Charity
begins at home so why should we worry about what is happening in
Mexico?
- It
is true that there are many problems within more developed countries
such as the US, Europe or Japan, and we would not wish anyone
to stop supporting their local charity. However, we are much
better off than most Mexican people and their situation has
worsened during the last decade. The national minimum
wage in Mexico is about US $4 per day
with which the wage earner has to try and support a family.
Children and adults with learning disabilities are generally
well looked after in more developed countries, whereas in Mexico
they often have to fend for themselves.
Surely
Mexico is pretty well off with all the oil reserves, silver mines,
mineral deposits and great climate for agriculture.
- On
paper, Mexico should be wealthy. However, the wealth is not
very evenly distributed and is concentrated in the hands of
a few privileged families. If your visits to Mexico have been
to tourist resorts such as Cancun, Acapulco
or Puerto Vallarta it is unlikely
that you will have seen much of the poverty which is commonplace
for ordinary people, especially in rural areas. In addition,
the interest payments on foreign debt owed by Mexico to US and
European banks consume a significant percentage of its GDP
Why
would anyone want to help children with learning disabilities?
Surely it is not worth all the effort?
- It
is a common misconception that it is not worth the effort
working with people with learning disabilities because they
have no future, no hope and nothing to offer. This could
not be further from the truth. Many children with learning
disabilities are capable of great improvement if they receive
a proper education and training. We help the children and
young people in our project to reach their full potential.
This has enabled many of them to find rewarding paid employment
which allows them to become more independent.
Surely
the problem is so big that there is no point in trying to do anything
about it? Your work is only a drop in the ocean.
- We
cannot change the world overnight but we can improve the quality
of life of the children and communities which we work with.
The children and young people in our project would be living
in young offender centres, psychiatric hospitals,
or on the streets if the project had not happened.
Don't
all charities spend a lot of the money we give them on administration?
- The
Mexico Child Link Trust keeps costs to a minimum by using
voluntary workers and our trustees. Our one salaried employee
has elected to work for a UK minimum wage. We focus on direct
action projects where aid money can make a big impact. Almost
all the money we receive is spent directly on our project
in Mexico. See
our 2007 statement of accounts.
Is
The Mexico Child Link Trust affiliated to any political or religious
group?
- No.
Our supporters include people from all mainstream churches
as well as many non church-goers. We try to help the children
in most need, irrespective of their religion. Mexico Child
Link is governed by a group
of trustees based in Northern Ireland.
How
do I know that my donation will not disappear due to corruption
overseas?
- The
Mexico Child Link Trust was founded in 1992 by two people from
Northern Ireland who had been working in Mexico as volunteers.
Jonathan Getty, a founder member of the trust, visits our project
partners at least twice a year to carry out a formal evaluation
of their work. The progress of the children and young people
in their care is carefully monitored. Our project partners,
Fundacion Trebol, are audited monthly within Mexico as part
of new regulations governing Mexican charities which were introduced
in 2000. Our project
partners are professional people from Puebla whom we have
known personally for many years who share our concerns about
abandoned children with learning disability.
I'm
convinced. How can I support this project?
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