Building Hope

Building Hope: Help Construct the 1,000th Esperanza Home

Carmen Cervantes lives with her three daughters and granddaughter in an unstable, one-room home in Tijuana made from scraps of wood haphazardly nailed together. The roof leaks and all five women share a queen bed pushed together with a bunk bed.

But Carmen doesn’t have time to worry about the condition of her house.

For the past 25 years, Carmen has been the sole caretaker of her two daughters and granddaughter, all who have severe special needs. Two of her daughters, Pamela and Cecilia, have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy; additionally, Pamela suffers from epilepsy and Cecilia is bound to a wheelchair, unable to walk or talk. Carmen’s 16-year old granddaughter Melina requires 24-hour specialized care, just like her aunts.

With Carmen at home tending to three family members with special needs, her eldest daughter, Selina carries the responsibility of being the sole breadwinner of the family. From medications to diapers to daily food and water, Selina struggles to cover the family’s basic needs with her minimum-wage job.

Simply put, their dilapidated house is the only option they have.

But we can change that.

This month, Esperanza International & Fundaciόn Esperanza de Mexico are joining forces to raise funds to build our 1,000th home (or “Casa Mil”) and give the Cervantes family the safe and dignified housing they need. Construction will begin this summer.

Typically, this isn’t how Esperanza works. Esperanza families aren’t given homes; rather, they become homeowners by paying for their houses through their neighborhood community savings fund. The Cervantes family has worked tirelessly to save a small amount of money for the past 2 years, but it isn’t nearly enough to cover the cost of all the materials that they need to build a basic Esperanza home, let alone one that is better equipped for wheelchair access and larger living quarters that meet their needs. The existing Esperanza community savings groups have generously offered to support this cause by cooking meals, donating funds, and physically volunteering in the construction of the home—but we still need your help.

This is the first time in our 32 year history that we are calling upon all our Esperanza communities from Tijuana to Seattle to Sydney and beyond to work together: if you’ve ever volunteered with us, think of this as a digital bucket line that will play an integral role in helping us build this home. Whether you’re able to give $5 or $500, every dollar counts. (And if you’re not able to donate today, please spread the word and share this page.) Your support will directly improve the quality of life for these women.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and compassion. Together, we can build Casa Mil and a brighter, stronger future for a deserving family.

Esperanza International is a registered 501c3 whose mission is to cultivate global citizenship. We accomplish this goal in partnership with Fundaciόn Esperanza de Mexico, whose mission is to provide safe and dignified housing.