Children’s Shelter of Hope Blog

A Brilliant Idea

The Shoe Fairy’s chief, most devoted assistant, Micaela Hurtuk, who has raised and donated several thousand dollars for shoes over the past few years, has come up with a wonderful new plan for providing shoes to children in need in Puerto Vallarta.  Micaela, who is in 11th grade at Sage International Charter School in Boise, Idaho met Kenton Lee, this past summer, who has started a company called the Shoe That Grows (www.theshoethatgrows.org).

ShoeWhile living and working in Nairobi, Kenya in 2007, Kenton noticed a little girl with shoes that were too small and thought “Wouldn’t it be great if there was a shoe that could adjust and expand so that poor children would always have shoes that fit.”  After five years of hard work the Shoe That Grows was born and is now being distributed in many impoverished areas of the world.  These amazing shoes are helping children who suffer from soil-transmitted diseases and parasites due to their living in areas that do not have adequate sanitation.  And, a shoe that grows five sizes insures that these children will have shoes that fit for many years.  These shoes are made with the highest quality materials – compressed rubber (similar to that of a car tire), anti-bacterial synthetic, and high grade, tactical velcro.  They are easy to clean and easy to use or expand.

Micaela’s latest dream is to raise money and purchase 50 pairs of these shoes for children living in the vicinity of New Beginnings/Sendero (near the old dump), and  to bring them to Puerto Vallarta via family and friends when she visits in February.  Kenton is willing to sell her these shoes for a reduced price of $15 per pair.

Micaela3Please, let’s all pitch in for this amazing gift of love right away and make Micaela’s new dream come true by sending donations to Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation marked “For Micaela’s dream”.

Saving for Change Program

Saving group 2We are happy to share with you information about an innovative new program called Saving for Change recently launched by the Solidarity Foundation at New Beginnings/Sendero.  It is a savings-led microfinance program where 15 to 20 individuals (typically women) save and borrow in a small group setting.  The savings groups are Continue reading “Saving for Change Program”

A Special SOS

DSCN2721Many of you are familiar with our scholarship program with New Beginnings/ Sendero, SOS – Sponsor One Student, which supports financially-challenged, exceptional students living in impoverished conditions in the Puerto Vallarta area. The staff and volunteers identify motivated, dedicated, and serious students enrolled in secondario (middle school), prepa (high school), a university, or a special vocational training program but are in danger of dropping out of school or not continuing to attend for financial reasons Their attendance Continue reading “A Special SOS”

Friends and Donors

As we come to the close of another year and prepare to celebrate a new one, we at CSHF continue to be amazed and grateful for our growth because of your support over the past twelve years.  This year we have expanded into some new programs and done much to meet the basic needs at those centers we have supported for many years.  At RISE, we currently are paying for water and electrical bills; at New Continue reading “Friends and Donors”

Summer Camp at Sendero

By Bety Flores Olvera

FB_IMG_1442854394615Four full weeks of fun and activities were available this summer to the 89 children who participated in Sendero’s first summer camp.  The children, who live in extreme poverty with their families in the communities of Gardenia and Madre Selva near the site of the old dump, had experiences that they will remember for a life-time.  The camp was sponsored by the Seaver Foundation, an organization in Continue reading “Summer Camp at Sendero”