and to involve the community in prevention programs.”

- Communication and Media Program
This program “seeks to impart to the community a culture of respect for the rights of working and homeless children & channels to express their ideas.”

If you are already in Xalapa, or planning to visit soon, this would be an excellent opportunity to help out the local community and those who are most vulnerable to economic and familial hardships.

To learn more about Matraca, visit their website here. You will find information on how to make donations as well as their email address and other contact information if you are interested in volunteering.

If you would like to find other organizations throughout Mexico, visit My Chipi Chipi’s section on Making Connections.

Photo courtesy of Matraca