CASA CODENI: From a Dream to Reality

On December 23rd, we officially purchased CASA CODENI! Thanks to all those who made this dream possible with your donations. Over 100 children now have a safe, comfortable learning environment to facilitate their struggle to overcome poverty through education.

Nevertheless, we continue to struggle to cover operational expenses for our growing number of beneficiates. We hope to continue counting on your collaboration in our partnership support CODENI/AHALA kids. Remember that all donations are tax-deductible in the US and Mexico.

Remember that we continue counting on your support and offer tax deductible receipts for donations of any amount

Good news in the area of psychological attention!

We are grateful for the teamwork to better the quality of life for our kids outside of Casa CODENI!
Since November of last year, we began working with a master´s program at the University “Valle de Atemajac” (UNIVA). Masters students studying Systemic Family Therapy began working voluntarily with CODENI families as part of their course work. On March 4th, CODENI and UNIVA signed a formal agreement to make these services a permanent part of our programs. So far four families have participated in the new program. We hope to have therapists from the UNIVA offering regular services in Casa CODENI as early as May of this year.

“CODENI BAZAAR”

On Saturday, February 27th CODENI/AHALA kids arrived at Casa CODENI for the first bazaar of the year. Here they were rewarded for their efforts with play money to purchase clothing, books, toys, household goods and other items for themselves and their families.

Each child received between $300 and $1,000 pesos (aprox. $30 tp $100 US) in “CODENI cash” for the bazaar, depending on their accomplishments in the program, at school, and at home during the previous six months.
Congratulations to the 107 children and teens who shopped till they dropped in Casa CODENI, after much hard work over the last semester.

“We don’t give just to give; our kids earn every benefit with hard work and dedication”

Visit from Soccer Player Aaron Galindo to CODENI

On Friday, February 12th Aaron Galindo, professional soccer player from the Club Guadalajara, came to CODENI to meet our children, families and educators. In celebration of Valentine´s Day (known as “love and friendship day” in Mexico) Aaron spent the afternoon speaking of his athletic accomplishments and encouraging kids to say no to drugs. He also made a wonderful donation of equipment to our sports and recreation department. Aaron claims that this visit and donation were just a small effort to share his many blessings with those less fortunate.
“Dream, for your dreams can become your reality” he told the ids, recognizing the support CODENI and AHALA provide to help them in this quest. Aaron plans to continue collaborating in our efforts to make dreams come true for all the children participating in CODENI.

20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMEMORATION OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS

During the month of November, CODENI organized different events to provide Guadalajara's marginalized youth with a public voice and to celebrate childnood.

THE FORUM

On November 9th CODENI, with the help of other NGOs in the network PRONAM organized a forum with representatives from Civil Society, senators and congressmen in Guadalajara called "Society and Govemment for Children's Rights in Jalisco" The forum included a diagnosis of youth across the state concentrating of topics of health, abuse, abandonment, addictions, handicaps, sexual exploitation and citizens' proposals. Among the greatest outcomes of this forum was raising the awareness of politicians of the work NGOs are doing to aid marginalized youth throughout Jalisco.

1ST MINI-OLYMPICS

With much sunshine and energy, CODENI organized the first Mini-Olympics for vulnerable youth in Guadalajara.
On November 19th CODENI received aprox. 450 children aided by different NGOs and Social Service to celebrate Children's Day with recreational activities in a local sports complex. At 9:30 a. participants from age 5 to 18 joined hands for the opening ceremony before participating throughout the day in different Olympic events to celebrate of their right to recreation.

6TH ANNUAL CHILDREN'S RIGHTS FESTIVAL.

"Derechos tenemos, derechos merecemos" ("We have rights, we deserve rights")
These words, shouted in unison by children, teens, parents, educators and volunteers in a parade through the streets of downtown Guadalajara inaugurated CODENI's 6th annual public festival to celebrate and promote children's rights on November 20th. Aprox. 1,000 children came out to enjoy workshops, shows, concerts, games and contests in a public plaza in downtown Guadalajara.
The festival required months of preparations for CODENI. Fortunately this year we received the support of more organizations and benefactors than ever before to make this event possible, conscious of the need to create a better present and more dignified future for all children, but especially those in vulnerable situations.

ALL RIGHTS FOR ALL CHILDREN.

2ND PHOTO EXPOSITION BY CODENI KIDS

On November 25th, twelve young photographers gathered with their proud parents and educators before reporters and television cameras to inaugurate the 2nd exposition of CODENI's photo workshop downtown Guadalajara's most renowned museum, El Instituto Cultural Cabañas.

In coordination with Listen to My PicturesTM, the workshops aim to give a voice to marginalized and vulnerable children so that they, instead of adults, may tell the stories of their lives and exercise their right to free expression through photography.
The exposition was on display from November 25th to January 4th. You can support these young photographers and CODENI with the purchase a photo from the show. For more details please see http://www.imageneslatentes.org/codeni-ltpm or contact Monica at codeni@yahoo.com

READING AND WRITING WORKSHOP

Since November CODENI has been working with children to improve reading and writing skills and improve their academic rendition. The vast majority of CODENI parents are alliterate and thus unable to help promote reading and writing with their children. Here are some of the responses we've received from the first generation to participate in this workshop:

"Thoroughout the entire workshop I've enjoyed everything-there's nothing I haven't liked. It's been a little tough, because I'm forced to do things I'm not used to like saying tongue twisters and read out loud...but now I really like reading!
-Martha Susana, age 13
"In the workshop I've learned to read better and faster. I'm no longer embarrassed to read aloud in school. It used to be really difficult and I'd stutter a lot, but not anymore. I'm also learning how to summarize what I read. I used to just copy the beginning and without considering if it was really important..."
-Miguel Angel, age 12
"When I started the workshop, I didn't Know what it was all about. The first day we introdeced ourselves and did fun activities to learn how to listen. The next class we learned tongue twisters and I was the best of all...We've done a lot of fun exercises and I enjoy the workshop. It's also important because it helps us in school"
-Gerardo, age 12
"Since I've been coming to the workshop I've learned losts of things, like how to read out loud without stuttering so much, how to solve riddles and understand stories...I never would have done this on my own at home because I was always too lazy to read"
-Javier, age 12

FIVE YEARS GONE BY...

CODENI celebrates five years of hard work and dedication to break the circle of poverty in the families of children and teens who survive of the informal economy of the streets in downtown Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

We closed 2009 with many accomplishments, working with over 100 children and teens through educational workshops, homework assistance and tutoring, recreational activities, psychological attention, street outreach and social work with families. We also organized public events and participated in various networks to raise public awareness of children`s rights.