Charities at Lakeside
There are many charities at lakeside in which you can get involved. The expats here are very active in helping the local Mexican communities. Below is information on a few of the charities in which Raquet Club residents either volunteer or serve in leadership positions.
School for Special Children |
The mission of the School for Special Children is to improve the educational opportunities for children with a wide variety of disabilities and in doing so, increase the probability that they might enjoy a brighter future.
Operation FeedOperation Feed is led by a group of volunteers dedicated to providing food and improving the lives of the very poor and marginalized people of the village of San Juan Cosala, Jalisco, Mexico. Since 1989 we have provided weekly food despensas for those who would go hungry without our aid. Many of our recipients are elderly, disabled, and children who are hungry. We also support new program initiatives to involve the people in developing alternative food sources, thereby offering them a "hand up" and not just a "hand out". Our goal is to help these people live productive lives, free from hunger.
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The Childrens' OrchestraThe Orquesta's Mission is "to introduce music-making into the lives of children and families living within San Juan Cosala. At the same time, apart from social rescue, another goal is to bring to this community joy and self-esteem through music, which is often lacking when people are struggling to survive.
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PathwaysIn 2013 a program began for sponsoring students from San Juan Cosala and the west end of Lake Chapala in their education. It was named Pathways and was started by Pat Baxter from Ajijic. Click the link above to go to Pathway's website. Please consider funding a student or donating in any amount whatsoever by emailing [email protected]
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Soccer LeagueThe soccer program in San Juan Cosala (“Jugando Undidos”, Playing Together ) was started in October 2011 with twelve teams. The purpose was to promote wholesome sports activities to keep kids out of trouble. Each team had a sponsor and the players were provided with uniforms. Thanks to continuing support and active participation of parents and coaches, today there are over 30 teams playing on the weekends on the soccer fields next to the malecon on the lake! In the very near future, the boys and girls will be trained and playing basketball and volleyball also. Contact Alicia Salcido at (387) 761-0185 or email her at [email protected] for more information.
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Dog/Cat Spay Neuter Clinics for Disadvantaged VillagersOperación Compasión is a non-profit organization of volunteers who are dedicated to providing free spay/neuter clinics in the Jocotepec municipality in order to reduce animal suffering and help the communities in which we live.
Click file below to view Operación Compasión brochure.
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Anita's AnimalsAnita's Animals is a small cat and dog sanctuary located on a hill above Lake Chapala in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Anita's is open from Friday through Wednesday 9 AM - 2 PM and 4 PM - 6 PM and closed from 2PM – 4 PM. (Closed all day Thursday). The animal sanctuary is not a fancy place, but it is a safe haven providing love and caring for those cats and dogs that are brought to Anita.
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Villa InfantilThe story of the orphanage begins in Guadalajara in 1996 with three Sisters of the Order of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Joseph caring for over 30 children, including newborns, who were orphaned or abandoned. In 2002 an anonymous patron built two small houses on a piece of rural land near the small village of San Pedro Tesistan on the south shore of Lake Chapala. The land and buildings were given to the orphanage and two Sisters relocated to their new home with 21 school age children. One Sister remained in Guadalajara to care for the babies, and as the babies learn to walk they are transferred to the Villa Infantil.
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Niños Incapacitados
Niños Incapacitados is a not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization that helps low-income Mexican families who require financial assistance, to pay for the on-going and/or major medical related expenses for their children who have serious disabilities or life threatening illnesses.
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