Saturday 4 June 2022

Today's situation

Casa de Esperanza is a home in Manzanillo, Mexico, for young men under 18 who are suffering from drug and/or alcohol addiction. There is no state provision for under 18s to receive residential rehabilitation, but Iain and Sheila Crofton Briggs moved from Bristol to Mexico a few years ago with skills to treat these people and established Casa de Esperanza to enable recovery and provide education, hope and a future to those who need it.

The home needs a minibus to get the boys to school and pick them up after school activities and trips. Severn Vineyard has given £3,000 towards this, but more is needed.

Today’s restoration story - Juanito (above)

Iain Crofton Briggs writes:

Juanito came to us at the age of 13. Since the age of 10 his family made him work to pay his way including rent and money to fund his father's drug habit. He was working 19 hours a day in a car wash, starting at 9 am and finishing at 4am. Child labour!  He had also developed his own drug habits. 

He was very thin and tired when he arrived and had missed lots of schooling. We have managed to help him catch up nine academic years and he has become an academic success. He has started his Preparatoria exam which will enable him to go to university if he wishes.  He would like to become a dentist.  

He has a real gift for art and he has been taught and encouraged in this by Jean Scheifele. In fact, in December, we published a 2022 calendar of his art work, which has been received with plaudits.

He has engaged so well with the program and is an important part of the family now, having been with us over two and a half years. He recently had his 16th birthday and we had a great party with cake and presents but sadly, nobody from his family came or even contacted.

He is a credit to himself and what can be achieved with hard work, a desire to change and the facilities and opportunities we provide in the project.